DUSHANBE, 04.03.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – On March 4, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon took part in the 14th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) via video conference.

In a statement delivered at the summit, President Rahmon talked about the acute global social, economic and financial crisis caused by COVID-19 and expressed confidence that the summit will serve to overcome the consequences of the pandemic and will contribute to sustainable development in the region.

Analyzing the state of trade cooperation between the SCO member nations as a factor in the rapid development of the regional economy, President Rahmon stressed that trade between Tajikistan with ECO member nations accounted for only 8% of a total volume of the country’s foreign trade turnover, which reflects the underutilization of trade opportunities between the states.

While analyzing the level of cooperation between the ECO member states in the fields of transportation, communication, energy, industry, mining, environmental protection and agricultural sector, he noted the necessity of expanding contacts and implementing important programs and projects to ensure sustainable development in the region.

He likewise voiced his commitment on establishing the ECO Clean Energy Center and called the implementation of the project on construction of a high-voltage transmission line CASA-1000, which will be the first energy bridge between Central and South Asia.

President Rahmon stressed that in today’s conditions, the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization should take the initiative in coordinating the efforts of member states to ensure food security, reduce unemployment and poverty, and other specific problems in the organization, which have intensified during the pandemic.

The particioants expressed their hope that the project activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization will be aimed at overcoming these problems and providing comprehensive assistance to the socio-economic development of member countries.

Given the situation that have arisen in the background of the pandemic, President Rahmon spoke about establishing a tool for regional cooperation in the fight against infectious diseases.

In connection with strengthening cooperation between the member countries of the organization in the field of tourism, he noted that Dushanbe has been declared the ECO tourism capital for 2020-2021 and as part of measures to develop the tourism sector, the International Festival Dushanbe-ECO Tourism Capital, and the International Forum for the Development of Agrotourism will be held in Dushanbe in May this year.

While noting the issues of socio-economic development of Afghanistan, President Rahmon invited participating countries to a high-level meeting the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process which will be held in Dushanbe.
He also expressed Tajikistan’s readiness to implement ECO’s 2025 Vision Document.