TEHRAN (Iran News) Greater cooperation among Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states will help improve the welfare of their peoples, says Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadeq.

Speaking at the 13th ECO Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Tehran on Monday, Sadegh said the organization’s regional collaboration reflects the cultural bonds among its members and should be leveraged to promote economic development.

She emphasized the key role of transport in regional growth and noted that Iran prioritizes enhanced regional cooperation, better use of ECO’s vast potential, and expanded transit networks.

Highlighting Iran’s strategic location in West Asia, the minister pointed to the country’s access to open waters via the Persian Gulf and oceans, and its extensive network of over 250,000 kilometers of roads and 15,000 kilometers of railway lines at the crossroads of north-south and east-west corridors.

Sadegh also stressed the need for member countries to play a greater role in advancing ECO’s plans, especially in the transport sector, and referred to the organization’s 2035 vision for regional integration.

She added that Iran hit a record of 20 million tons in transit cargo last year, thanks to close cooperation with regional partners, particularly through border infrastructure projects with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The 13th ECO Transport Ministers’ Meeting kicked off on Monday, running for two days.

She emphasized the key role of transport in regional growth and noted that Iran prioritizes enhanced regional cooperation, better use of ECO’s vast potential, and expanded transit networks.

Highlighting Iran’s strategic location in West Asia, the minister pointed to the country’s access to open waters via the Persian Gulf and oceans, and its extensive network of over 250,000 kilometers of roads and 15,000 kilometers of railway lines at the crossroads of north-south and east-west corridors.

Sadegh also stressed the need for member countries to play a greater role in advancing ECO’s plans, especially in the transport sector, and referred to the organization’s 2035 vision for regional integration.

She added that Iran hit a record of 20 million tons in transit cargo last year, thanks to close cooperation with regional partners, particularly through border infrastructure projects with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the ECO senior officials meeting, Baghaei said that the ECO is one of the oldest successful organizations in economy, which shows the importance of this organization and its activities in the region.

The 10 ECO member countries are in fact countries with high economic and commercial potentials in the region, and the important thing is the cultural proximity and religious and historical commonalities between these countries.

Top officials of the ECO have convened in Mashhad for a preparatory session ahead of the 28th Meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers (COM).

During the meeting on Monday, experts from member states drafted documents for final agreements between the countries, taking into account all considerations and aspects in various fields.

The meeting was chaired by Jalaledin Alavi Sabzevari, the Director General of Multilateral and International Economic Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and coordinated by ECO Secretary General Dr. Asad M. Khan.

According to a statement by ECO’s official website, discussions highlighted regional challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration among member states to unlock the region’s development potential.

Discussions highlighted regional challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration among ECO Member States to unlock the region’s development potential, the statement read.

The Communiqué reflects ECO’s commitment to fostering a resilient and integrated region while addressing shared challenges collectively.

The 10 ECO member countries are in fact countries with high economic and commercial potentials in the region, and the important thing is the cultural proximity and religious and historical commonalities between these countries.

Top officials of the ECO have convened in Mashhad for a preparatory session ahead of the 28th Meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers (COM).

During the meeting on Monday, experts from member states drafted documents for final agreements between the countries, taking into account all considerations and aspects in various fields.

The meeting was chaired by Jalaledin Alavi Sabzevari, the Director General of Multilateral and International Economic Cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and coordinated by ECO Secretary General Dr. Asad M. Khan.

According to a statement by ECO’s official website, discussions highlighted regional challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration among member states to unlock the region’s development potential.

Discussions highlighted regional challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of enhanced collaboration among ECO Member States to unlock the region’s development potential, the statement read.

The Communiqué reflects ECO’s commitment to fostering a resilient and integrated region while addressing shared challenges collectively.

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According to Ruhollah Latifi, the spokesman of the International Relations and Trade Development Committee of Iran’s House of Industry, Mining and Trade, Iran traded 14,939,483 tons of goods valued at $10,189,923,013 with ECO members in the mentioned seven months, IRNA reported.

