ECO countries agree to double trade volume

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on Wednesday expressed its ‘political will’ and adopted the Islamabad Declaration which called for doubling the existing trade volume, strengthening the elected governments, joint efforts for curbing terrorism and drugs business and promoting peace and development in the region. 

Pakistan went a step ahead and told the member states to strive for “loftier goals” and use the Silk Route for cooperation in agriculture, culture, education, science and technology. “The declaration underlines the importance of fully exploiting the economic complementarities of member states, simultaneously strengthening their historic and civilisational bonds and to act as the bedrock for regional integration,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif commented upon the Islamabad Declaration, which was released by the Foreign Office.

The prime minister said Pakistan wants peaceful ties with neighbours. He said time for regional prosperity has arrived. He said Pakistan will provide access to the Middle East, African and European markets through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Islamabad Declaration with the theme “Connectivity for Regional Organisation” noted that it was the ECO’s commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter including in particular the respect for political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, development of friendly relations among nations, and pacific settlement of disputes.

While Afghanistan continued to sulk and was represented by only a senior diplomat, the ECO nevertheless was magnanimous to include it in the declaration when it called for renewing ECO’s strong desire for a secure, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan and recalling its recent commitments made in the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan tasked the relevant authorities and the ECO Secretariat to develop a comprehensive ECO advocacy programme for Afghanistan in the upcoming “ECO Special Conference on Afghanistan” to be held in May 2017 in Kabul.

As expected, the declaration also focused on the pressing issue of terrorism in the region, and recognised the inter-linkage between development, peace and security for lasting prosperity and stability in the region.

It also expressing grave concern over the security challenges of the region, including inter alia terrorism, in all its forms and manifestationswhich pose a great threat to individuals’ lives and national, regional and global security, reiterating that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnicity and expressed their resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

With the fast changing geo political realities in the region and beyond, the ECO is ready to assess the constantly evolving global and regional environment and new developments that present multiple challenges and opportunities. The declaration appreciated the value and importance of a steady and flexible approach to regional connectivity and integration that enables member states to contribute to, be part of and benefit from the various connectivity and integration programmes in a gradual and progressive manner according to their respective state of preparedness.

The Islamabad Declaration added: “Noting the positive political, economic, cultural and technological developments that can facilitate the realisation of the long-held dream of trans-Eurasian connectivity, including in the ECO Region; Approaching connectivity as a dynamic concept that encompasses multiple dimensions including cyber, energy, rail, road, and ports and shipping;

Encouraging further development of educational and scientific linkages, and cultural and people to people contacts; Underlining the significance of fully exploiting the complementarities offered by shared geography, history and culture, and the comparative advantages and diversity of resources of member states to bring about greater connectivity and economic integration in the ECO region;

Recognising the existence of various connectivity initiatives in the ECO region, and welcoming that these projects feed into the overall vision of comprehensive ECO connectivity and integration; Reiterating commitment to promote intra-ECO trade as an instrument of enhanced economic cooperation and revitalisation in the region;

Underlining the importance of the post 2015 development agenda and the role that can be played by the ECO member states for achieving the goals and targets set out therein and in this context recalling that promotion of conditions for sustainable development through mobilisation of economic and social potential of the ECO region requires further strengthened cooperation and collaboration especially through enhanced trade and connectivity among the member states in order to further strengthen the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties among the people of the region;

Recognising the importance of moderation as an approach to counter all forms of extremism and promote dialog, mutual respect, understanding and social harmony, thereby contributing towards the achievement of sustainable and inclusive development, equitable growth, stability and prosperity in the ECO region.”

The ECO states also agreed to:

Ensure continued and enhanced cooperation in the areas of common interest through effective, timely and result-oriented projects and programmes in the organisation.

Undertake to implement the long-term sectoral priorities of ECO on development of transport and communication infrastructure; facilitation of trade and investment; and effective use of the region’s vast energy resources and to consider ways and means to promote ECO’s connectivity with other regions in these areas.

Underscore the three core principles of ECO Vision 2025, i.e. sustainability, integration and conducive environment; and emphasize the need to augment cooperation in the areas of trade, transport and connectivity, energy, tourism, economic growth and productivity and social-welfare and environment as identified in Vision 2025.

Envision a more efficient and effective ECO, equipped with required capabilities and resources, to better serve the noble objectives of the organization; and hereby task relevant officials and the ECO Secretariat to take necessary and effective measures, using inside and outside resources, to bring about necessary reforms in the organisation.

Encourage member states to accede to relevant agreements developed within the ECO framework in order to achieve the objectives set forth under the Treaty of Izmir and the ECO Vision 2025; and task hereby relevant ministers and authorities to consider joining these agreements.

