On January 17, 2022, H.E. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Kireأ§ci, President of the ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI) had a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, on the sidelines of the 33rd Meeting of the ECO Regional Planning Council (RPC) at the ECO Headquarters, Tehran.
The ECO Secretary General, while appreciating the ECOEI for its regular participation in the high-level events organized under the framework of the ECO, highlighted the commendable and indispensable role of the ECO Specialized Agencies especially Educational Institute in assisting the Organization to advance its agenda of regional cooperation. The Secretary General admired the endeavors of the Institute to issue publications regarding connections and commonalities in the ECO region. He also acknowledged the educational and academic activities of the ECOEI. The Secretary General extended felicitations to his ECOEI counterpart on the ratification of the Host Country Agreement between the ECO Educational Institute and the Republic of Türkiye.
While applauding the ECO Secretariat for extending generous hospitality, the President of the ECOEI briefed on some of the major achievements of the Institute especially the initiatives of StudyinECO.org, ECOpedia, and student exchange programmes. He further highlighted that the Institute had extended fresh invitations to non-signatory ECO Member States to sign ECOEI Charter to make the Institute more vibrant, dynamic and efficient.
At the end of the meeting, the ECO Secretary General commended the President for his proposal to hold the 6th Consultation Meeting of Heads of ECO Specialized Agencies, scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the 26th Meeting of ECO Council of Ministers (COM) on January 23-24 in Tashkent and raise the issue of the membership expansion of the Institute during the 26th COM. The ECO Secretary General expressed readiness to extend all sorts of possible assistance to the Institute to carry out mandated functions.