Iran-ECO trade soars 82% as Tehran backs regional economic ties
Iran’s trade with members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has grown by 82% over the past five years, a senior official from the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran said at the first meeting of the ECO Trade Agreement Technical Committee (ECOTA).
According to IRNA, Elham Haji Karimi, head of the Office for Reviving Trade Agreements and International Organizations at the TPO, reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to strengthening regional trade cooperation.
Haji Karimi said the ECO region holds significant potential for economic and trade growth, adding that all member states — beyond the current ECOTA participants — could move toward a more comprehensive agreement using the existing ECOTA framework, in a way that reflects current needs and anticipates future ones.
“Despite unjust sanctions and the imposed war against the country, and damage to some trade and economic infrastructure during the war that has created limitations, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to actively participate in the ECO and in drafting a new trade agreement,” she said.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 8, which were halted by a 15-day ceasefire announced on April 8. Iran has also faced Western sanctions for decades over its nuclear program, with measures primarily targeting its oil and energy sectors.
Haji Karimi also stressed the need for cooperation among all members to achieve the ECO Vision 2035, adding that Iran has focused its economic and trade diplomacy on maximum engagement with friendly countries, including ECO members.
The Economic Cooperation Organization is a regional body comprising 10 member states: Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. ECO aims to promote economic, trade, scientific, technical, cultural and infrastructure cooperation among its members. Its permanent secretariat is based in Tehran.