Leaders from the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states gathered in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, for the 17th ECO Summit, reaffirming their united stance on regional economic integration and sustainable development. Kazakhstan, represented by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, proposed a strategic investment in Afghanistan’s Turghundi-Herat railway, aiming to bolster regional connectivity, trade, and stability.
ECO member states, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, attended this high-level gathering, alongside senior representatives from major international organizations. The summit provided an important opportunity for participating leaders to coordinate responses to key regional economic priorities, including transportation infrastructure development, trade facilitation initiatives, energy cooperation projects, and enhancing resilience against natural disasters.
Prime Minister Bektenov, representing Kazakhstan, highlighted his country’s increasing role in promoting infrastructure connectivity across Central and South Asia. In particular, he announced Kazakhstan’s intention to support and invest in Afghanistan’s Turghundi-Herat railway project, which he described as essential for revitalizing cross-border trade routes and enhancing regional integration.
The Turghundi-Herat railway project, planned for northwestern Afghanistan, aims to significantly improve logistics capabilities, connecting landlocked Central Asian economies more efficiently with markets in South Asia. Prime Minister Bektenov stressed that such infrastructure initiatives would not only strengthen trade corridors but also promote regional stability, economic diversification, and long-term prosperity.
In addition to infrastructure and trade, summit participants discussed mutual strategic priorities focusing on digital transformation efforts, the region’s transition toward environmentally friendly solutions, and deeper connectivity aligned with the ECO Vision 2025 roadmap.
Kazakhstan’s proposal and its active engagement in Afghanistan’s reconstruction reflect the nation’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a pivotal hub for Eurasian connectivity, sustainability, and regional economic growth.
