Projects that can yield "maximum economic benefit" should be given priority by members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to help improve the welfare of their peoples, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday.
"With welfare and prosperity of our people as the basis of the plans and activities of this organization, ECO should now focus on projects and programs which promise maximum economic benefit for our peoples and the region," Zarif told the 23rd ECO Ministerial Meeting in the Tajik capital Dushanbe.
Iran, Turkey and Pakistan are the founding members of the Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization, which was founded in 1985 and now includes seven other regional nations, namely Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
*** ECO Vision 2025
A range of activities and programs have been implemented by member states since the adoption of the ECO Vision 2025 but the pace falls short of expectations, Zarif said, according to a text of his speech released by the Foreign Ministry in Tehran.
"Apart from ensuring a conducive policy environment by all member states for the realization of ECO Vision 2025, mobilization of budget and financial resources for its effective implementation is also of high importance."
*** Allocation of Resources
The minister called on all members to allocate extra-budgetary financial resources to help achieve common objectives through a well-formulated scheme.
"We expect to achieve by 2025 increased intra-regional trade and a bigger slice of global trade, facilitating the commercial environment and tourism industry, better connectivity, improved energy cooperation, healthy environment and smooth visa regimes," Zarif stated.
Materializing the envisaged goals requires a very professional and strong secretariat to follow-up and implement the directives of the decision-making bodies and be more responsive to developments in and outside the region, he said, adding that discussions are underway to introduce some reforms to this end.
*** Common Challenges
Zarif noted that ECO countries are facing a host of challenges, including the rise of extremism, environment degradation, climate change, drought, dust storms and poverty in some sections of the population that need to be addressed through collective action.
"We can synergize to unleash huge energy for robust, inclusive and sustainable regional development, Zarif said, adding that the organization has become a "visible" player in the global arena and a reliable partner for the international community in recent years.
*** Iran’s economy
Giving an overview of the Iranian economy, the minister said it can become one of the vibrant global emerging economies within the next 20 years.
"We are of the strong belief that economy and security can only grow together, and common interests can bind us regionally and globally to guarantee both regional and global security," he concluded.
Zarif held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ministerial conference.
