The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour participated in an International Conference on the policy of neutrality and its significance in ensuring international peace, security and sustainable development. The event held on December 12, 2020 was dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality Policy of Turkmenistan. A number of regional and international representatives as well as local dignitaries attended the forum.

The ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport was held virtually on December 15, 2020 to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the region’s transport sector and the ways and means to address the stressed socio-economic conditions.

A 7th Meeting of the High Level Working Group on Standardization, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation and Metrology was virtually hosted by Islamic Republic of Iran on December 8, 2020 to discuss the ways and means of promoting and expanding mutual and multi-lateral cooperation in the field of Standardization, Conformity, Accreditation, and Metrology amongst the Member States. The relevant representatives of the ECO Member States, ECO Secretariat and Regional Institute for Standardization, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation and Metrology attended the meeting.

The ECO Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour participated, as an observer, in the 36th Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC).

On the invitation of the UNESCAP, the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization, H.E. Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour participated in the Third Asia-Pacific Forum for South-South and Triangular Cooperation. The event jointly organized by ESCAP, UNOSSC, Government of Indonesia as well as the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) was held on November 25, 2020 under the theme of “The Role of South-South Cooperation in Building Back from COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia and the Pacific.

The preparatory virtual meeting prior to the holding of 1st Meeting of the Heads of the National Development and Wealth Fund of the ECO Member States was held on November 23, 2020. The meeting inter-alia discussed the ways and means of holding the 1st Meeting of the Heads of the National Development and Wealth Fund of ECO Member States. High-level Representatives from Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Republic of Turkey also attended the meeting.

An ECO delegation headed by Dr. Sayed Yahya Akhlaqi, Deputy Secretary General, participated in the Regional Seminar on Geographical Indications (GIs) held virtually on November 18, 2020. The event under the theme of Distinctive Signs for “Origin-Based Products: Geographical Indication, Collective and Certification Marks” was hosted by the Intellectual Property Center (IPC) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), organizer of the Seminar. High-level Representatives from ECO Member Countries also attended the seminar.

An ECO delegation headed by Dr. Sayed Yahya Akhlaqi, Deputy Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization participated in the 2020 SPECA Economic Forum held on November 18, 2020 under the Chairmanship of Kyrgyz Republic.

A one-day ECO Training Course on “Primary Prevention of Addiction” hosted by Drug Control Headquarters was held virtually on November 11, 2020. The University of Tehran also contributed to the event as a co-host. The event was attended by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran (host), Republic of Kazakhstan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A High Level Experts Working Group met virtually on November 2, 2020 to discuss and finalize an ECO declaration on health for consideration of the relevant ECO Ministerial Meeting. The event, organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran, was attended by Representatives from member countries and the relevant officials of the ECO Secretariat.