Enhance ECO-wide connectivity in terms of transport and transit; telecommunications; cyber; and all forms of energy; as well as people-to-people exchanges, including through regional tourism arrangements.

Welcome in this regard CPEC as a far-reaching initiative that would act as catalyst for the development of the entire region. Encourage giving priority to, and cooperate on full implementation of the TTFA and its annexes as ECO’s approved and most comprehensive and well-studied Transit Transport Framework for ECO Region.

Note that the multi-dimensional connectivity in road, rail, energy, trade and cyber and associated infrastructure and industrial development can promote integration and economic development of the wider region. And to encourage all relevant international and regional financial institutions to actively cooperate with ECO member states in financing the development of ECO transport corridors, related connectivity and energy projects.

Work to double the current level of intra-ECO trade within the next 3-5 years, including through implementation of ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and other ECO trade-related arrangements; as well as identification and elimination of physical and non-physical barriers to this end.

Acknowledge the crucial role of financing projects on regional development, appreciate the ECO Bank’s growing scope of activities in this regard and underline the need to further strengthen the bank through augmenting its resource base, as well as increasing its membership.

Call for making ECO Reinsurance Company operational at the earliest and encourage other member states to join it. Enhance regional cooperation in energy sector, focusing inter alia, on energy efficiency; energy infrastructure development including oil and gas pipelines, intra-regional energy trade, particularly electricity trade; and access to affordable energy resources, including renewable energy resources by promoting green energy investment and the development of environmentally friendly energy technologies; and task respective authorities to consider possibility of pursuing the ongoing initiative of establishment of ECO regional electricity market with the widest possible intra-regional power grid interconnection.

Support the coordination of measures in the field of sustainable growth including, inter alia, the use of environmentally friendly, renewable energy and clean energy, the conservation and efficient use of water and energy resources.

Develop, operationalise and commercialise the ECO intra-regional transit networks as well as corridors connecting ECO region with other regions in line with the ECO rail and road development plans, with a view to building the required infrastructure needed for bolstering trade and transport connectivity within the region and beyond.

Express satisfaction at the successful implementation of corridor-based strategy among the member states, further express appreciation for the ECO Secretariat for its active role in the execution of the TTFA.

Stress the importance of strengthened and continued cooperation among all stakeholders to build and run information structures in order to bridge the digital divide in the region.

Recognise that information and communication technologies have the potential to provide new solutions to development challenges, particularly in the context of globalisation, and can foster economic growth, competitiveness, access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication and social inclusion that will help expedite the integration of all member countries into the global economy and in this context welcome the joint study undertaken by ITU and ECO on the ICT in the ECO region, which would be presented to the 2nd ECO ICT ministerial meeting in Azerbaijan for its approval as well as its subsequent action plan.

Develop a robust regional tourism industry, built on the vast natural endowments and cultural resources, as potential contributor to the economic growth and sustainable development of ECO region, and to the strengthened affinities within our nations; and, therefore, task tourism and other related authorities to ensure that a multi-sector and multi-purpose tourism industry will be in place in the ECO region as per ECO vision by the end of 2025.

Express concern about the existing unresolved conflicts in the ECO region, including Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which hinder the economic growth and realisation of the full economic potential of the region and impede the development of economic cooperation on regional as well as broader level, and stress the importance of making increased efforts for the earliest resolution of these conflicts based on the norms and principles of international law, in particular the principles of respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Acknowledge the internationally agreed norms and principles, concerning sovereignty and express concern over the attempts by certain quarters to threaten democracy, discriminatory immigration policies by some states and use of unilateral economic sanctions and coercions by some states. Further acknowledge the need for supporting measures to immediately address the threats to democratic governments, including coup d’etats aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected governments and constitutional orders of the member countries and the foreign occupation of the territories of the member states, including economic strangulation, which undermine the role of the legitimate democratic governments in pursuing their socio-economic development and programmes.

Recognise that the expansion of regional cooperation has direct or indirect impacts on safety, prosperity and welfare of our peoples and societies, including environment and climate change, health, food security standards, disaster risk reduction and education, which continue to be on the agenda of the organisation; and task  relevant ministers and officials as well as ECO Secretariat to streamline these important issues and concerns in the activities/projects of the organisation.

Support the efforts of the government of Republic of Azerbaijan aimed at promoting and strengthening Islamic solidarity among Muslim states and in this regard note with appreciation that proclamation of 2017 as the Islamic Solidarity Year in Azerbaijan by the president of Republic of Azerbaijan. To this end, call member states to actively participate in this event to be organised within the framework of the Islamic Solidarity Year in Azerbaijan, as well as in the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games and 4th World Forum on Inter-Cultural Dialogue to be held in May 2017 in Baku.

