Economic Cooperation Organisation ministers meet in Iran to strengthen regional ties

The 28th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) is currently underway in Mashhad, Iran.

The event is being attended by foreign ministers and officials from the ECO member states, including Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Iran.

Azerbaijan is represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The gathering provides an important platform for ECO member states to continue their efforts in enhancing regional cooperation, with a particular focus on environmental and clean energy projects. These initiatives aim to bolster economic development and integration among member countries.

The ECO, which was founded in 1985 in Tehran by Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye, is dedicated to promoting sustainable economic development, regional cooperation, and the integration of member nations into the global economy. The organization focuses on improving trade relations, strengthening infrastructure, protecting the environment, and encouraging cultural exchanges.

A key milestone in the organization’s efforts was the 27th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers, held in Shusha, Azerbaijan, on October 10, 2023. The meeting, chaired by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, reviewed the activities of the organization since the previous session. The ministers also addressed the emerging global challenges and emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts to mitigate the impact of these issues on the region's socio-economic development. One of the highlights of the meeting was the adoption of the “Shusha Declaration,” which outlined key policy directions for enhancing regional cooperation in various sectors.

During the Shusha meeting, Türkiye also signed the Charter for the ECO Clean Energy Center, which is set to be established in Baku. This marks a significant step in the organization's commitment to promoting clean energy in the region. The meeting also saw the participation of ECO Observers, including the Foreign Minister of the Turkish Cypriot State, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States, and the Secretary-General of CICA, an international partner of the ECO. Heads of various ECO Specialized Agencies and Regional Institutions, such as the Educational Institute, Cultural Institute, Science Foundation, and the Trade and Development Bank, were also in attendance.

Through these meetings, the ECO continues to strengthen its role in promoting economic cooperation and addressing the challenges faced by its member states.

By Tamilla Hasanova