The trade exchanges with the mentioned countries also increased by 18 percent in terms of weight, Latifi said.

The Islamic Republic exported 12.345 million tons of non-oil goods worth $5.886 billion to the said nations in the mentioned period, to register a 2.5 percent rise in term of value and a 23 percent rise in terms of weight.

According to Latifi, trade balance between the two sides was $1.6 billion positive in favor of Iran in the said seven months.

The value of trade between Iran and ECO members stood at $20.5 billion in the previous Iranian calendar year 1401 (ended on March 20), of which the share of exports was $13 billion and the share of imports from these countries was $7.5 billion.

Petroleum products, dairy products, foodstuff, fresh and dried fruits, juices and citrus fruits, carpets, saffron, fish, caviar, ornamental aquatic products, various stones, construction equipment, clothing, industrial equipment, bags and shoes, medicine, and health supplies, as well as plastic products, were Iran’s main exported items to ECO members last year, while basic goods, industrial machinery, raw materials for production, and medical supplies and medicine, were the top imported goods from ECO member states.

The Economic Cooperation Organization or ECO is an Asian political and economic intergovernmental organization that was founded in 1985 in Tehran by the leaders of Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey.

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The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the 12th meeting of ECO transport ministers which was held in the capital of Uzbekistan with the participation of Iran’s Deputy Transport Minister Shahriar Afandizadeh, IRIB reported.

The unification of tariffs on transportation procedures and border processes will be implemented within the framework of the mentioned MOU, according to which, a significant share of the transit volume from China to Europe can be carried out via Iran’s east-west transit route.

At the meeting, the ECO transport ministers also exchanged views on strengthening transport communications in the ECO region.

The need to finance infrastructural projects in the ECO region with the participation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), completing the missing rail and road links and strengthening the regional corridors including Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul and also east-west corridors for connecting China to Europe as well as Caspian Sea routes were among the other issues discussed at the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Afandizadeh expounded on the “Iran Road” transport initiative and emphasized that all countries in the region will be able to have safe and cheap access to other destinations via Iran using the initiative.

The 13th Meeting of Transport Ministers of the ECO will be held in Tehran in 2024.

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Considering that the issue of health is the most important factor of sustainable economic-social development, especially when communicable and non-communicable diseases have increased in different countries of the world as well as ECO member countries, it can be seen as a common responsibility for all countries, Mohammad-Hossein Niknam said.

He made the remarks at the 5th meeting of the Ministers of Health of the ECO member states within the framework of the 76th session of the World Health Assembly, which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 21–30.

In order to successfully carry out this responsibility, the continued cooperation of ECO member countries to improve the health situation in their countries and exchange experiences and lessons learned from the recent Covid-19 pandemic will create a resilient infrastructure of primary health care (PHC), he highlighted.

Considering that the joint cooperation between ECO member countries in the field of health is a main element for the growth of the national economy of the countries, creating a joint network in the pharmaceutical industry, vaccines, and medical equipment is essential, Niknam stressed.

Addressing the World Health Assembly on May 24, Health Minister Bahram Einollahi said the only way to ensure the global health goals, including “saving people and ensuring health for all,” is to increase opportunities for meaningful international collaboration and partnership.

“The World Health Organization recently declared the end of Covid-19 as a global health emergency. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the tireless efforts of all the dedicated health workers involved in responding to this pandemic.”

He went on to say that the right to enjoy health and enjoy the highest health standards should be available to everyone without distinction of race, religion, political opinions, or economic and social conditions.

Equitable, unimpeded, and timely access to health products and medical countermeasures is critical in public health emergencies.

Unilateral coercive measures, as acknowledged in the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, negatively affect the right to health of people under sanctions.

“Regional and subregional cooperation can play an important role in promoting health for all. Health-focused subregional initiatives, such as the G5 cooperation program in our region, can help improve the resilience of health systems.”

The Group of Five cooperation program was designed and initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran with the participation of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and the World Health Organization, and Tajikistan as observers. This subregional group is a unique example of South-South cooperation in the field of health, the minister stressed.

