The Economic Co-operation Organisation countries have pledged to pool resources for improving industrial relations. As a first step, they will pinpoint sources for collection of specific data required for preparation of the "ECO regional strategy on industrial cooperation". This was decided in a meeting of commercial counsellors of ECO countries held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Engr. Zahid Aziz, chief, experts advisory cell (EAC) of the ministry of industries, production and special initiatives.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements made for the forthcoming meeting in March of experts group for the preparation of ECO regional strategy on industry. Its draft agenda was also distributed in the meeting to get approval of member countries.
The EAC chief, in his welcome address, said the first ECO ministerial meeting on industry held in Tehran in January 2004 had adopted an action plan on cooperation among ECO member states by preparing an "ECO regional strategy on industrial cooperation".
An experts group was formed for it, which identified that work on sub-sectors of mining, metallurgical, electrical, electronics, home appliances, textile, leather, clothing, automotive, transportation, agriculture, food processing, chemicals, petrochemical, energy, equipment and machinery should be undertaken in the first instance.
Pakistan was declared a responsible country for mining, metallurgical, electrical, electronic and home appliances.
In line with this decision, Pakistan has hired services of three local experts to prepare the plan.
He informed that Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jehangir Khan Tareen will inaugurate the forthcoming ECO meeting scheduled for March 14 to 17.