The ECO region, consisting of ten member states, spanning across the Caucus and parts of the Central, South and West Asia, is home to one sixteenth of the world population. These states, namely, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, have historically and culturally been connected to each other since times immemorial. Their civilizational linkages are reflected in the major languages, religious beliefs, folk traditions, cuisine, dresses, and the rituals observed across the region.

The ECO Cultural Institute, or ECI for short, was first founded in 1966 as the first ever specialized agency of, what was then called, the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) established by Iran, Pakistan and Turkiye, two years earlier. In those times, we were called the Regional Culture Institute, or RCI. The RCD was revived and renamed as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 1985. Subsequently, the text of the Treaty of Izmir became ECO’s new Charter. This treaty also led the way to ECO’s expansion to seven more member states as well as stipulated the revival of a cultural cooperation mechanism. So since 1995, under the new name of the ECI, here we are!

The ECI prides itself as representative of diverse member states spanning across the heart of Asia. It believes that we cannot truly embrace the potential of economic cooperation without first acknowledging the importance of our cultural ties. By showcasing our diverse cultural heritage, we have the power to attract investment, and tourism, and promote sustainable development in the region. Just as the roots of a tree provide stability and nourishment, our shared cultural heritage forms the foundation upon which we can build a prosperous and harmonious future for our nations.

The ECI believes that it has the same relation and status with respect to the Economic Cooperation Organization, as the UNESCO has with the United Nations and the ISESCO has with the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC). That is why, the ECI has already requested the member states to consider changing its name to ERESCO, i.e. ECO Region Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.The cultural cooperation regimes and arrangements both at the global and regional levels from Western Europe to Western Africa, from the Arab world to the Latin Americas, highlight the importance of civilizations and cultures in regional and national identities. 

Future conflicts may not be on the basis of clash of civilizations, but future regional integrations are likely, to a large extent, to be contingent upon the resurgence of cultural consciousness amongst and between nations. To realize this end, for nearly six decades, the ECI has promoted the art and culture of region. We look forward to exciting new initiatives in the future including the launch of the ECO Youth Award. The ECI invites the people of the whole world to come and see the beauty of our ECO region and enjoy richness of our cultural traditions.

Saad S. Khan