ISLAMABAD, March 16: The second meeting of Economic Cooperation Organization experts here on Wednesday called for effective use of water reservoirs in the member countries, setting up of a textile business forum, human resource development and establishment of a Pakistan-Afghanistan joint venture in gemstones exploration. “During the concluding secession of the three-day meeting, several presentations were made in the sub-sectors, including chemical and petrochemicals industry, transportation industry, energy equipment and machinery,” Chief Expert Advisory Cell, Zahid Aziz, said while talking to reporters at the end of the meeting.

He said the meeting recommended the development of a standardized mineral sector data bank on reserves available with the member countries and the establishment of a textile business forum comprising all stakeholders.

Mr Aziz said the meeting also asked the ECO countries to benefit from the capabilities of textile machinery of Turkey and make use of experience of Pakistani towel manufacturers. It recommended the member states to organize industrial exhibitions for parts, components and finished goods they produced on annual basis. The meeting stressed the need for more interaction and exchange of business delegations, development of science parks and creation of measurement and calibration laboratories.

Mr Aziz said the countries that faced underutilization of capacity problems would inform the ECO Secretariat so that Pakistan and Turkey could see how they could help. “The member countries would cooperate on harmonization of regulatory and legal framework as well as incentives available for industrialization with the ECO Secretariat,” Mr Aziz said.

The meeting also stressed the need for modernization of salt-based industries in the region. It emphasized regional cooperation for creating a common network of certification facilities and institution working in Iran, Pakistan and Turkey and their upgradation to the level of centre of excellence, he said.

He said mineral was available in abundance in Pakistan and as there was a great demand of iodized salt in the member countries. “Joint ventures should be made for processing of the mineral.”

Mr Aziz said consumption and production of steel was increasing worldwide, therefore, immediate projects should be taken up for exploration and development of quality iron ore available in the respective member countries. Research centres and training institutes would also be established in this regard.

The meeting, he said, highlighted the need to evolve the private sector and create a textile business forum. The member countries needed to have a strategic shift more into fashion industry, he said.

He said some projects were recommended for consideration regarding manufacturing of some components within the ECO region, including cooperation cathode ray tube (CRT) colour picture tube (CPT), small circuit breakers, vacuum circuit beakers and vacuum bottles, compressors for air conditioners, deep freezers and refrigerators, besides other passive electronic components like resistors, capacitors, fuses, etc.

Similarly, a joint ventures project for aluminium production plant was also recommended for consideration, Mr Aziz said. He said a task force would be established comprising Iran, Pakistan and Turkey to consider the latter’s proposal regarding a framework strategy for cooperation in the sub sectors.

In reply to a question, Faith Unlu, Director of Agriculture, Industry and Health of the ECO Secretariat, said the trade among the ECO countries was only five per cent of the world trade and efforts were being made to improve it.

He stressed the need for improvement in quality and design with economies of scale to compete with the cheap products entering the ECO markets. Delegations from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan along with representatives of the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the United Nations Development Organization and the ECO Secretariat participated in the meeting.