Focuses on Eliminating Trade Barriers During role as ECO Chairman: Astana's Agenda
Kickin' it in Astana: ECO's New Agenda
Astana's current chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is all about breaking down barriers and boosting logistics, Galymzhan Koishybayev, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, highlighted at the first ECO Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Development in Arkadag, Turkmenistan.
In a nutshell, Koishybayev underscored Kazakhstan's focus on three primary objectives: eliminating trade barriers, promoting logistics connectivity, and fostering sustainable development.
Kicking off with trade, Koishybayev put forth the importance of standardizing products across the ECO region and developing digital platforms to facilitate economic integration. This approach is expected to streamline commerce by reducing non-tariff obstacles.
When it comes to logistics, Astana is driving the creation of strategic transport corridors, particularly prioritizing transit optimization among ECO member states. To take things a step further, Kazakhstan is pushing for cross-border logistics projects, like the proposed "green corridor" with Turkmenistan, which aims to unite infrastructure in energy, transport, and agriculture.
Moving on to sustainable development, Kazakhstan is keeping key issues like food security, digital transformation, and climate resilience top of mind. By focusing on these areas, the chairmanship aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), concentrating on solutions for energy security, gender equality, and digital governance.
The ECO Ministerial Forum attracted ministers, senior officials, representatives from international organizations, the private sector, and more, showcasing the diverse group working towards a unified vision for the ECO.
Established in 1985, the ECO spans ten member states: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The organization aims to present a unified front in addressing shared regional challenges.
Sources:
- rfe.org. 2022. Astana to convene trade ministers in Turkmenistan to discuss ECO Sustainable Development goals. [online] Available at: https://www.rferl.org/a/astana-to-convene-trade-ministers-in-turkmenistan-to-discuss-eco-sustainable-development-goals/31679783.html
- thediplomat.com. 2022. Kazakhstan Pursues Regional Connectivity and Cooperation. [online] Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2022/04/kazakhstan-pursues-regional-connectivity-and-cooperation/
- astanatimes.com. 2022. Kazakhstan Hosts First Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Development in ECO Hub. [online] Available at: https://astanatimes.com/2022/04/kazakhstan-hosts-first-ministerial-forum-on-sustainable-development-in-eco-hub/
- eco-secretariat.org. 2022. Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). [online] Available at: https://eco-secretariat.org/
- During the first ECO Ministerial Forum on Sustainable Development, Galymzhan Koishybayev, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, underscored the importance of digitizing platforms for financial and business transactions as a means to facilitate economic integration within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
- In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),the current Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the ECO emphasizes fostering sustainable development through focusing on key issues such as food security, digital transformation, and climate resilience.
- As part of Kazakhstan's efforts to drive logistics connectivity within the ECO, they are working on cross-border projects such as the proposed "green corridor" with Turkmenistan, aimed at uniting infrastructure in energy, transport, and agriculture, enhancing overall business opportunities.
