ECO-CCI meeting: representatives discuss tourism, transportation, Arbitration

Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce & Industry of 9 member countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan participated in the first session of specialised committees meetings of ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ECO-CCI) commenced at Federation House.

During the specialised committee meeting on tourism, member countries emphasised on enhancing the connectivity, promotion of regional tourism prospects, harmonisation of visa regime, implementation of ECO visa sticker scheme and white card scheme, holding of ECO tourism forum, investment in tourism related projects, health tourism, religion tourism, holding of tourism exhibitions, sharing of tourism aspects etc..

The participants agreed for sharing of tourism prospects and hotel owners and tourist operator's information on ECO-CCI website through respective National Chamber. While in the Women Entrepreneur Council meeting, the participants shared the success stories of their countries and discussed the issues faced by Women Entrepreneur in terms of limited interaction finance and opportunities.

The participants agreed for joint activities including exhibitions, seminars, training programmes and enhancing of interaction amongst the women entrepreneurs of ECO-CCI through web portal and social media. The Specialised Committee meeting of Transportation discussed in detail the issues of operationalising of TIR convention which may help in reducing cost of transportation and increase competitiveness, ITI, KTAI train, cross border transport agreement, Afghan transit trade agreement and transit cargo were emphasised. CPEC opportunities were also discussed for enhancing connectivity as 7 out of 10 countries of ECO are landlocked countries. Moreover, the participants suggested training session for trader and transporter on TIR by TOBB and sharing of Border gate experience by TOBB.

The Specialised Committee on Arbitration underlined the need of establishment of Arbitration Centre of OIC countries in Istanbul, Turkey as agreed in order to facilitate member nations.

Moreover, member countries suggested ECO-CCI to study the model of EU, ASEAN and SAARC for establishment of Arbitration Centre which are successfully operationalised and efficiently working to resolve the commercial disputes related to trade and investment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019