October-December 2017 ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology Issue28 T

14 December: Presidents of ECO-IEST and The “ECO Council of Permanent Representatives ECOSF discussed mutual collaboration (CPR)” had decided to organize the “ECO Day 2017” on On Thursday 14 December 2017, Dr. Asghar the sidelines of the 28th meeting of the “ECO Regional Mohammadi Fazel President of ECO-IEST, was During this visit, Dr. Asghar Mohammadi Fazel, the Planning Council (RPC)” in . invited to have a visit to the ECO Science Fundation President of the Institute, provided a brief summary of (ECOSF) which is based in Islamabad, . President’s Message history of the establishment of ECO-IEST and also a short activity report.

We are so proud that after

10 years of hard work, we

have been able to take significant steps towards on

objectives were mandated to

the Institute, such as

Combating desertification in

the ECO Region and the capacity which has been built in the Institute and experience gained during past decade.

We are honored to closely cooperate with all ECO

Member States, the Secretariat and other Specialized

President of the ECO-IEST Dr. Fazel that was During Agencies and Affiliated bodies in pursuing the ECO Following the visit, Dr. Madani, had a meeting with this visit they had discussed recent and upcoming environmental agenda in 2018. the faculty members of the CoE regarding current and activities, and also both sides emphasized to further future plans. cooperation between the two institutes. We believe that a closer cooperation among other

institutions will benefit the future of our environment, th ECOSF is promoting goal oriented research projects, 11-14 December: 28 Regional Planning Council including joint research programmes, thematic calls both regionally and globally. (RPC) held in Islamabad, Pakistan

and specific actions related to priority areas of concern to the ECO Member States,. The 28th Meeting of the Regional Planning Council Activities (RPC) of the Economic Cooperation Organization

(ECO) was held on 11-14 December, 2017 in

20 November: Iranian Top Officials Visit to ECO- Islamabad, Pakistan. The Meeting was attended by the IEST delegations of all the 10 Member States, the

On Monday 20 November, Dr. Kaveh Madani, the Observers; the Turkish Cypriot State and the

About ECO Deputy Head of 's Department of Environment paid Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States; as Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and as the successor of a visit to the IEST. well as by the ECO Specialized Agencies, Regional

Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) (1964-1979) for promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation. Institutions and Affiliated Bodies. In 1992, ECO was expanded to include seven new members, namely: Islamic Republic of , Republic of , Republic of , Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of , and Republic of . In the opening session, the ECO Secretary General

The ECO region is full of bright trading prospects. Despite its young age, ECO has developed into a thriving regional organization with growing international H.E. Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akça, in his opening stature. remarks, welcomed the ECO Member States, About ECO-IEST Observers and Specialized Agencies, Institutions & Following the proposal for establishment of a College of Environment to the ECO Ministerial Meeting (Istanbul, 2004), establishment of the ECO-IEST was adopted at the 3rd ECO Ministerial Meeting on Environment (Almaty, 2006). IEST was formally inaugurated in February 9th, 2011. Affiliated Bodies to the 28th Regional Planning The Institute organises training courses, consultation workshops, regional meetings, as well as facilitating networking and exchange of knowledge and Council (RPC) Meeting in the Islamabad. experiences. Conducting study programmes and development of regional projects are other activity fields of IEST. The Secretary General thanked and appreciated the

Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,

ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ECO-IEST) especially the Ministry of Planning, Development & Standard Sq., Karaj, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Reforms for hosting the 28th RPC Meeting.

Tel/Fax: +98-26-32822266 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eco-iest.org ECO-IEST Newsletter

ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology Issue 28 October- December 2017

