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 three main areas:

Projects

 ECO projects are currently implemented in such areas as transport, trade, investment, agriculture, industry, energy, environment, human development and tourism. The overall coordination of the projects is carried out by the Directorate. 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 regularly reports to ECO’s decision-making bodies on the status of project implementation and recommends on the process of project implementation.  

Statistics 

The Directorate collects, compiles and updates the statistical information and data received from Member States. Its major goal is to maintain the ECO Statistical Data Base, which is now in the process of being set up. For this purpose, the measures to set up a solid 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 will be high on the agenda of the meetings for ECO National Focal Points in Statistics, scheduled to be held in Astana on 29-30 June 2009, in Dushanbe (September 2009) and in Tehran (19-21 April, 23-25 May 2009.)     

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 carrying out during 2009. These would serve the foundation for ECO’s decision-making on strategic issues relating to its development in the main activity areas. The progress on the research studies will be discussed during the Meting of Leading Experts in Research within the region and the Workshop on Economic Research scheduled to be held in Turkey as well as at the 7th Meeting of National Focal Points on Economic Research scheduled for 2010 in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Workshop on Economic Research, scheduled to be held in Turkey during the current year, will also consider the issues most salient for the ongoing regional development, potentially including the impact of the global financial crisis on Member States and perspectives of increasing intra-regional in the region.    

With the aim of establishing a regional ‘think-tank’, capable of providing profound analyses based on solid scientific research, the Directorate is arranging to convene, during the year 2009, the 1st Meeting of Senior Officials of Leading Economic Research Center/Institutes/Departments of the ECO region. The 18th RPC-recommended meeting will also help integrate and consolidate the best economic thought available in the region.     

ECO Publications 

The Directorate publishes ECO’s Annual Economic Reports, bulletins, pamphlets. These reflect the information and analyses on the macroeconomic development of Member States. They are circulated to Member States via official channels. These can also be accessed through the 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 between ECO and its international partner organizations. ECO Statistical Bulletins contain country-specific information of Member States and are regularly updated on the website. The ECO Economic Journal will be published as soon as its Terms of Reference as well as the Editorial Board are approved by the Council of Permanent Representatives. 

ECO’s Reference Information  

The Directorate creates and 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 best experts and leading training institutions.