Economic Cooperation Organization

What Economic Cooperation Organization does

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental regional organization founded in 1964 as the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) by Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye, and rechristened ECO in 1985. It expanded to ten member states in 1992 with the addition of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), and today spans West Asia, South Asia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia — covering 460+ million inhabitants across 8+ million square kilometers. ECO's purpose is to promote sustainable economic development, regional trade integration, transport and energy connectivity, agricultural cooperation, tourism promotion, and disaster risk reduction among member states, operating through biennial summits, the Council of Ministers, the Council of Permanent Representatives, the Regional Planning Council, and sectoral ministerial meetings.

ECO delivers its mandate through a portfolio of multilateral frameworks (ECO Vision 2025, the ECO Trade Agreement/ECOTA, the Transit Transport Framework Agreement) and 14 subsidiary bodies spanning finance (ECO Trade and Development Bank, ECO Reinsurance Company), culture and education (ECO Cultural Institute, ECO Educational Institute, ECO College of Insurance), disaster management (ECO Regional Center for Risk Management of Natural Disasters), standardization (RISCAM), and trade facilitation (ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ECO Tour Operators' Network). The Secretariat, headquartered in Tehran, Iran, is led by a Secretary General and four Deputy Secretaries General overseeing directorates in Trade and Investment, Transport and Communications, Energy Minerals and Environment, Tourism, Agriculture and Industry, and Human Resources and Sustainable Development. There is no proprietary technology stack; ECO's operating model is institutional and diplomatic rather than technology-driven.

ECO is funded through annual contributions from its ten member states under an agreed scale of assessments, with no commercial revenue, product pricing, or capital-raising activity. The organization uses its website (eco.int), social media, newsletters, chronicles, and the annual ECO Economic Journal as communications channels, and engages with external partners including the UN system (UNDP, UNECE, FAO, ITU, UN Tourism), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Islamic Development Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and ASEAN. Governance rotates through chairmanships (currently held by Pakistan for 2026-2027), and the organization's competitive position rests on its treaty-based mandate, geographic bridge role between Asia and Europe, and accumulated institutional infrastructure rather than any technology or commercial moat.

Name

Economic Cooperation Organization

Legal name

Economic Cooperation Organization

Website

https://eco.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental body of ten member states spanning West and South Asia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, coordinating regional economic cooperation across trade, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism, and disaster risk reduction through its Tehran-based Secretariat and fourteen subsidiary agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intergovernmental Regional Economic Cooperation

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

Keywords

• Regional economic cooperation
• Intergovernmental organization
• Trade facilitation agreements
• Transport corridor coordination
• Policy coordination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member State Contributions: ECO is funded through annual contributions from its 10 member states. The organization's budget supports the Secretariat operations in Tehran, Iran, and finances regional cooperation projects and programs across member countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization that facilitates economic cooperation and integration among its 10 member states across West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. It coordinates sectoral cooperation in trade, transport and transit corridors, energy, agriculture, tourism, and disaster risk reduction through policy frameworks, ministerial meetings, regional projects, and a network of subsidiary agencies. The Secretariat in Tehran administers the organization's programmes, publications, and external partnerships with UN and other international bodies.

Product overview

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental organization that does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense. ECO's portfolio consists of strategic frameworks (ECO Vision 2025), trade agreements (ECO Trade Agreement/ECOTA), and numerous subsidiary agencies and programs including financial institutions (ECO Trade and Development Bank, ECO Reinsurance Company), cultural and educational bodies (ECO Cultural Institute, ECO Educational Institute, ECO College of Insurance), and specialized centers (ECO Regional Center for Risk Management of Natural Disasters, ECO Clean Energy Centre, ECO Regional Institute for Standardization). ECO also operates digital platforms such as the ECO Tourism Website and networks like the ECO Tour Operators' Network (ETON) to facilitate regional cooperation in areas including trade, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism, and disaster risk reduction across its 10 member states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO-TDB): The financial arm of ECO providing development financing to the region.
• ECO Vision 2025
• ECOTA (ECO Trade Agreement)

