The Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO)

General Information

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was established in 1985 by Türkiye, Iran, and Pakistan with the aim of strengthening economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among the member states. On 28 November 1992, seven additional countries-Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan joined the ECO, bringing the current total membership to ten countries. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the International Energy Charter hold observer status within the Organization.

The main objectives of the Organization are to eliminate trade barriers within the ECO region and to expand intra-regional and inter-regional trade, taking into account the experience of other regions and global economic trends.

In accordance with its Charter, cooperation within the ECO framework is carried out through the following bodies:

•      Summits;

•      Council of Ministers (Ministers of Foreign Affairs);

•     Council of Permanent Representatives;

•     Regional Planning Council;

•     Secretariat.

    The Organization’s headquarters is located in Tehran. The current Secretary General is H.E. Mr. Asad Majeed Khan of Pakistan (since August 2024). In 2025, Kazakhstan holds the Chairmanship of the Organization.

Cooperation with Azerbaijan

The Republic of Azerbaijan was admitted to membership in the ECO at the extraordinary meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers held in Islamabad on 28 November 1992. Since 1997, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Iran has also served as the Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the ECO. Within the Organization, Azerbaijan cooperates with other member states in a number of priority areas, including trade, investment, transport, energy, and the environment.

Azerbaijan has hosted the 6th, 12th, and 17th ECO Summits (in 2006, 2012, and 2025).
The 17th ECO Summit was held on 4 July 2025 in Khankendi.

Azerbaijan has hosted four meetings of the ECO Council of Ministers (in 1999, 2006, 2012, and 2023) and held the Chairmanship of the Organization during those periods.  Within the framework of Azerbaijan’s ECO Chairmanship,
2023 was declared the Year of Green Transition and Interconnectivity and Shusha was selected as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026.

ECO Secretary General H.E. Mr. Asad Majeed Khan paid a visit to Azerbaijan on 12–15 March 2025 in connection with his participation in the Global Baku Forum. During the visit, he was received by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the Minister of Energy, Mr. Parviz Shahbazov.

The ECO Secretary General also participated in COP29 held in Baku in 2024, as well as in the 17th ECO Summit held in Khankendi in 2025.

As of November 2025, for the ECO Region (CECECO) has commenced its activities in Baku. The Clean Energy Centre promotes energy transition, the development of renewable energy sources, and the implementation of energy efficiency projects across the ECO region.