SCO meet
SCO meet: India pushes 2026–2030 action plan, seeks deeper economic cooperation
The 25th Meeting of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States responsible for foreign economic and trade activities was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday, with participating countries reviewing ongoing economic and trade cooperation.
“The Meeting reviewed ongoing cooperation among SCO Member States in the areas of economic and trade activities and exchanged views on measures to further deepen trade and economic cooperation within the SCO framework,” the government said in a statement.
Representing India at the meeting, Yashvir Singh highlighted the SCO’s significant economic potential and stressed the need to translate it into tangible outcomes through increased intra-SCO trade, lower trade costs, resilient supply chains and improved connectivity.
Referring to the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Summit in Bishkek, India highlighted the three pillars of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
India underscored the economic importance of these pillars, particularly in strengthening supply-chain resilience, developing efficient and trusted connectivity, and expanding business opportunities through greater market access.
India also emphasised the importance of trade facilitation and digitalisation in reducing the cost and time involved in cross-border trade. It called for simplified customs procedures, paperless trade and the electronic exchange of documents, alongside stronger multimodal connectivity and shorter transit times.
India called for greater cooperation among SCO Member States to diversify and strengthen supply chains in strategic and emerging sectors, including agriculture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and electronics.
The country also highlighted the potential for greater cooperation in energy security, renewable energy and green hydrogen.
Recognising the importance of enabling smaller businesses to participate more effectively in regional and global trade, India stressed the role of digital and cross-border payments, as well as accessible trade finance, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups.
India further called for greater participation of SCO economies in global value chains and reiterated its commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.
The Ministers adopted the ‘Statement of the Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States Responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade Activity’.
They also agreed on the ‘Action Plan for 2026–2030 for the Implementation of the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States’, which will be submitted for further approval by the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States.
The Ministers approved the ‘Regulations on the Special Working Group of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States on the Development of the Creative Economy’.
They also took note of information provided by the representative of the SCO Business Council on the Council’s activities, as well as an update from the Tajik side on the work of the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytical Centres.
The Ministers noted that the next ministerial meeting will be held in 2027 in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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