25th SCO Economic and Foreign Trade Ministers’ meeting held in Tajikistan; India highlights security, connectivity and opportunity
The 25th Meeting of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States Responsible for Foreign Economic and Trade Activities was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thhursday, with...
The 25th Meeting of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States Responsible for Foreign Economic and Trade Activities was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thhursday, with India highlighting the importance of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity for strengthening international trade and economic cooperation.
The meeting reviewed ongoing cooperation among SCO member states in economic and trade activities and discussed measures to deepen trade and economic engagement within the SCO framework.
Representing India, Yashvir Singh, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, highlighted the significant economic potential of the SCO and stressed the need to translate this potential into tangible outcomes through increased intra-SCO trade, lower trade costs, resilient supply chains and improved connectivity.
India highlights three pillars for economic cooperation
Referring to the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Summit in Bishkek, India highlighted the three pillars of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
India underlined the economic relevance of these pillars, particularly for 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 time and cost involved in international trade.
In this context, India called for simplified customs procedures, paperless trade and electronic exchange of trade documents, along with stronger multimodal connectivity and reduced transit times.
Focus on resilient supply chains and emerging sectors
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 opportunities for enhanced cooperation in energy security, renewable energy and green hydrogen.
India stressed the need to enable smaller businesses to participate more effectively in regional and global trade. It highlighted the role of digital payments, cross-border payments and accessible trade finance, particularly for 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.
SCO adopts statement and action plan
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’ for its further approval by the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of 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 presented by the representative of the SCO Business Council regarding its activities and of the information provided by the Tajik side on the work of the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytical Centres.
The ministers decided that the next Ministerial Meeting will be held in 2027 in Uzbekistan.
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