ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT): In a pivotal meeting held in Islamabad, ECO Secretary General Ambassador Khusrav Noziri met with Pakistani Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan to discuss regional trade dynamics and the future direction of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
During the meeting, Minister Jam Kamal Khan lauded Ambassador Noziri for his exceptional service to the ECO and expressed confidence that his successor, Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan, would continue to advance the organization’s activities.
Khan underscored Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO, highlighting its significant contributions to the organization’s initiatives.
Noziri provided an overview of ECO’s recent activities and emphasized the ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing the organization’s regional and global influence.
He expressed optimism that these reforms would continue under the new Secretary General, strengthening the organization’s impact.
The discussion focused on strategies to boost intra-regional trade and enhance connectivity among member states.
Both sides reviewed the progress of ECO-Vision 2025, which was adopted during the 13th ECO Summit in Islamabad in 2017.
Minister Khan highlighted Pakistan’s visa-free policy for 126 countries as a model to enhance trade cooperation globally and suggested a similar ECO Visa policy to facilitate trade among member states.
Quorum issues for ECO meetings were also addressed to ensure effective decision-making and policy formulation.
Ambassador Noziri acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in the organization, both in trade and political spheres, being a founding member of the ECO.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasized the need for concrete and results-oriented policies to promote sustainable development in the region.
He assured the Secretary General full support for the ECO reform agenda and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing intra-regional trade.
Ambassador Noziri expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s hospitality and stressed the importance of continued collaboration among member states.
Naziri also appreciated Pakistan role in eco and initiatives undertaken by Pakistan
He suggested expanding the ECO by including Georgia and Armenia to strengthen ties between Central Asia and South Asia, with Pakistan taking a leading role.
Highlighting the need for improved connectivity, Noziri mentioned the rehabilitation of Quetta-Taftan corridor as crucial for better regional integration.
He reiterated the importance of focusing on trade enhancement to make the ECO more effective in its mandate.
The meeting concluded with Minister Jam Kamal Khan appreciating Ambassador Noziri’s efforts to promote ECO as a regional platform for cooperation and extended best wishes for his future endeavors.
