Gorgan, Iran – August 27, 2026
Dr. Asad M. Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), met with H.E. Alireza Tahmasebi, Governor-General of Golestan Province, during his official visit to the province to discuss the strategic importance of the Incheh Borun border area and the development of the ECO-supported Iran–Turkmenistan Joint Trade Zone (JTZ) initiative.
During the meeting, Dr. Khan highlighted the significant potential of Incheh Borun as a gateway for regional trade and transit, emphasizing the importance of strengthening infrastructure, connectivity, and trade facilitation in the area.
The Secretary General underscored that the Joint Trade Zone initiative extends beyond bilateral cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan and has the potential to generate significant benefits for the wider ECO region by facilitating trade, transit, investment, and regional supply-chain connectivity.
Dr. Khan further noted that the initiative could serve as a replicable model for other strategic border areas across ECO member states, contributing to the Organization’s broader objectives of enhancing regional connectivity, expanding intra-regional trade, and promoting deeper economic integration.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening cooperation between ECO and the provincial authorities in support of the initiative and other projects aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the region.
