15^th Regional Planning Council (RPC)

Tehran, 14-17 February 2005

Press Release

15^th Regional Planning Council (RPC) was held in Tehran on February 14-17, 2005 at the ECO Secretariat. The meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Shorakaa vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and was attended by high level delegations from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan ,Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and representatives of the international organizations based in Tehran.

The meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Hamid Reza Shorakaa, Vice President and Head of State Planning and Management Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this inaugural statement, the Vice- President stated that globalization of economic relations was new agenda for the developing countries and regionalization of ECO could remedy its negative impacts and ECO could provide a conductive ground for realization of the deionization of the regional development goals. He emphasized the need for regular participation of the representatives of private sector in ECO activities and establishment of transport network with the Central Asian landlocked countries. He reminded that it was high time to revise ECO strategy to deal with the present time challenges as well as integration of regional policies may be harmonized with international trade. He was of the view that regular meetings of Senior Officials and other supervisory bodies of ECO could help to achieve objectives of the organization.

The Treaty of Izmir constituting agreement of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has entrusted the Regional Planning Council (RPC) with the task of evolving ECO’s Programs of Action. Regional Planning Council is composed of heads of planning organizations or equivalent ministry of the Member States who convene at least once a year prior to the annual meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss and decide the main ECO’s cooperative schemes. It meets under the Chairpersonship of the representative of the Member State holding Chairpersonship of the Council of Ministers.  As the planning arm of the Council of Ministers, the RPC is responsible for reviewing the past programs and evaluating their outcomes and achievements. It also considers and evolves new programs of action and Calendar of Events in line with the objective of the organization and strengthening the regional cooperation.

The Secretary General presented his detailed Report to RPC which was appreciated by the participants. The Secretary General in his Statement stressed on the various activities and efforts of ECO in priority areas specially Reconstruction of Afghanistan, removal of trade barriers, establishment of ECO Trade and Development Bank and Reinsurance Company and continuation of relations with regional and other international organizations.   

The 15^th RPC meeting and its affiliated Working Committees in its four days sessions discussed some important and crucial matters such as Trade and investment, Transport and Communications, Energy, Minerals and Environment and Agriculture, Industry and Tourism as well as the Establishment of ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO-TDB) and ECO Reinsurance Company.

The RPC also reviewed the relations with international Agencies and called for greater linkages between ECO and international organizations in areas of mutual interests. 

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