Third Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) ministerial meeting concluded here on Thursday with a resolve to continue dedicated efforts for industrial co-operation among ECO member states for their economic development.
In the Lahore Declaration that was issued on conclusion of the meeting, the participants underlined the importance of enhancing the co-operation among the ECO member states at bilateral and multilateral levels for efficient interaction and exchange of knowledge and experience among experts, investors, industrialists, technologists and entrepreneurs.
They welcomed the proposals in the field of privatisation and private sector development, emphasising the importance of active participation of the private sector in intra-ECO trade and investments and resolved to facilitate and encourage the private sector.
They hoped that ECO Regional Strategy on Industrial Co-operation will contribute to the prosperity and development of member countries.
Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jahangir Khan Tareen chaired the meeting while ECO general secretary, Khurshid Anwar, Minister for Commerce and Industry Afghanistan Dr Meer Muhamamd Ameen Farhang, Deputy Minister for Industry and Energy, Azerbaijan, Gulmammad Cavadov, Minister of Industries and Mines, Iran, Alireza Tahmasebi, chairman of Industrial & Scientific Tech Development Committee, Kazakhstan, Meyram Kazhiken, state secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Kyrgyzstan, Moldokulov Sabyrbek, Minister MIT, Turkey, Ali Coskun, experts and delegates from the member ECO countries also attended the meeting.
The meeting unanimously resolved to set up headquarters of the central secretariat of Conformity Assessment Board in Tehran while Standardisation and Accreditation Board will be located in Turkey. The Regional Metrology Board will be located in Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Turkey with a view to work out status of the headquarters of central secretariat.
The task force will hold its meeting in January 2007, in Turkey and complete the assigned task before 17th meeting of the Regional Planning Council to be held on February 18-22, 2007 in Tehran.
The meeting adopted the draft plan of action on establishment of ECO Technology Centre which will facilitate technical co-operation and transfer of technology including licensing among member states. Plans of action on entrepreneurship and SMEs development and industrial property rights were also adopted in the meeting.
The meeting also welcomed the offer of the Islamic Republic of Iran for contributing to the reconstruction of Afghanistan through establishment of industrial workshop complexes as well as business and technical services centres. The member states were requested to assist Afghanistan in all such areas. The meeting also resolved to approve this strategy as a guiding document at regional level and calls upon the ECO member states to develop a conducive environment for its implementation.