09 September 2025 – Islamabad, Pakistan
The 7th Meeting of the High-Level Working Group on the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul (ITI) Road Corridor was held today in Islamabad under the auspices of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), hosted by the Government of Pakistan.
The meeting brought together experts from the en-route member states and stakeholders to review progress on the operationalization of the ITI Road Corridor and to deliberate on measures for enhancing regional transport connectivity.
In his remarks, the ECO Secretary General recalled the landmark achievement of October 2021, when the first-ever test run of the ITI Road Corridor under the TIR system successfully crossed the entire route from Islamabad to Istanbul. He underlined the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Joint ECO/IRU Report on the ITI Project, emphasizing that they are key to making the corridor a fully functional and commercially viable route.
The Secretary General called on en-route countries to work closely together in addressing the challenges identified during the test run, including customs harmonization, transit facilitation, and infrastructure needs.
Participants also reviewed the Action Plan formulated during the 6th ITI Meeting, with a focus on accelerating its implementation. Discussions highlighted the importance of adopting digital solutions such as eTIR and eCMR systems to enhance efficiency, predictability, and security along the corridor.
Attention was also drawn to the potential of the ECO Visa Scheme, which could play a significant role in facilitating the mobility of transport operators, traders, and businesspersons across ECO Member States.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the ECO to strengthen regional and inter-regional connectivity through the ITI Road Corridor, recognizing its role as a flagship ECO initiative and a vital trade link between South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
