May 17, 2026 – The 36th Meeting of the ECO Regional Planning Council (RPC) was held at the ECO Secretariat in Tehran in a hybrid format, bringing together delegations from member states, observers, and representatives of specialized agencies and affiliated bodies. ECO Secretary General Dr. Asad M. Khan emphasized the RPC’s role as a key institutional mechanism for guiding strategy, reviewing progress, and shaping future direction, while also highlighting major achievements and initiatives, including the vision document “Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation – 2035” and ongoing reform processes

The ECO Science Foundation was represented by its President Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi and team members. During the plenary session, the member states and agency representatives shared their statements. The meeting also observed a moment of silence in solidarity with Iran and to honor the victims of recent hardships.

In his statement, Prof. Tayebi highlighted the critical importance of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for sustainable development and economic growth in the ECO region, reaffirming ECOSF’s commitment to advancing this agenda through partnerships. Despite financial constraints, ECOSF continued its efforts in 2025 through various capacity-building activities and called on member countries for stronger technical and financial support. During the RPC meeting, ECOSF also contributed to the International Relations Committee and deliberated on important matters to the ECOSF.