On April 21, 2025, the Directorate for Trade and Investment of the ECO Secretariat organized the 1st Virtual Technical Dialogue Meeting with the Trade Policy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), headquartered in Moscow. The meeting was convened to explore potential avenues for technical cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of trade and economic integration, including synergies between the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and the EAEU Trade Area.
Mr. Zahid Hussain Abbasi, Director (Trade and Investment), opened the session covering the ECO Secretariat’s strategic objectives for deepening regional trade cooperation. Mr. Mehmet Çetik, Programme Officer, made a presentation on ECOTA, emphasizing its key provisions related to tariff reduction and the elimination of para-tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Representing the Eurasian Economic Commission, Mr. Mikhail Cherekaev, Deputy Director of the Trade Policy Department, expressed strong interest in establishing a continued technical dialogue with the ECO Secretariat. He presented the EAEU’s legal and regulatory framework on regional trade integration.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the dialogue and agreed to identify practical steps to deepen institutional engagement on trade issues. The meeting concluded on a constructive note, with participants expressing optimism that enhanced cooperation will support greater economic integration across the wider region.
