ECO Countries Resume Ministerial Dialogue on Industry After a 20-Year Hiatus
The fourth ministerial meeting on industry of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states—held on September 23 in Dushanbe alongside the Second International Textile Forum—marked a significant step toward strengthening regional economic integration and technological modernization.
The gathering of relevant ministers and delegations from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan demonstrated the region's commitment to establishing sustainable production chains and expanding investment cooperation. A key outcome of the talks was the creation of a platform to pool the efforts of leading regional organizations, including the utilization of the "CIS Plus" format, which opens up new opportunities for institutional dialogue between the CIS and the ECO.
Participants examined in detail mechanisms for advancing joint industrial projects, the deep processing of raw materials, and the development of trade ties—measures that enable regional economies to maintain resilience and growth momentum. The meeting culminated in the adoption of the Declaration on Revitalizing Regional Industrial Cooperation, which laid the groundwork for joint investment programs and the expansion of industrial cooperation over the long term.
