PR No. 276 22ND MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (ECO) ISLAMABAD, 28 FEBRUARY 2017 Islamabad

The Council of Ministers (COM) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held its 22ndmeeting in Islamabad on 28 February 2017.

 

The Meeting chaired by H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, was attended by the Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the ECO Member States and Observers. Representatives of International Organizationsalso attended the COM as Special Guests. The Secretary General of ECO, Mr. Halil Ibrahim Akca represented the ECO Secretariat.

 

The Meeting deliberated the progress made since the last COM. Secretary General Akcabriefed the Council on the recent activities of the Secretariat and progress made in various fields, inter alia, trade and investment; transport & communications; agriculture and food security; energy and environment; and international relations.

 

The Meeting also discussed the developments of ECO since its expansion and exchanged views on the possible reforms needed for keeping pace with the evolving requirements of regional cooperation.

 

The COM adopted the ECO Vision 2025 as recommended by the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM). The Vision document focuses on sectoral priorities of the Organization and serves as a roadmap/guideline for the medium-term success of the Organization. The Agenda for the 13th ECO Summit to be held on 1 March 2017 was also finalized.

 

The COM recommended to the Summit adoption of the Islamabad Declaration 2017.The Declaration focuses on the Summit’s theme “Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” besides the salient points of cooperation among the members of ECO in the fields of connectivity, trade, transport, energy etc.

 

The meeting participants renewed their commitment to promote regional economic integration among the ECO member states and resolved to play an active role for the realization of the Organization’s aims and objectives.

 

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