Astana, 14 October 2026
ECO Secretary General, Dr. Asad M. Khan, attended an IRU–UN-OHRLLS side event on advancing the Awaza Programme of Action, which mobilized regional and international partnerships to strengthen connectivity, transit facilitation and market access for landlocked countries. The Secretary General noted that the Programme provides an important framework for addressing their development challenges, particularly in transport connectivity and access to international markets.
He stated that ECO has deepened engagement with UN-OHRLLS, UNESCAP, UNECE, the IsDB and the IRU to translate the Programme’s priorities into regional initiatives, emphasizing that improved road transport efficiency requires harmonized regulations, simplified border procedures, digitalized transit systems and a professional, resilient transport industry.
The Secretary General announced that ECO is working towards an international financing conference for transport corridors and projects in next year, and that a meeting is planned for 18 November 2026 in Bangkok to develop a regional roadmap for implementation of the Programme, While the ECO Sustainable and Resilient Transport Strategy for 2026–2035 and the Astana Declaration stand as landmark instruments providing strategic direction for addressing the connectivity challenges of landlocked Member States over the coming decade.
The side event reaffirmed ECO and its partners’ commitment to advancing the Awaza Programme of Action through strengthened cooperation and practical initiatives for landlocked countries, while the ECO–IRU Action Plan for 2026–2027 serves as a joint roadmap to facilitate regional transport and trade by accelerating TIR and eTIR digitalization, reducing costs and administrative barriers, and reinforcing cooperation between customs authorities and the transport industry, in alignment with the ECO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the ECO Sustainable and Resilient Transport Strategy for 2026–2035.
