Experts from 10 member countries of the ECO will meet in Islamabad from March 14 to 17 to formulate regional strategy on industrial corporation. The four-day meeting has been organised by the Experts Advisory Cell (EAC) of the Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Ministry. Industries and Production Minister Jehangir Tareen will preside over the meeting. The meeting has been called in pursuance of Tehran Declaration and "Plan of action" on industrial co-operation adopted by the first ECO ministerial meeting on industry held in January 2004 in Iran.
It emphasises upon co-operation in the areas of transfer of technology, joint ventures and production in industrial sub-sectors with several priority areas. Subsequently, it was also agreed that regional strategy should be prepared for ECO countries industrialisation through an experts group.
The first experts group meeting was held in September 2004 in Ankara to further ECO regional strategy on industrial co-operation. It was agreed that member countries would carry out detailed work to explore the potential and needs of the countries and regions.
Eight areas - chemical and petrochemical transportation, mining and metallurgical, mineral, textile, leather and clothing, electrical and electronic home appliances, automotive and parts, agricultural and food processing, energy equipment and machinery - were identified for industrial co-operation in the region.
Iran was entrusted chemical, petrochemical and transportation sectors. Kyrgyzstan was asked to do work on mining and metallurgical. Mineral, textile, leather, clothing, electrical and electronic home appliances and electronic sectors were allotted to Pakistan. Turkey was given automotive and automotive parts, agricultural and food processing industry. Kazakhstan was given energy, equipment and machinery sectors.
The experts of these countries will present detailed reports on respective sectors. The ECO regional strategy on industrial co-operation will also discuss the proposal of Iran for establishment of ECO technology transfer database centre. The delegates will also finalise follow up mechanism for co-ordination of the identified projects.
Reza Ashraf Semnani, Deputy Minister for Planning Development and Technology, will lead a six-member Iranian delegation. Orhan Isik, Deputy Secretary General, ECO, along with three senior officers will also attend the event. Around dozen sector specialists from the Pakistani private sector, including sectoral associations will also participate in the event.