BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12. The proposal to
establish a Shared Border Zone between Turkmenistan and Iran,
modeled on the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan Joint Border Zone, aims to
boost trade, improve logistics, and strengthen regional economic
cooperation, ECO Secretary General Asad Majeed Khan told Trend in an exclusive
interview.
“Turkmenistan plays a proactive role within ECO, particularly in
promoting regional connectivity, sustainable energy, and the
development of cross-border trade mechanisms such as Shared Border
Zones. ECO is committed to translating these proposals into
actionable frameworks through its institutional mechanisms, such as
working groups, technical committees, and ministerial platforms,”
Asad Majeed Khan stated.
Accordingly, the first meeting of the bilateral Working Subgroup
on Turkmenistan-Iran SBZ was held on March 5, 2025 at the ECO
Secretariat in Tehran.
“The outcome of the feasibility study is expected to include a
comprehensive assessment of the economic, legal, and
infrastructural viability of the proposed Shared Border Zone. It
will also deliver a draft legal and institutional framework
tailored to the needs of both countries, identify suitable
locations for the zone, outline investment requirements, and
propose a phased implementation strategy,” he said.
According to the Secretary General, ECO has identified several
key strategic priorities to strengthen economic integration,
stability, and sustainable development among its Member States.
Among these priorities, energy, transport, and digitalization stand
out as critical pillars of regional cooperation, due to their
transformative potential and wide-reaching impact across multiple
sectors
