Ambassador/Secretary General, ECO, Tehran.

 Excellency,

 I have the pleasure to extend to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of ECO's expansion, celebrated as the ECO Day.

 Availing myself of this auspicious occasion, I would also like to convey my most cordial felicitations to the peoples and the respective Government of fellow ECO member states that have bounder together with a common history, faith and culture to resolve sustainable regional economic development.

 It is gratifying that with the successful transformation of ECO from a trilateral organization into a more dynamic and powerful multidimensional regional organization is moving steadily towards materialization of its noble goals envisaged in the Treaty of Izmir and ECO Vision-2015. In view of its advantageous geographical location which bridges East-West trade and also its rich natural and human resources as well as its prestigious international standing ECO is now at the Decade of implementation of agreements and promotion of efficient and effective cooperation. The time for real action loom and I firmly believe that ECO would play significant role in the regional and world economy. Particularly, at this stage of progress, the vital role of the banks and financial institutions in the region in financing and accelerating economic growth, as well as promoting privatization process and structural reforms should be highlighted. I would like to ensure that the ECOBANK would support this process.

 Within this perspective as one of the Regional Institute of ECO our main objective is to boost the recent momentum of the ECO by financing intra-regional trade and development projects of mutual benefit and creating a much needed partnership with the financial institutions and business community within the region. We would promote the project-oriented approach with regard to regional development activities and enhance regional stakeholders' ability to translate their plans into desired common interest and results. I believe that tangible economic benefits to be brought in our operations would inspire the member states for further cooperation and joint implementation of various promising projects. It is on our course to become a success story. At this point I would like take this opportunity to call on other respective ECO member states to consider becoming member of the Bank.

 I avail myself of this opportunity to wish you and your colleagues every success in realization of the aims and goals of the Organization and under your able leadership continue to exploit all its potentials. I would like to reinstate that we are actively and seriously committed to sustain this trend.

 Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.

 Yours sincerely,

 Murat Ulus

President