Thursday, July 14, 2011 – Ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) organized their 4th session in Kabul on Wednesday.
A number of the participating members presented their a list of the trade commodities and emphasized for no competition for the given list within the markets.
Officials in Afghan ministry of commerce and industries said, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey have submitted list of commodities that shouldn’t be competed with in markets.
In the near future, Tajikistan is also going to submit their list of commodities to this organization for no competition purposes in markets.
In the meantime, officials in Economic Cooperation Organization said that they will put their efforts to eliminate transit barriers between the ECO member countries.
At least nine envoys from different countries participated the summit which was held in Afghan foreign affairs compound. The participating members focused on resolution of transit challenges and decrease of custom tariffs between member states of the organization.
While speaking during the summit Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi Afghan Commerce and Industries Minister said, transit issues which Afghan merchants are facing with the Pakistani authorities could no longer be acceptable.
Mr. Ahadi further added, “We do not want this issue to affect our relationships with Pakistan and we request them for a halt in transit problems because our traders.”
Mohammad Yahya Maroufi, ECO Secretary General said, “Around ten ECO member countries have decided to eliminate Visa requirements for all the trucks travelling between ECO member countries.”
Mr. Maroufi further added, “Visa’s should be issued to drivers for six months period only if required.”
Officials in Commerce and Industries Ministry said, the next session will be held in Iran within the next two years and progress about Kabul summit discussions will be reviewed in the coming summit.
