Tehran calls for ‘paradigm shift’ to unlock ECO’s untapped potential

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) needs a “paradigm shift” to unlock its untapped potential and emerge as a more dynamic force in the Global South.

Araghchi made the statement in an address to the 29th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers held in an online format on Friday.

“The ECO Region can become one of the most vibrant emerging regions within the Global South if our collective untapped potential and capacities become fully realized,” he said.

He added that the ECO member states have the political will for an enhanced organization at the highest level.

He stressed the need to have exchange of views and discussions as many as possible to ensure that ECO is functioning in its best capacity.

Elsewhere in his speech, Araghchi said the ECO foreign ministries and its Secretariat have started to devise a new ECO 10-year vision document.

“We believe that ECO needs some paradigm shifts and re-designing of its architecture. We shall not continue the same format and directions for the new vision while disregarding drastic changes and challenges at the global and regional levels,” the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

He urged the ECO member states to become more resilient, integrated, and powerful in the face of possible future risks and shocks, explaining that the body is still the best existing platform to develop and prosper collectively.

“The ECO Vision Committee should develop a more fitting, effective and feasible document for the next 10 years. Any vision and goals and objectives shall also make our region more inter-connected physically and technologically,” Araghchi added.

He reiterated Iran’s “full, unconditional and undeniable” support for the ECO and hailed a noticeable increase in ownership and involvement among the organization’s member countries.

“This spirit needs to be re-generated and re-enforced,” the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.

Pezeshkian calls for coherent ‘security architecture’ within ECO bloc

Iran’s President stresses the need to establish and implement a coherent, stability-creating, endogenous, and development-oriented security architecture by ECO member states.

Speaking at the fourth ECO Ministerial Meeting in Tehran late in October, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian called on the ECO member states to establish and implement a coherent, stability-creating, endogenous, and development-oriented security architecture.

Founded in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, the ECO has since expanded to include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Today, it serves as a major platform for regional economic integration.

The ECO region is endowed with appropriate capacities, opportunities and platforms for cooperation in various fields, especially in energy, trade and transport.

Iran, a founding member of the organization, holds a significant position within the group due to its geopolitical and economic role.

With substantial energy resources and a strategic location that facilitates access to global markets, Iran is seen as an important hub for regional cooperation.

Its geography also makes it a key transit point for energy flows from Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region to international markets.

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