On August 21, 2019, the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour met with the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon in the Guliston city of Sughd Province of Tajikistan.
On August 21, 2019, the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour met with the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon in the Guliston city of Sughd Province of Tajikistan.
While highlighting the reform process in the organization, which is particularly aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the ECO as well as sense of equal ownership amongst the Member States, the Secretary General presented a report on organizational activities and achievements during the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan. He added that the structural reforms were under process and consideration of the ECO Council of Permanent Representatives (CPR).
The ECO Secretary General further informed that the ECOTA Cooperation Council was re-considering the ECOTA agreement given the changing space for its implementation and the fresh goals of the organization, suggesting an economic ministerial meeting to be convened in Tajikistan in the early 2020. He underlined that the proposed meeting could serve as a catalyst for promotion of further economic cooperation in the ECO Region.
The Secretary General stressed that ECO was particularly focusing to prioritize its attention on transforming the transit corridors into economic ones. He reiterated the ECO’s commitments on railway transport corridors and shared information on the forthcoming meeting of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) corridor, as well as ITI and KTI corridors. Moreover, he conveyed the organization's initiatives for linking the land-locked Member States to the seaports of the ECO region as envisaged in the Turkmenbashi Declaration.
Secretary General underscored that having a considerable experience as well as exposure of participation in the CASA-1000 project, Tajikistan could effectively contribute to the implementation of the ECO Regional Electricity Market project.
Welcoming the Tajikistan`s President initiative on declaring the 2019-2021 the “Years of Rural Development, Tourism and Folk Crafts”, the Secretary General briefed him on preparations for the meeting of ECO Tourism Ministers scheduled to be held in Khujand city on October 3-4, 2019.
While appreciating the efforts made by the Secretary General and his team, His Excellency, Mr. Emomali Rahmon expressed satisfaction over the existing cooperation in trade, transit and transport policy as well as the strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. He emphasized on Tajikistan’s commitment to further strengthening the comprehensive cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transport and communication, industry, agriculture, environment and tourism sectors with the other ECO member states.
Appreciating the selection of ECO’s tourism capital in the agenda of the scheduled meeting of Tourism Ministers, His Excellency, the President suggested declaration of Dushanbe city as “Tourism capital 2020” of the ECO countries. He expressed optimism that the forthcoming ministerial meeting on tourism would give an effective impetus to the development of tourism sector in the ECO Member States.
His Excellency, Emomali Rahmon desired the ECO Economy Ministers Meeting to be held in an efficient manner, stressing that the successful holding of the scheduled meeting would help further strengthen the economic cooperation in the ECO region.
Both sides also discussed the issues related to enhancement of regional tourism, ensuring peace, security and stability in the neighboring countries of Afghanistan as well as the country’s socio-economic development.
The meeting was held and concluded in a constructive atmosphere of mutual understanding.
While highlighting the reform process in the organization, which is particularly aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the ECO as well as sense of equal ownership amongst the Member States, the Secretary General presented a report on organizational activities and achievements during the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan. He added that the structural reforms were under process and consideration of the ECO Council of Permanent Representatives (CPR).
The ECO Secretary General further informed that the ECOTA Cooperation Council was re-considering the ECOTA agreement given the changing space for its implementation and the fresh goals of the organization, suggesting an economic ministerial meeting to be convened in Tajikistan in the early 2020. He underlined that the proposed meeting could serve as a catalyst for promotion of further economic cooperation in the ECO Region.
The Secretary General stressed that ECO was particularly focusing to prioritize its attention on transforming the transit corridors into economic ones. He reiterated the ECO’s commitments on railway transport corridors and shared information on the forthcoming meeting of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) corridor, as well as ITI and KTI corridors. Moreover, he conveyed the organization's initiatives for linking the land-locked Member States to the seaports of the ECO region as envisaged in the Turkmenbashi Declaration.
Secretary General underscored that having a considerable experience as well as exposure of participation in the CASA-1000 project, Tajikistan could effectively contribute to the implementation of the ECO Regional Electricity Market project.
Welcoming the Tajikistan`s President initiative on declaring the 2019-2021 the “Years of Rural Development, Tourism and Folk Crafts”, the Secretary General briefed him on preparations for the meeting of ECO Tourism Ministers scheduled to be held in Khujand city on October 3-4, 2019.
While appreciating the efforts made by the Secretary General and his team, His Excellency, Mr. Emomali Rahmon expressed satisfaction over the existing cooperation in trade, transit and transport policy as well as the strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. He emphasized on Tajikistan’s commitment to further strengthening the comprehensive cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transport and communication, industry, agriculture, environment and tourism sectors with the other ECO member states.
Appreciating the selection of ECO’s tourism capital in the agenda of the scheduled meeting of Tourism Ministers, His Excellency, the President suggested declaration of Dushanbe city as “Tourism capital 2020” of the ECO countries. He expressed optimism that the forthcoming ministerial meeting on tourism would give an effective impetus to the development of tourism sector in the ECO Member States.
His Excellency, Emomali Rahmon desired the ECO Economy Ministers Meeting to be held in an efficient manner, stressing that the successful holding of the scheduled meeting would help further strengthen the economic cooperation in the ECO region.
Both sides also discussed the issues related to enhancement of regional tourism, ensuring peace, security and stability in the neighboring countries of Afghanistan as well as the country’s socio-economic development.
The meeting was held and concluded in a constructive atmosphere of mutual understanding.
