ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) concluded in Islamabad on Tuesday with the adoption of the ECO Vision 2025 as recommended by the Senior Officials Meeting held on February 27.
In the meeting presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the agenda for the 13th ECO Summit to be held on March 1, 2017 was also finalized.
The ECO Vision 2025 document focuses on sectoral priorities of the Organization and serves as a roadmap/guideline for the medium-term success of the Organization.
The Council of Ministers recommended to the Summit adoption of the Islamabad Declaration 2017.
The Islamabad Declaration 2017 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.
The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers of ECO was attended by the Foreign Ministers and Representatives of the ECO Member States and Observers. The representatives of International Organizations also attended the COM as Special Guests. The Secretary General of ECO Halil Ibrahim Akca represented the ECO Secretariat.
The Meeting deliberated the progress made since the last meeting of Council of Ministers.
The ECO Secretary General briefed 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.
