ISLAMABAD/ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Thursday that increase of trade among Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries would enrich them all.
Speaking in meeting of ECO in Pakistan, Tuzmen recalled that a regional cooperation organization ECO was firstly established among Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.
Tuzmen said that the organization was broadened in 1980 and Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan joined it.
Thus, it covered a wide geography with a population of 300 million, Tuzmen said.
However, Tuzmen drew attention, trade among ECO countries was not at desired level.
Tuzmen said, ''exports from Turkey to ECO countries only constitute three percent of its total exports. It is the same with our imports. Trade among other ECO countries is almost the same. This shows that trade among ECO countries should be increased as soon as possible. I hope that ECO Trade Agreement we will sign in this meeting will rapidly increase trade among regional countries. Increase of trade in the region will at the same time strengthen ECO's place in world economy.''
Stating that increase of trade among ECO members would revive economies of those countries, Tuzmen noted that ECO countries would enrich altogether.
Tuzmen added, ''increase of trade should be backed by reciprocal encouragement of investments. Encouragement of investments will play an important role in development of the region. Steps should be taken in the possible shortest time.''
(BRC-AÖ) 17.07.2003