T The Council concluded with a vote of thanks to the oil and gas pipelines (TAPI & CASA-1000), as well Specialized Agencies; mechanism for enhancing the Chair for conducting the deliberations of the meeting in as coping with climate change issues, promotion of The ECO Secretary General presented an overview of cooperation among the Headquarters of the a smooth and efficient manner. tourism industry and rooting out the menace of the main activities of the Organization undertaken Specialized Agencies and Regional Institutions and terrorism and extremism. It also appreciated the efforts made by the Secretary during the Year 2017, including successfully holding the Diplomatic Corps of the ECO Member States in General and his staff for preparing comprehensive of 13th ECO Summit and 22nd COM, which adopted After the Opening session, various Sectoral the host countries. Working Papers and other documents for the Council. the documents – ECO Vision 2025 with Committees were formulated on trade, investment, Two separate sessions on ECO Specialized The President of ECO-IEST delivered a statement on Implementation Framework and Islamabad transport, communications, energy, environment, Agencies/Regional Institutions/Affiliated Bodies were Declaration. agricultural, industry, tourism, economic research, also held during the meeting, wherein, the the background and current status of ongoing activities statistics, human development, disaster risk reduction, of the ECO Institute of Environmental Science and He mentioned that the Secretariat has made enormous progress/achievements of the agencies/institutions drugs and organized crimes and the international were discussed in detail. Technology, along with the recommendations and efforts in realizing the overarching objectives of the relations. The Sectoral Committees thoroughly proposals for future work. Work Programme in 2017 in various segments. The Council appreciated the activities and initiatives discussed the ongoing programmes and projects as of the Foundation for developing and promoting In his statement, Dr. Fazel thanked the ECO Secretariat well as the areas of future cooperation the Sectorial cooperation among the Member States in the field of for organizing the meeting and he emphasized that the Committee meetings were also held and their Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and for the capacity which has been built in the Institute and outcomes converged in the Closing Plenary on 14 promotion of scientific research in the Region. experience gained during past decade, were the December; wherein, the final RPC report was outcomes of closely cooperation with all Member presented and adopted with consensus. The Council States, the Secretariat and other Specialized Agencies

noted, with appreciation, the work of the Sectoral and Affiliated bodies in pursuing the ECO

Committees as well as the ECO Secretariat for the environmental agenda. proposed ECO Work Programmes and Calendar of He added that the ECO-IEST will remain available to Events for 2018. serve the Economic Corporation Organization and its

The Consultation Meeting on “Reforms in the ECO institutions. The Meeting was formally inaugurated by H.E. Prof. Specialized Agencies, Regional Institutions and

Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Affiliated Bodies” was also held on 13 December 14 December: “ECO Day 2017” was celebrated in Development and Reforms of the Islamic Republic of 2017. The Heads of Delegation discussed and Islamabad Pakistan warmly welcomed all delegates to Islamabad reviewed the overall performance of ECO Institutions In a high level ceremony, the “ECO Day 2017” was for attending the 28th RPC Meeting. from different perspectives, including causes and celebrated on 14 December 2017 in Islamabad,

effects lower membership; establishment of inter- The Heads of Delegation of the ECO Member States The Federal Minister while highlighting the enormous Pakistan. The Event, attended by high ranking officials secretariat coordination mechanism (nature and scope made their country statements, highlighting policies, regional and global changes taking place, inter alia, from the host country, of activities), Reform of the Organizational Structure programmes and activities of the Organization at economic disparity issues, political rivalries, security ECO Member States, ECO Secretariat and agencies, as of the Specialized Agencies and Regional Institutions, national, regional and global levels, including the challenges, environmental hazards, terrorism and well as regional and international organizations, was financial and administrative issues; strengths and progress achieved on implementation of the decisions extremism threats, he called for adopting collective honored by presence of H.E. Mr. weaknesses of the current recruitment policy of the taken during the 27th Meeting of the Regional ECO Regional efforts to address these challenges for Planning Council. Mamnoon Hussain, honourable President of the Islamic upholding peace, stability, prosperity and economic The Heads of delegation of the ECO Specialized Republic of Pakistan who also addressed the audience. development in the ECO Region, as well as to achieve Agencies, Regional Institutions and Affiliated Bodies, ECO Secretary General Ambassador Halil Ibrahim the sustainable development goals as enshrined in the Akca and H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz, the Deputy Chairman of UN Development Agenda 2030. including ECO Science Foundation also delivered their statements, elaborating activities and progress Planning Commission of Pakistan made welcoming The socio-economic activities in the Region will be achieved since last RPC Meeting. remarks in the ceremony. guaranteed through enhanced regional trade and At the end of the RPC meeting, the Council expressed “28th November” each year is commemorated as the investment opportunities with elimination of tariff and its appreciation and thanks to the ECO Secretariat for “ECO Day” by ECO Secretariat and the Member States, non-tariff barriers, promotion of free trade through making excellent arrangements for this important usually at the ECO premises in Tehran. “ECO Day” is operationalization of ECOTA, regional connectivity, meeting. celebrated on the date of the adoption of the “Protocol infrastructure development, regional energy markets, amending the Treaty of Izmir” signed on 28th

November 1992.

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