“We are happy to share our subregional joint health achievements with other regions and countries.”

The 26th G5 High-Level Experts Meeting on Health Cooperation and the 1st Healthcare Leadership and Governance Training Program was held in Tehran from May 6-10.

G5 countries (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, plus the World Health Organization) took part in the meeting with the theme of “Joint Work for Solving Joint Health Problems.”

Iran initiated the establishment of the G5 in 2005 to promote subregional cooperation in health among the countries.

Syed Jaffar Hussain, the World Health Organization Representative and Head of Mission in Iran, has appreciated the country for its efforts to enhance health security in the region.

The WHO representative also thanked Iran for holding the 26th G5 High-Level Experts Meeting on Health Cooperation and the 1st Healthcare Leadership and Governance Training Program, IRNA reported.

In June 2021, al-Mandhari said the Islamic Republic of Iran is a role model for primary health care.

For the past four decades, its PHC network has aimed to ensure that people have timely access to affordable, accessible, and acceptable essential health services, he explained.

During the seventy-sixth World Health Assembly, a series of strategic roundtables are being held. During these sessions, WHA delegates, partner agencies, representatives of civil society, and WHO experts will discuss current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.

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In the meeting, Shafei pointed to the low economic exchanges among the ECO member states and reiterated that member states should identify their capacities and potentials and move on course of joint investments.

He added that today the most important economic problem in the country is scientific poverty in the economy, adding that of course some ECO members once had the same problem but they have passed this stage. He added that when the Central Asian countries became independent, the economic condition was very horrible there but they are now experiencing a very different condition and now getting visa for Turkmenistan is even much more difficult than getting the U.S. visa.

Shafei went on to say that reviewing the condition and history of cooperation between the ECO members is very disappointing, adding that the trade exchange among the ECO member states does hardly reach 10% but the number of signed agreements is very high. He added that if we look at the ASEAN bloc, ECO condition is not comparable with ASEAN.

He reiterated that according to a study conducted some years ago, ECO members and Persian Gulf States possess almost half of the world wealth but where they stand is something debatable.

He expressed hope the ECO member states would use their economic capacities to improve condition for cooperation.

Then Head of ECOSF Mr. Tayebi, for his part, said that ECO economic zone is an intact zone where there are very good cooperation grounds, for example, the opportunity for cooperation between knowledge-based or exporting technical and engineering services is very high. He added that by the way ECOSF is an inter-governmental foundation which is located on Islamabad and it can ease connection of the scientific sector to the economy of ECO member states and called for creating the required grounds for it.

He reiterated that this foundation is one of the specialized agencies of ECO that it can pursue the route of knowledge transfer through management knowledge. He noted that the foundation in this regard can use the models of other blocs like the ASEAN through cooperation.

Tayebi stated that ECOSF pursues the plan for training skills and it has good cooperation with China and Pakistan and it needs the help of ICCIMA and expressed hope good cooperation would be shaped on this course.

He also noted that the foundation should identify capacities of ECO member states and operationalization of these agreements should be reviewed.

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Speaking at the ECO’s 4th ministerial meeting on Thursday, Ardakanian stated that the Iranian Energy Ministry has several programs for the development of energy exchange with the countries of the region on the agenda so that the country’s geopolitical capacity can be maximally used in global energy markets.

He further suggested that ECO should establish a regional energy corridor to promote cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience, and use the capacities and potentials of the countries in the region.

Creating such a corridor can lead to the expansion of energy exchanges for a sustainable energy supply, and will also promote the development of various power plants, especially renewable ones, to supply the energy needs of the region, Ardakanian said.

The official noted that the ECO region enjoys rich human and natural resources, energy reserves, capable private sectors, and privileged advantages of regional connectivity.

He said that sustainable energy supply and exchanging electricity can guarantee the security of countries and provide them with sustainable economic income.

