On the invitation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the ECO Secretary General H.E. Mr. Khusrav Noziri visited Uzbekistan to witness the country’s Presidential Election, conducted on October 24, 2021. He participated in the electoral process as an International Observer, alongside other global and regional representatives.
On the sidelines of his visit, the ECO Secretary General called on the Deputy Prime Minister- Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Economy and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to discuss different areas of regional cooperation within the range of ECO framework.
While calling on the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade H.E. Mr. Sardor Umurzakov the ECO Secretary General appreciably acknowledged the increased role of Uzbekistan in the organization’s activities. Expressing pleasure over the introduction of some fresh and valued proposals by the honourable President of Uzbekistan during 14th ECO Summit that included the areas of trade & investment, transport & communication, agriculture & industry, energy, mineral & environment, human resources and sustainable development, the Secretary General considered that this would be beneficial for the overall wellbeing of the region. Referring the joint objectives as envisaged in the ECO Vision-2025, he believed that with the enduring and enhanced support of Uzbekistan as well as the augmented cooperation by other Member States, the ECO would continue to travel on the path of mutual development, progress and prosperity.
The Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade reassured Uzbekistan’s complete cooperation to support the ECO in the pursuit of its agenda of greater cooperation for the sustainable economic growth and stability in the region. Both sides appeared poised to push the regional development process and continue interaction for the accomplishment of mutually beneficial targets. In addition, they agreed to expand the scope of ECO agenda of regional cooperation to fully exploit the available resources and potentials of the region.
During meeting with the First Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Farkhod Arziev, the ECO Secretary General summarized the status of ongoing preparation process concerning the organization of 15th ECO Summit to be preceded by 25th Meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers (COM) under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan, which is scheduled in Ashgabat for the last week of November 2021. The interaction between the two sides also covered several issues of regional interest, as well as the next ECO Chairmanship to be taken over by the Republic of Uzbekistan in January 2022. It was optimistically believed that under the leadership of Uzbekistan, the Organization would plow ahead, exploring the existing and some fresh avenues of cooperative advancement to secure the envisioned targets for greater socioeconomic development in the region.
The ECO Secretary General’s talks with the Deputy Minister of Economy and poverty reduction, Mr. Bobur Abdinazarov focused on the issues concerning the development of regional trade and investment, creation of conducive business environment and favourable conditions for the stimulation of free movement of goods and facilitation of services, intensification of progress on establishing free trade zones in the ECO Region. They also mulled over other issues of regional interest, emphasizing on the continuity of relevant activities to keep the process intact.
