Overview

The Directorate for Projects, Economic Research and Statistics (PERS) was established in 1998. It functions as a focal point for inter-sectoral coordination among various departments of the ECO Secretariat in fulfilling the main goals of ECO. The Directorate provides ECO’s decision-making bodies with the economic, financial information, analytical papers and statistical data on the development of the organization in its main activity areas. The activities of the Directorate are structured along the following three main areas:

            Projects

 PERS is in charge of monitoring the progress in implementation of ECO projects and programmes, which are implemented in such areas as transport, trade, investment, agriculture, industry, energy, environment, human development and tourism. The overall inter-agency coordination of the projects is vested with the Project Monitoring Group of ECO, which consists of the senior management of the Secretariat. The 19^th COM Meeting held on 8 March 2009 approved the establishment of a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) at the Secretariat. The PMU is aimed at strengthening (i) efficiency in process, implementation and maintenance of projects (iii) accountability, (iv) development of common policies and co-financing. It is designed to maintain regular interaction with PMUs in Executing Agencies of Member States. The Directorate overlooks implementation and regularly reports to the ECO’s decision-making bodies on the current status of project implementation and works out useful recommendations to improve the aforementioned process.   

            Statistics 

The Directorate has established the ECO Statistical Network (ECOSTAT) on 28^th February 2011. It collects, compiles and updates statistical information and data received from the Member States. Its major goal is to overlook the functioning of ECOSTAT. Currently, the efforts to set up a sector based expanded statistical data base to include industrial statistics, and on trade & small-and-medium enterprises development, energy, transport, agriculture and tourism are under way. The Directorate works on developing a harmonized approach of Member States to the methodology, measurements, classifications, metadata and selection criteria used by ECO National Statistical Offices (NSOs.) These issues were high on the agenda of the meetings for ECO National Focal Points in Statistics, held in Astana on 29-30 June 2009, in Dushanbe (September 2009) and in Tehran (19-21 April, 23-25 May 2009.) Consequently, during the 3^rd HLEG Meeting in Kabul on 5-6 October 2010, it was decided that a Steering Committee on the Development of a Harmonized Regional Statistical Methodology be established in order to study the modalities of the process of harmonization of statistics in the region.      

Economic Research  

To provide a strategic vision and identify vector development in ECO’s main activity areas, the Directorate coordinates regional economic research. A number of economic research themes were recommended by the 19th Meeting of the Regional and Planning Council of ECO for developing research proposals during 2009. These are deemed to serve the foundation for ECO’s decision-making on strategic economic policy issues relating to its development in the main activity areas. The progress on the research studies was discussed at the Economic Research Workshop on Implications of Global Economic Crisis in the Short-and-Medium Term for ECO countries that was organized by Turkey’s State Planning Organization in Antalya, on 15-16 February 2010.

The Workshop considered the issues most salient for the ongoing regional development, including the impact of the global financial crisis on Member States and discussed the long term perspectives of increasing intra-regional in the region. 

With the aim of establishing a regional economic think-tank capable of providing profound analyses to the Organization based on solid scientific research, the Directorate has arranged to convene the 1st Meeting of Senior Officials of ECO Leading Economic Research Center/Institutes/Departments of the region (MELERI). This initiative was supported by all member countries and the first convocation of the MELERI was hosted by the PSRC of Iran on 1-3 May 2010 in Tehran. This was in fulfillment of the recommendations of the 18th Regional Planning Council to integrate and consolidate best economic thought available in the region with the aim of establishing a well functioning knowledge sharing mechanism region wide. The 1^st MELERI adopted the decision to set up a Steering Committee to work out an Action Plan of long-term development in the area of regional economic research and on knowledge sharing activities.       

            ECO Publications 

The Directorate regularly publishes ECO’s Annual Economic Reports, bulletins, pamphlets. These reflect the information and analyses on the macroeconomic development of Member States. The publications are circulated to Member States via official channels. These can also be accessed through ECO website. The information contained in the above publications is derived from Country Reports and statistical sources, provided by Member States and also through information-sharing channel set up between ECO and its international partner organizations. ECO Statistical Bulletins contain country-specific information of Member States and are regularly updated on the website. Before publishing ECO Economic Journal, the 18^th RPC has approved the Terms of Reference and the Editorial Board of the publication, which had previously been discussed in detail at 2^nd HLEGM held on 26-27 October 2008 in Tehran as well as during the 7^th NFPM held on 16-17 November 2008 in Ankara. These have also been welcomed by the 19^th RPC. The 1^st issue of the ECO Economic Journal has been published in 2010, and currently the articles for inclusion into the 2^nd issue are available on ECO web site.

            ECO’s Reference Information  

The Directorate maintains the ECO Directory of Training Institutions and Roster of ECO’s Leading Experts. The main objective of such reference directories is to inform the region about its best available expertise and also source ECO’s current activities from such pool of highly profile experts and leading training institutions.