ECO Member Ministers of Transport Meet in Turkmenistan

A meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the member countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation (ECO) was held on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea.

The 9th meeting of the Ministers of Transport and Communication of the member countries of ECO: Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, was held in the Avaza National Tourism Zone, reports the State News Agency of Turkmenistan.

The forum saw discussion of a wide range of issues related to the development of regional and interregional transport communications, enhancing international cooperation in a strategically important sector, as well as a particular focus on the program ‘ECO Vision 2025 Prospects’ (ECO Vision 2025), within which ECO member countries intend to develop and implement partnership strategies in such areas as economics and trade, transport and communications, energy, tourism, social welfare and the environment.

The meeting discussed aspects of the development of the regional market of transport and communication services, freight and passenger transportation by rail, road and sea transport, and civil aviation.

The need to synchronize legislation and tariffs, the gradual simplification of customs, visa and other procedures, was noted, measures designed to facilitate the activities of business structures and to significantly affect the growth of cargo flows and volumes of foreign trade.

By Dimitri Dolaberidze