Products and services

• ECO Vision 2025 A strategic roadmap framework endorsed at the 13th ECO Summit in Islamabad in March 2017 that guides the sectoral activities of the Organization until 2025 for member states pursuing sustainable economic development.
• ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) A preferential trade agreement among ECO member states aimed at liberalizing trade and promoting regional economic integration.
• ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO-TDB) A regional development bank that provides financing services for trade and development projects within the ECO region.
• ECO Cultural Institute An ECO subsidiary body focused on promoting cultural cooperation and exchanges among member states.
• ECO Educational Institute An ECO subsidiary body dedicated to educational cooperation and development in the region.
• ECO Supreme Audit Institutions (ECOSAI) A regional coordination body for the supreme audit institutions of ECO member states.
• ECO Regional Center for Risk Management of Natural Disasters (ECO-RCRM) A regional center established in Mashhad, Iran in March 2007 for weather-related disaster risk management functions across the ECO region.
• ECO Postal Staff College A training institution for postal services personnel from ECO member states.
• ECO Seed Association (ECOSA) An organization focused on seed-related cooperation among ECO member states.
• ECO Regional Institute for Standardization (RISCAM) A regional institute for standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation, and metrology among ECO member states.
• ECO Clean Energy Centre A center focused on clean energy cooperation and development in the ECO region.
• ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry An organization facilitating trade and industrial cooperation among ECO member states.
• ECO College of Insurance An educational institution for insurance sector development in the ECO region.
• ECO Regional Coordination Centre for Food Security A coordination center addressing food security issues in the ECO region.
• ECO Reinsurance Company A regional reinsurance entity enhancing insurance sector cooperation among ECO member states.
• Transit Transport Coordination Council (TTCC) An intergovernmental mechanism established under the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) for monitoring and coordinating transit transport matters within the ECO region.
• ECO Tour Operators' Network (ETON) A network uniting 350+ major tour operators from ECO member states to develop joint tour packages and enhance cross-border tourism.
• ECO Tourism Website A regional tourism promotion platform launched in 2024 at tourism.eco.int to showcase destinations and travel offerings across ECO member states.
• ECO Tourism Capital Initiative An initiative designating cities from ECO member states as ECO Tourism Capitals, with Erzurum (2025), Lahore (2027), Mary (2028), and Karakol (2029) selected.
• ECO Advisory Committee on Tourism (ECO-ACT) An advisory body established to evaluate tourism initiatives and guide regional tourism policies within the ECO region.
• ECO Economic Journal (EEJ) A journal published as part of the ECO Economic Research Centre, with editions released in 2022, 2023, and 2024 covering economic research and analysis for the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ million tourists visited ECO member states in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ECO Trade and Development Bank (ECO-TDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026ECO-TDB is a subsidiary body of ECO providing financing for regional development projects. Consultations held on organizing International Financing Conference for ECO transport projects and corridors. Vice President Mr. Ahmet Tutal leads ECO-TDB participation.
• United Nations Resident Coordinator SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2026ECO cooperation with UN Resident Coordinator Office in Iran for coordination with UN agencies. Meeting on June 21, 2026 between ECO Secretary General and UN Resident Coordinator discussed areas of cooperation including environment, disaster risk reduction, health, and Sustainable Development Goals.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026UNDP participation in World Day to Combat Desertification ceremony at Imam Khomeini International Airport. Both organizations collaborate on environmental initiatives and climate action in the ECO region.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026FAO participated in World Day to Combat Desertification ceremony. Collaboration on food security, agriculture, and environmental sustainability in the ECO region through the ECO Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS).
• Global Environment Facility (GEF)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026ECO Secretary General participated in GEF 8th Assembly Opening Ceremony in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (June 4, 2026). This was the first GEF Assembly in the ECO region. Partnership focuses on leveraging international environmental financing mechanisms for climate action, biodiversity, and land degradation initiatives.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025UNECE-ECO Coordination Committee established in 2022 to coordinate transport corridor activities, including Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul Corridors. The 8th meeting held in Istanbul on June 5, 2026, discussed corridor development and adopted the Istanbul Strategic Framework for Inter Regional Transport Corridor Management.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2016Joint ECO-ITU Study on ICT Needs of ECO Member States released in May 2016. Partnership on ICT policy, regulations, and digital development. ECO-ITU Joint Webinar on ICT Policy and Regulation held in 2026.
