Istanbul – November 25, 2025
The 5th High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) Meeting on Trade, Investment, and Other Related Matters in the ECO Region was held on November 24-25, 2025 in Istanbul. The meeting brought together senior officials from all ten ECO Member States, restoring an important platform for regional technical coordination in the areas of trade and investment. Delegations from ECO Observers, ECO affiliated organizations, partner institutions and international organizations also attended the meeting.
In his opening remarks, ECO Deputy Secretary General Dr. Behzad Saberi highlighted the substantial progress achieved and the way ahead in the ECO Region with respect to intra-regional trade expansion, trade facilitation, ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) implementation, tariff and non-tariff trade barriers reduction, customs cooperation, and e-commerce development in the ECO Region.
Chaired by Ms. Aylin Bebekoğlu, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Trade, Republic of Türkiye, the meeting reviewed the implementation status of relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the ECO Summits, the Council of Foreign Ministers, previous Ministerial Meetings on Commerce and Foreign Trade, and the Council of Heads of Customs Administrations.
The meeting commended the ECO Secretariat’s efforts in promoting regional trade liberalization and finalized crucial instruments, including the negotiation strategy for amending the ECOTA, the ECO Trade Facilitation Strategy, the Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Trade Promotion Activities.
The meeting adopted the Negotiation Strategy and Roadmap for amending ECOTA, along with the recommendation to establish a Technical Negotiation Committee to guide the amendment process, and support the effective implementation of ECOTA. The meeting also finalized the Agenda and the Istanbul Declaration for submission to the 5th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Commerce and Foreign Trade, scheduled for 26 November 2025.
