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Nazrin Abdul

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The Economic Cooperation Organization’s (ECO) Clean Energy Center (CECECO) held its inaugural Board of Directors meeting online, officially marking the center’s launch. CECECO was established in Azerbaijan last November during COP29, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Azernews reports, according to the Ministry of Energy, Minister Parviz Shahbazov highlighted the importance of CECECO’s establishment, as emphasized in the final document of ECO’s 17th Summit — the Khankendi Communiqué. The center aims to strengthen existing and potential energy partnerships among ECO member states, support the development of renewable energy projects, and facilitate the region’s energy transition.

“We are currently cooperating with three ECO members — Turk, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan — to create ‘green energy corridors.’ The ‘Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe’ and ‘Central Asia-Azerbaijan’ green energy corridors are strategic initiatives designed to boost regional energy connectivity and develop a unified regional electricity market,” said Minister Shahbazov. He added that these projects will reinforce energy cooperation in the ECO region, integrate regional energy networks, and establish a unified strategic platform to reduce emissions.

As the host country, Azerbaijan is committed to supporting the center, believing it will contribute significantly to national, regional, and ECO-wide fair energy transition goals.

ECO Secretary-General Asad Majid Khan expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting CECECO, noting that the country’s efforts to launch the center demonstrate its active and determined role in advancing regional cooperation and the carbon emissions reduction agenda. “We are confident that the center will become a vital part of a global network of regional sustainable energy hubs,” he added.

Representatives from ECO member states including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Pakistan, as well as UNIDO, participated in the meeting. The session emphasized active participation and support from member countries to align the “green energy” agenda with global trends and ensure coordinated implementation through the center.

During the meeting, CECECO’s Internal Regulations were approved, and Aysel Yaqubova was appointed as the center’s Executive Director. The Board decided to hold its second meeting in the first half of 2026.