The First High-Level Meeting of Private Airlines of the ECO Region and the Fourth Meeting of the ECO Working Group on Civil Aviation Concludes

The First High-Level Meeting of Private Airlines of the ECO Region and the Fourth Meeting of the ECO Working Group on Civil Aviation were successfully held on 11th November 2025 in Tashkent. The landmark events were jointly organized by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretariat and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The meetings were attended by high-level delegations from ECO Member States, including ministers of transport, heads of civil aviation authorities, and chief executives of leading private airlines. The delegation of the ECO Secretariat was headed by the Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Silapberdi Nurberdiyev.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Silapberdi Nurberdiyev appreciated the Government of Uzbekistan for its gracious hospitality in hosting this historic event. He emphasized that the gathering marked a pivotal moment for regional integration, underscoring the critical role of aviation as an artery for economic growth, cultural connectivity, and shared prosperity in the ECO region. The Deputy Secretary General also highlighted the successful implementation of the initiative put forward by H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regarding the organization of a Forum of National Airlines.
The meetings deliberated extensively on a comprehensive agenda, inter alia, “Enhancing regional air connectivity and liberalization of air services”, “Progress report on the establishment of the ECO Regional Air Hubs at Samarkand (Uzbekistan) and Gabala (Azerbaijan) airports”, “Fostering public-private partnerships in the aviation sector”, ‘Discussion on the “Regional Framework Agreement on Civil Aviation”, “Addressing current challenges and opportunities for private airlines in the ECO region”, “Cooperation in the fields of aviation security, safety, and personnel training”.
Furthermore, the participants discussed concrete measures to boost collaboration, including joint capacity-building programs, certification of aviation operators and personnel, and the harmonization of regulations to facilitate seamless air transportation.
The First High-Level Meeting of Private Airlines served as a pivotal platform to forge concrete partnerships and synergies between the private sector and governments, concluding with a shared commitment to create a more connected, prosperous, and sustainable future for civil aviation in the ECO community.