DNA

ISLAMABAD, MAR 3 – The 14^th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) will be held virtually on 4 March 2021. The theme of the Summit is “Regional Economic Cooperation in the Aftermath of Covid-19.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan will open the Summit in Pakistan’s capacity as the Chair of the 13^th Summit, held in Islamabad in March 2017. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will Chair the 14^th Summit.

While sharing Pakistan’s perspective on COVID-19 challenges, the Prime Minister will outline his vision for regional economic development in line with ECO’s founding principles of promotion of trade and connectivity.

Pakistan is one of the founding members of ECO, in addition to Iran and Turkey. The Organization was formed in 1985 from the erstwhile Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan later joined as members of ECO. As a founding member, Pakistan remains strongly committed to ECO which aims at promotion of effective regional cooperation, with focus on communications, trade, culture and connectivity.

The Summit is the highest platform in the 10-member ECO. The Summit meetings entail exchange of views on regional and global issues of interest to the ECO region and review of the progress in implementation of ECO programmes and projects.

Pakistan has been actively contributing towards advancement of the goals and objectives of ECO, including regional economic integration.