“This can be made possible by connecting the electricity grids of neighboring countries, and this “cross-border connection of power grids” can not only pave the way for the transmission of electricity to neighboring countries, but also improve the reliability and resilience of the region’s power grids,” he stressed.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ardakanian underlined the significant potentials of the Iranian renewable market for foreign investors, and said: “Having great renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal, Iran is offering long-term contracts for guaranteed purchase of electricity at incentive rates, so the country’s renewable energy market, with its high potentials, is a very attractive market for foreign investors.”

The official put the country’s installed renewable capacity at 877 megawatts (MW), saying that all of the country’s renewable power plants have been constructed and established using the private sector investment.

“Over 160 companies are currently active in the field of renewable energies in the country,” Ardakanian said.

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The key requirements for the revival of the ITI train, also called the ECO Container train have been fulfilled. The train is expected to resume operations in 2021.

The trial run of the ITI train was launched in 2009 as a project under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) – 10-member Asian trade bloc. The rail route, which is recognized by the UN as an international corridor between the three countries, has so far only been used for test journeys.

The railway line intends to greatly reduce the transit route of the goods from Istanbul to Islamabad. During the trial, the freight train from Islamabad to Istanbul took nearly 13 days to make the 6500km journey. The journey was later further reduced to 11.5 days. In comparison, transporting goods from European countries to Pakistan via seaway took almost 45 days. The train has a maximum capacity for twenty 40-feet containers.

The total length of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul project is 6500 km, including, Iran: 2600 km, Turkey: 1950 km, and Pakistan: 1990 km.

The railway line from Istanbul, through Tehran, all the way to Islamabad has been described as “tremendously beneficial” to all three nations. It aims to boost economic cooperation among Pakistan, Iran and Turkey first and with the other ECO member countries afterward.

Besides Pakistan, Turkey and Iran, some countries, including, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will benefit from the ITI project.

Although the project was launched to promote the economic relations among the ECO founding member countries, it offers a short, safe, and affordable route for transportation of goods between Asia and Europe, extending benefits to several regional countries. From Turkey, the corridor can link up with the European rail networks via Istanbul’s 76-km long undersea Marmaray railway tunnel.

Other countries earlier also expressed eagerness to join the project and suggested further expansion to the European and Middle East markets.

Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail corridor will provide service to facilitate cargo and container transport. Its transport capacity is 20 containers of 40 feet. The estimated travel time is 11 days as compared to 45 days via the sea route. It has over 30% reduction in rail fares as opposed to traditional routes.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – The spokesman of Iran’s Customs Office said on Thursday that Iranian trade with members of Economic Cooperation Organization has surpassed 5.7 billion dollars in the past eight months of the current Iranian year (starting on March 20).

Ruhollah Latifi said that Iran has exported 7,430,423 tons of goods to ECO member states, which was worth 2,945,623,049 dollars.

The Iranian export to the members of ECO involved liquefied gas, petroleum products, fish, shrimps, tomato paste, vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, saffron, dried nuts, etc.

In the same period, Iran has imported 3,481,304 tons of goods with the value of 2,817,313,451 dollars. The imported items to Iran from ECO member states have mostly been raw materials, thread strings, cotton, barley, lentil, beans, different kinds of acid, industrial equipment and agricultural machinery.

Members of ECO are Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.

Latifi said from the ECO members, Iran has had the biggest trade with Afghanistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

He said Afghanistan is the biggest trade partner of Iran among ECO member states as the country’s exports to Afghanistan stand at around $1.2b.

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He went on to say that Iranian products were exported to various countries including Turkey, Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In this period, over 6,540,295 tons of products, valued at $2,526,018,538, were exported from the Islamic Republic of Iran to ECO member states, he said, adding, “With importing $1,108,798,627 worth of products from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan was introduced as Iran’s first export target market.”

He further noted that Islamic Republic of Iran imported over 2,657,706 tons of products, valued at $2,016,512,382, from ECO member states, most of these products were imported into the country from neighboring Turkey, valued at $1,834,247,948.

Total weight of goods exchanged between Iran and ECO members states in the seven months of the current year hit 85 million tons, valued at $38.278 billion, showing a 17.5 percent decline as compared to the last year’s corresponding period, Latifi added.

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