Deputy Secretary General of the ECO Mr. Çağatay Öngüt participated in the Global Transport Connectivity Forum held on 27-29 June 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The high-level event, inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, brought together international leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address pressing global transportation challenges and opportunities.
Speaking in the high-level session titled “Emerging Challenges for Global Connectivity” the ECO Deputy Secretary General emphasized the growing vulnerabilities in global maritime routes as well as declining water levels in key inland seas such as the Caspian. Highlighting ECO’s regional significance, the Deputy Secretary General noted that seven of the organization’s ten member states are landlocked and heavily reliant on maritime gateways for trade.
The Deputy Secretary General outlined ECO’s ongoing initiatives to improve regional transport corridors, including the Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul corridors, in coordination with UNECE. He also presented the preliminary findings of a pre-feasibility study on ECO Transport Corridors and ECO Gates, conducted in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank.
Looking ahead, the Deputy Secretary General announced ECO’s planned side event at the Third United Nations Conference for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan, on 6 August 2025. This initiative, he said, reflects ECO’s dedication to creating inclusive, sustainable, and resilient connectivity for its member states.
