Iran Proposes Practical Steps to Boost Regional Trade at ECO Meeting

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking during the 14th ECO Trade Promotion Organizations Meeting, hosted virtually by Pakistan, Dehnavi emphasized the urgent need for ECO member states to deepen economic collaboration, particularly in the field of trade.

“With our considerable population, rich natural resources, strategic geographic location, and shared cultural and historical ties, ECO countries have all the ingredients to become a global economic hub — but this requires a strong collective will and effective cooperation,” he stated.

Dehnavi described regional trade development as a key tool for securing economic stability, cultural integration, and regional security. However, he noted that ECO’s share of regional trade in its members’ overall trade portfolios remains insufficient. To address this, he proposed several practical measures:     Establishing a harmonized system to streamline customs procedures; Launching and activating joint transportation lines and regional corridors, including the North–South and East–West trade corridors;    Creating bilateral and multilateral barter mechanisms; Expanding joint trade exhibitions, events, and economic delegation exchanges; and developing digital infrastructure and enabling platforms for e-commerce.

Highlighting Iran’s readiness to host specialized meetings on the export of engineering and technical services, knowledge-based agriculture, and the halal industry, Dehnavi stressed the vital role ECO trade organizations can play in financing and investment initiatives. He called for a more active role from the ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO-TDB) in supporting these efforts.

He also pointed to Iran’s strong capabilities in the export of knowledge-based products and engineering services. “In the past decade, Iran’s knowledge-based sector has seen significant growth, with over 8,000 companies active in biotechnology, nanotechnology, IT, advanced pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and innovative agriculture,” he said. Government support in the form of financial incentives, tax exemptions, and access to science and technology parks has further fueled this growth.

Dehnavi added that Iranian engineering firms have a long-standing presence in the region, having delivered large-scale infrastructure projects in dam construction, water transfer, oil and gas, power plants, and sustainable energy — offering high-quality services at competitive costs. These capabilities, he noted, can contribute significantly to the reconstruction and infrastructure development of ECO member states and neighboring regions, including Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

In closing, he expressed hope that collective efforts would transform ECO into a successful model of regional cooperation.