The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental organization which was originally established in 1985 as a trilateral Regional Economic Cooperation Organization between Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. It is the successor organization of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) which was formed between the three mentioned countries and remained active since its inception from 1964 up to 1979. With accession of seven new countries, ECO was expanded to 10 Member States. Countries namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined ECO on 28 November 1992. This day that is marked with the expansion of ECO from a trilateral regional cooperation into a 10 members states organization is being celebrated each year as the ECO Day.
 
          Completing 13 years of its life, ECO has been successful in promoting multidimensional regional cooperation and creating proper conditions for sustainable socio-economic growth and development. ECO has been trying to expedite implementation of its goals and objectives as enshrined in its basic documents especially the Treaty of Izmir. The core of these objectives has been to ensure sustained economic development of the region by overcoming all physical and non- physical as well as legal and procedural impediments wherever and whenever prevails in the region. In line with its objectives, ECO has come up with many projects in the areas of Transport and Communications, Trade and Investment, Energy, Mineral and Environment, Agriculture, Health and Industry and has taken concrete steps in various fields of common interest to put forward constructive measures to obtain full advantages of new opportunities in the region.
 
          Envisaging a Free Trade Area in the region by 2015, establishment of ECO Development Bank and finalization of ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) are just a few instrumental agreements for the promotion of regional cooperation among ECO member states. ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) which has already been adopted by 5 ECO member states. ECOTA would lead to gradual and definite removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and brighten the prospects of intra- regional trade among the ECO Member States. Tapping the vast natural resources and economic potential of ECO region through involvement of the private sector in an important challenge for our organization and we hope ECOTA would provide the ground for economic liberalization and privatization, mobilization and utilization of ECO region's material resources and gradually establishing a Free Trade Area in the region by 2015.
 
          ECO Council of Ministers at its 15th meeting held recently in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted “ECO Vision 2015” which was suggested by the 8th ECO Summit on 14 September 2004 in Dushanbe. ECO Vision 2015 is a strategy in promotion of intra-regional cooperation and enhancement of sustainable economic and social development in ECO region and it will serve as a guideline for the future plan and program of ECO to bring this organization in conformity with the role that it should play as a dynamic regional organization capable of leading its Member States.
 
          ECO has enjoyed decent funding and technical support of several international donors such as Islamic Development Bank, Food and Agricultural Organization and United Nations Development Program. Furthermore, it has signed more than 15 Memorandum of Understanding with different international organizations and continues to have a very close working relationship with United Nations and its related bodies.
 
          ECO has been transformed into a major regional cooperation organization and, undoubtedly, it would achieve its goals with the support of its member states. Today, our Organization has gained momentum to revitalize itself in the international arena and will continue its development towards new heights to serve as a more effective instrument in the interests of its members