• United Nations (UN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 1993ECO acquired observer status with the UN in 1993 (GA resolution 48/2). ECO regularly participates in annual UN General Assembly sessions, and every two years a resolution on ECO & UN cooperation is adopted. The partnership encompasses cooperation with UN agencies, funds, and programmes including UNDP, UNESCAP, UNIDO, UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNECE, UNCTAD, UNEP, UNISDR, and others.
• Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECO maintains cooperative relations with OIC for coordination on shared regional interests among Islamic countries.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECO participates in SCO events and conferences. Secretary General attended SCO 25th Anniversary International Conference in Tajikistan (June 2026). Both organizations share overlapping membership, common geography, and increasingly convergent objectives on regional cooperation.
• International Road Transport Union (IRU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on transport and transit matters including ECO Regular Monitoring of Trucks (ECO RMT) partnership with IRU NELTI-3.
• World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UN Tourism Organization for tourism development in the ECO region, including joint initiatives on tourism promotion, branding, and sustainable tourism development.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GSTC for sustainable tourism standards and certification in the ECO region.
• Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking StatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerObserver to ECO since October 2014. Cooperation on shared interests among Turkic-speaking countries.
• Turkish Cypriot StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerObserver to ECO since October 2012. Active participation in ECO events including 6th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Tourism.
• International Energy CharterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerObserver to ECO since February 2017. Cooperation on energy sector development and energy security in the region.
• Colombo PlanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative relations with Colombo Plan for development cooperation activities.
• ASEANminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative relations with ASEAN for regional economic cooperation knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU): Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan-Armenia-Kyrgyz customs union with common market and integrated policies. Members overlap directly with ECO (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz) and pursue similar objectives in transport corridors, trade liberalization, and economic integration.
• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation): Regional intergovernmental body with overlapping membership (Afghanistan, Pakistan) and a comparable governance architecture (summits, council of ministers, secretariat, sectoral ministries), pursuing trade and economic integration goals similar to ECO.
• CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation): ADB-hosted regional cooperation program covering six Central Asian and South Caucasus economies. Directly comparable focus on transport corridors, trade, and energy connectivity in the same geography ECO covers, often a co-implementer on corridor projects.
• Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): Largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, with overlapping ECO member states. OIC is a formal partner and serves a similar coordination/governance function across trade, development, and cultural cooperation in member states.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): Intergovernmental regional security/economic cooperation body covering China, Russia, Central Asia, South Asia and Iran. Highly comparable in mandate, governance model (summits + secretariat), and overlapping membership with ECO, especially across trade and transport corridors.

Others

• International Organization for Migration (IOM): UN-related intergovernmental organization that operates migration and human mobility programs in the ECO region. Not a direct economic peer, but adjacent IGO model used for benchmark governance and partnership structure when scaling human-resource development work.

Broad incumbents

• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): A more mature regional bloc pursuing economic integration and connectivity. Not a direct geographic peer but cited by ECO as a model for regional economic cooperation; useful comparable on integration depth (intra-regional trade ~25% vs ECO's 9%).
• Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): Broader post-Soviet intergovernmental body with overlapping membership in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Pursues comparable regional cooperation but covers a wider political scope, making it a broader incumbent to ECO's narrower economic mandate.

Emerging players

• CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia): Intergovernmental forum covering much of the ECO region (incl. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan) with similar focus areas in connectivity, security, and economic cooperation, often overlapping membership.
• SPECA (UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia): UN-backed intergovernmental cooperation framework for Central Asia with substantive overlap in membership (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and theme clusters (trade, transport, energy, water). Acts as both complement and partial substitute for ECO sectoral work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Economic-Cooperation-Organization-100081786982735
• Instagraminstagram.com/eco.secretariat
• Xx.com/eco_secretariat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economic-cooperation-organization-eco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Economic Cooperation Organization