Karachi – May 06, 2025
The 4th ECO Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) Forum has been successfully organized in hybrid mode by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, in a hybrid format. The event brought together delegates from I.R of Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Republic of Türkiye, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kazakhstan, and Republic of Tajikistan, the I.R of Pakistan, the ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ECO-Trade and Development Bank, and the ECO Secretariat. The event was chaired by Mr. Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, Chef Executive, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
Whilst speaking on the occasion, Mr. Zahid Hussain Abbasi, Director ECO, highlighted the various initiatives being pursued by the ECO to align the frameworks and initiates to the modern needs, which include the amendments in ECOTA for its Operationalization, updating the ‘Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters’, finalization of the Trade Facilitation Strategy/Agreement, finalization of draft Protocol on Joint Trade Promotion Activities in the ECO’ today.
In his welcome remarks, the Chair stated that trade and commerce are vital instruments for economic development and poverty reduction. He emphasized the needs to reduce and eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers in the region to enhance economic growth. He expressed hope that the forum would foster tangible economic partnerships and contribute to ECO’s new proposed vision 2026-2035 for an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable regional strategy.
The forum recognized the ECO Trade and Development Bank’s growing role in the regional trade and enhanced collaboration between ETDB and Trade Promotion Agencies of the ECO to capitalize the opportunities for trade finance, SME development, and joint investments. ECO TDB expressed its readiness to sponsor the ‘Regional Partnership Forum’, which TDAP offered to host.
The Forum resulted in key agreements, including the launch of a joint ECO trade promotion activity with private sector involvement, aimed at enhancing B2B engagement and sectoral networking. The TADP offered to allocate a pavilion for the ECO in the upcoming trade fair.
