Board of Investment (BOI) hosted the first meeting of Heads of Economic Cooperation Organizing (ECO) Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) at Marriott Hotel, in Islamabad on 26th December, 2016. Secretary, Board of Investment Mr. Azher Ali Choudhary inaugurated the meeting welcoming the representatives of ECO Secretariat and representatives of ECO member states from Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, Mr. Shah Jahan Shah, Additional Secretary, BOI being the host was elected as Chairman of the forum. Mr. Chairman took his seat and started the meeting as per agenda.
The representatives of the ECO countries presented their country statements one by one with regard to Investment policy, conducive environment, regulatory frameworks, role of IPA’s and potential of trade & investment available in their countries.
The proposed ECO regional Trade and Investment strategy, as part of the agenda has two components: trade and investment. Enhanced cooperation was stressed in both these areas as vital to economic integration of the Member States. The main purpose of cooperation in the ECO needed to strengthen the regional market, create wealth in the region, and enhance competitiveness through increased production, value added creation, and trade and investment inflows in the region. The participants suggested to discuss the contents of the proposed strategy in the next session of ECO IPA’s meeting.