Transit Digitalization, Ecology, and ECO Vision – Turkmenistan at the ECO Foreign Ministers' Council
The 29th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Foreign Ministers was held via videoconference on Friday, November 28. Akhmet Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, participated in the meeting, chaired by the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The event focused on key issues related to the development of multilateral cooperation between member states, improving regional interaction mechanisms, and enhancing the Organization's effectiveness.
Participants focused on the Secretary-General's report and the draft "Strategic Goals for Economic Cooperation – 2035."
The Turkmen side supported further revision of the document, taking into account the feasibility of its approaches, project focus, and practical implementation mechanisms. In this regard, the advisability of extending the ECO Vision 2025 concept for a transition period was supported.
In his speech, Akhmet Gurbanov clearly outlined Turkmenistan's priorities within the ECO, emphasizing the development of transport and logistics connectivity, the digitalization of transit, and the strengthening of regional infrastructure links. The importance of Turkmenistan's initiative to proclaim the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) for the coordination of joint projects was noted.
The Vice Minister also emphasized Turkmenistan's environmental initiatives, including the establishment of the Regional Center to Combat Desertification and the Climate Technology Center under the auspices of the UN. The need for collaboration with international financial institutions for green transformation was emphasized.
The parties also discussed developing trade and economic cooperation, promoting the private sector, implementing digital trade tools, and strengthening humanitarian cooperation.
Following the meeting, organizational and financial matters for ECO activities were agreed upon, and further steps to develop joint initiatives were outlined. The next meeting of the ECO Council of Foreign Ministers is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2026.
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