The issue of implementing the Awaza Programme of Action for landlocked developing countries (2024–2034) in the ECO region was discussed at the meeting of the Council of Permanent Representatives of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), held on 27 January 2026, at the ECO Secretariat in Tehran.
Ambassadors and permanent representatives of ECO member states were informed by the ECO Secretariat about the 5 main priorities identified in the Programme of Action to assist landlocked developing countries in addressing problems and eliminating vulnerabilities arising from their lack of direct access to seas and global markets.
The Council exchanged views on how ECO, as one of the most significant organizations in the region, can assist the United Nations and the international community in effectively implementing the Awaza PoA in the ECO region. This is particularly relevant for ECO, as 7 of the 32 landlocked developing countries in the world are located in the ECO region.
Envisaged actions for implementation of Awaza PoA in the ECO Region include:
Action 1. With Landlocked Member States
• Assisting in their national reviews
• Receiving data and updates as per PoA
• Organizing workshops/seminars/capacity building
Action 2. Within the ECO frameworks
• Mainstreaming relevant PoA provisions into ECO documents
• Addressing PoA in ECO sectoral meetings
• Preparing regional inputs for relevant UN review processes
Action 3. With existing and potential partners Coordination/cooperation/joint meetings with:
• UN OHRLLS
• UNESCAP and UNECE
• ECO transport related partners
• transport regional and international organizations as mandated by PoA
• Donors, development banks and financing institutions as mandated by PoA
In particular, a project was proposed to ECO for implementing the third priority direction of the Programme — “Transit, Transport, and Connectivity” — in the ECO region. This proposal, as well as the organization of meetings for its implementation, was supported by the Council.
Earlier, at the initiative of the Turkmen side, this priority direction was reflected in the draft ECO document “Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation – 2035,” the adoption of which is expected in the near future.
At the meeting of the Council of Permanent Representatives, several activities for 2026 proposed by the ECO Secretariat were approved. Among them is the organization of an ECO kick-off meeting on the implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action in the ECO region.
The Council also welcomed the initiative to have a trilateral meeting among 3 ECO transit countries (Pakistan, Türkiye and Iran) which will generate momentum for the implementation of the AWAZA Programme of Action in the ECO Region.
In addition, a dedicated section titled “Awaza Programme of Action 2024-2034 and the ECO Region” has been launched on the official ECO website: https://eco.int/awaza-programme-of-action-2024-2034-and-the-eco-region/ ///nCa, 29 January 2026 (based on materials from ECO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan)