Tehran – November 26, 2024
An ECO delegation, led by ECO Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Asad M. Khan, visited the ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ECO-CCI) office in Tehran on November 26, 2024. The delegation included the Deputy Secretary General (AIT) and officials from the Trade & Investment Directorate of the ECO Secretariat.
Mr. Samad Hassanzade, President of both the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture (ICCIMA) and ECO-CCI, graciously welcomed the delegation, along with Mr. Muhammad Khazei, Head of the International Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Iran.
Discussions focused on the region’s significant potential for expanding trade and investment. ECO-CCI representatives emphasized the need for active collaboration to advance ongoing initiatives in trade, transport and tourism. The meeting called both sides’ strengthened roles in fostering meaningful interactions among regional business communities.
Ambassador Khan highlighted ECO’s achievements and ongoing initiatives in priority sectors, including trade, investment, transport, connectivity, energy and tourism. He underscored the importance of the ECOTA framework in boosting intra-regional trade, currently valued at $82 billion—just 8% of the region’s trade with the rest of the world. With coordinated efforts, he emphasized, ECO’s regional trade could grow significantly, aligning with the broader $1.016 trillion ECO trade potential.
The meeting concluded with mutual commitments to enhancing trade facilitation, investment promotion and connectivity, aiming to create a business-friendly environment, reduce costs and risks, and stimulate cross-border trade and investment flows.