Take note of the establishment of Islamic Organisation for Food Security aimed at the developing cooperation among ECO member states in agriculture. Welcome the “International Day of Nowruz” as a factor contributing to the strengthening of friendship between nations, and in this context, urge the member states to actively participate in the celebration and preparation of joint events.

Acknowledge the important role that can be played by the national parliaments of the member states in giving more effect to the agreed frameworks within the ECO and welcome the offer by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to host the 2nd Parliamentary Conference of Parliamentary Assembly of the ECO (PAECO) at Islamabad in 2017.

Recognise the important role of the small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the economic growth of the member states and the region as a whole and task  relevant authorities to undertake necessary measures to strengthen the SMEs, including those that enhance women entrepreneurship and knowledge based enterprises.

Ensure that the existing regional arrangements and programmes in ECO to combat the menace of drugs and transnational organised crimes, including, inter alia, human trafficking, are in place and continue to function and that effective regional mechanisms for cooperation in law enforcement, judicial issues, capacity building, as well as other relevant areas are established.

  Meanwhile, the leaders of ECO endorsed the view of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s to develop the organisation into an economic bloc. The leaders of the ECO countries eulogised the vision of Nawaz Sharif who has impressed upon the member states that it is the high time to make momentous advancement through better cooperation. 

“I believe that the ECO” time has truly come. It is primed to make momentous advancement. There has never been a more opportune time to realise our dream of `Connectivity for Regional Prosperity,” he said while addressing the inaugural session of 13th ECO summit. 

With eight heads of state and government present in the summit all the 10 ECO member states including Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were participating in the summit. Nawaz Sharif, who was earlier elected chairman of the ECO, said Pakistan had the location, political stability and now increasingly the physical infrastructure to achieve common vision for making ECO a powerful economic bloc and an engine of growth. 

In his remarks, the prime minister said that being a founding ECO member, Pakistan is committed to the ECO objectives. 

“Our summit has underscored collective desire for regional integration. The ECO initiatives demand commitment and tangible actions for achieving desired goals,” he said. The premier said the summit provided an opportunity to reaffirm collective commitment to progress and prosperity for the ECO region. It also allowed the members to identify new areas of cooperation while cementing the progress on matters currently under process. He said that peace is essential for sustainable development and underscored the importance of solidarity within Islamic world to address the challenges that confront the adherence of Islam. The PM reiterated his government’s commitment to a peaceful neighbourhood and said the peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes like Jammu and Kashmir and alleviating the sufferings of the Kashmiri people would greatly help in advancing the goals of stability and development of the entire region. He believed that the ECO region had enormous potential for enhancing regional cooperation based on solid foundation of commonality of interests, economic complementariness’, common cultural heritage and geographical proximity. 

Nawaz said active participation by the members manifested their desire and commitment to transform the ECO into a vibrant regional bloc. It’s a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to act as a harbinger of positive changes and meaningful development in the region, the prime minister said. He hoped that the member states would continue to work in harmony for the continued prosperity of the people of the region. The prime minister said that the ECO Vision 2025 is a significant achievement which set tangible and pragmatic goals along with an implementation framework that would help to realise the priorities of the organisation. In this context, he said the members states should collectively endeavour to build and promote connectivity in multiple domains including sea, land, air and cyberspace to give further impetus to regional trade. 

Nawaz said that meaningful trade in the region cannot take place without better cooperation on transport infrastructure among member states. “The existence of efficient trade, transit and transport corridors across the region will guarantee economic development and prosperity of our people,” he said. The premier said that the adoption of Islamabad Declaration and the ECO Vision 2025 during this summit would reflect the consensus and resolve of ECO member states to collectively take on the contemporary economic challenges. 

“Let us all strive towards transforming ECO’s enormous potential into reality. It is up to us to seize this historic opportunity and make this region a citadel of peace, progress and prosperity,” he stressed. 

The prime minister said it is an honour for Pakistan to host the summit and to assume the chair of this important regional organisation. The prime minister thanked all the guest and special guests from the China and the UN. 

The prime minister said that Central Asia is fast emerging as Trans-Eurasian land bridge, adding, oil and gas pipelines across deserts and mountains are linking their markets, while railroad networks are harbingers of their commitment to connectivity. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said energy sufficiency is indispensable for implementing any plan for economic development. He emphasised on the need for regional cooperation in the energy sector focusing on efficiency, related infrastructure development and intra-regional energy trade.

He said that the ECO leaders during the summit agreed on importance of innovation to achieve excellence and emphasised on linkages between higher education and research institutions as well as partnerships in science and technologies. The prime minister said the ECO leaders also agreed to cooperate for the effective implementation of Agenda 2025, aimed at leaving “no-one left behind”.