On 19th/October/2020 the 27th executive and 18th General meeting of Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held through a video conference in the presence of ECO’s head, presidents and assistants of member chambers. ECO shifted from Afghanistan to Iran on the same date.
This executive meeting was attended by Mr. Azrakhsh Hafizi ECO’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries head, Sayed Jawid Burhan head of the international relations of board of directors and a member of the General meetings of ECO, Naseer Ahmad Arab technical deputy of board of directors, Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozada member of the board of directors, Lutfullah Amini Bameyan’s head of board of directors, Humaira Kuhzad EOS’s female entrepreneurship committee’s member, Muhammad Ihsan Sakhi ECO’s tourism committee’s member and Omid Ghaforzai ACCI’s international relations director.
Mr. Azrakhash Hafizi welcomed the participants of the meeting and added that leaders of the private sectors require strong coordination and cooperation in the region. He affirmed that facilitating the issuance of visas for the expansion and development of the economy in the region is necessary. And we all have to work together to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the region.
Mr. Sayed Jawid Burhan said, “to build infrastructure, to accelerate deliverables, to support private sector, to establish joint-commercial chamber, and to facilitate the issuance of visas access to regional coordination and cooperation is required.”
Later on, a discussion about commercial facilities, transport, female entrepreneurship, commercial arbitration, tourism, small entrepreneurship, and ECO’s activities of the years 2018 and 2019 took place. Moreover, member countries of ECO appreciated two years activities of the head of ECO.
For the first time, national professional committees of ECO were established under the leadership of Sayed Jawid Burhan.
At the end of the event, Mr. Ghulam Husain Shafey was given the responsibility of being the head of chamber of commerce and industries of ECO, and the general presidency of chamber of ECO was assigned to chamber of commerce and industries of Azerbaijan.
Mr. Khan Jan Alokozy said that besides providing better services for the people especially on motorways of the country, the Gas Stations constitute the main part of the private sector. However, without the services of this sector, the chances of activity for other sectors seem to be impossible.
Mr. Hashimi said that using the TIR Carnet system with the neighbor and regional countries is a good privilege, although, Afghanistan has issued 176 TIR Carnet during the past eight years and has not been able to use this system the way it should have been used and the reason is the lack of cooperation of the customs of the country.
The CEO of Sri Lankan Chamber of Commerce Mr. Manjulad Salwa said that this MoU is a good opportunity for both countries to develop and expand their trading. He, furthermore, said that he hopes to bring entrepreneurs close to each other through this MoU and to expand trade between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar thanked the First Vice President of the country for holding regular meetings and providing solutions for the problems of the private sector.