Tehran – May 28, 2025
The Economic Cooperation Organization successfully convened the 10th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Administration (CHCA) today in Tehran, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The meeting brought together high-level delegations from nine ECO Member States, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan participating online, while the remaining Member States attended physically at senior levels, reflecting the strong political will and shared commitment to advancing regional customs cooperation.
The meeting was inaugurated in the presence of H.E. Mr. Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice President of Iran; H.E. Mr. Seyed Rahmatollah Akrami, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs; Mr. Foroud Asgari, Head of the Iranian Customs Administration, and Mr. Alberto De Pretto, the Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU).
The ECO Secretary General emphasized in his opening remarks that the meeting marked a new chapter in regional trade facilitation and customs modernization. Key highlights included the submission of the ECO Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, and the ECO Trade Facilitation Strategy for adoption.
The Secretary General further noted the strategic relevance of the upcoming 5th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Commerce and Foreign Trade, to be held in Istanbul on 25 June 2025, calling for full Member State participation to help drive forward the modernization of the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA).
The 10th CHCA Meeting represents a vital step toward deeper regional integration, enhanced trade flows, and stronger cooperation across customs administrations.
