The 19th meeting of ECO’s Regional Planning Council (RPC) is scheduled to be held in Tehran (Islamic of Iran) on 12-14 January, 2009. The meeting, held annually, focuses on the policies and programmes of the organization, and prepares the calendar of events for the coming year. New plans and programmes are drawn up in accordance with the principles and objectives laid down in the Treaty of Izmir, and the directives and guidelines of the Council of Ministers. High level representatives from all the ten member sates will participate in this meeting and will hold discussion on various activities of the Organization. Seven committees on priority areas of cooperation and service directorates will discuss various sectoral activities.
During the three-day meetings, the RPC and its Working Committees would discuss issues of regional significance. These would include such fields as trade and investment, transport and communications, energy and minerals, agriculture and environment, industry and tourism. The participants would also service the performance of ECO’s Specialized Agencies, relations with regional and international organizations, as well as the ongoing Programmes/Projects. The Calendar of Events for the years 2009-2010 will be given shape in the light of new proposals and initiatives.
The Regional Planning Council plays an important role in prompting the aims and objectives of ECO. It meets early every year for three to four days. The Council has technical committees to assist it. The plans and programmes framed by this RPC will be submitted to the 18th Council of Ministers (COM) for approval. The COM is expected to meet in the second week of March 2009 in Iran.
