The Asia and Pacific Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ms. Sarah Lou Arrioal visited the ECO Secretary General Ambassador Khusrav Noziri on June 21, 2023.

Welcoming Ms. Arrioal, the ECO Secretary General appreciated the role of IOM on the world stage in resolving migration issues, and highlighted that migration is also a critical issue of concern for many ECO Member States and is a priority for the Secretariat as well. In this regard, ECO, as a project-oriented economic forum, is receptively ready to join hands with IOM and other international organizations with a view to developing effective projects for addressing migration related issues. 

Citing the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ECO and IOM in 2009, Ms. Arrioal desired more active and strengthened cooperation between the two organizations based on a comprehensive work plan that may be mutually developed by them. She also proposed that an international conference might be jointly organized by migration-affected ECO countries in collaboration with other stakeholders. 

Given the regional and global importance of the matter, both sides appeared to be keen and determined to expand their cooperation and engagements for developing concrete and implementable projects.