On November 2, 2017, the Panel discussion on the upcoming 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII) was held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Heads and representatives of Permanent missions of those countries participating in RECCA programs and projects and a number of international organizations, such as the International Trade Center and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe took part in the meeting.
The meeting was moderated by Ms. Suraya Dalil, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Farukh Amil, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the World Trade Organization, Ambassador Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Andrei Vasilyev and Director of the Division of Country Programs of the International Trade Center Ashish Shah were invited as panelists.
The Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Office in Geneva informed about the successful cooperation of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan in the context of the RECCA and the Istanbul Process, noting in particular the ever-increasing role of the regional cooperation mechanism as an important factor for expansion of economic interaction, strengthening of stability and security. In addition, the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan at the UN Office in Geneva stressed the impetus given to the development of both Afghanistan and the entire nearby region as a whole through the implementation of major interstate economic projects in the fields of energy and transport.
During the meeting, the panelists and participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of the upcoming 7th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and exchanged views on the prospects for RECCA projects in its five main pillars - energy, transport networks, trade and transit facilitation, communication, business for business and labor support.
