ECO Meeting Held In Ankara

ANKARA - The first meeting of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) experts in fields of trade, investment and other issues was held in Ankara between 13-15 January, 2004.
Prime Ministry Foreign Trade Undersecretariat said on Friday that experts from Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan attended the meeting. The meeting was held to take concrete steps for preparation of supplements of ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) signed by five countries including Turkey during the ECO Second Foreign Trade Ministers meeting held in Pakistan on July 17, 2003 and for determination of the legal framework related to regional investments.
ECOTA targets to increase trade among member countries and to bring forth new business and investment opportunities.
If the agreement is signed by all member states and goes into force, a significant increase is expected in direct foreign capital investments. The investments which Turkish investors will undertake for reconstruction of Afghanistan will be taken under guarantee by this agreement.
(Öª-BRC) 16.01.2004