ECO Clean Energy Centre’s Executive Board convenes for its first meeting
Baku, May 16, AZERTAC
The first meeting of the Executive Board of the Economic Cooperation Organization Clean Energy Centre (CECECO) was convened under the Chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The meeting was attended by representatives of CECECO Signatory States — the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Republic of Uzbekistan — the Deputy Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the Executive Director of CECECO.
The session was opened with the adoption of the agenda, followed by statement by Erjan Mukash, Deputy Secretary General of the ECO. Mukash underscored the strategic importance of CECECO as a regional platform for advancing cooperation in renewable energy development, energy efficiency enhancement, and the facilitation of the clean energy transition across the ECO region.
Aysel Yagubova, Executive Director of CECECO, provided a comprehensive overview of the Centre’s activities since its formal operationalization in November 2025. She highlighted key institutional milestones, ongoing engagement with relevant international and regional partners, and participation in energy-related initiatives at both regional and global levels. The Executive Director further presented the Work Plan for the period of May–December 2026.
Ashraf Shikhaliyev, Director for International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, informed the participants about the works undertaken by the Government of Azerbaijan as the host country to facilitate institutional and logistical establishment of CECECO. He also briefed the Executive Board on the Azerbaijan’s remarkable progress in the renewable energy sector over the past year.
Muhammad Khalid Khan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Usenova Nazgul Zhorobekovna, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, also delivered national statements underlining support to the Center's work, as well as presenting overview of the works carried out in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency in their respective countries.
Signatory States, represented by the officials of the Ministries of Energy, expressed their appreciation for the progress achieved by the Centre and exchanged views on the proposed Work Plan. Bilal Düzgün, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Environment Department at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, appreciated the activities of the Center and presented the Ministry’s proposals in support of the Center’s important work in further strengthening regional coordination, fostering knowledge exchange, and advancing development mechanisms among the signatory states.
The Board reviewed the drafts of Staff Regulations and Financial Regulations of CECECO, aimed at establishing a comprehensive, transparent, and rules-based administrative and financial governance framework for the Centre. Executive Board members were invited to submit proposals for further consideration.
The meeting also included deliberations on future activities, as well as preparations for the upcoming COP31 in Türkiye.
In conclusion, preparatory steps for the next meeting of the Executive Board were discussed.
Economic Cooperation Organization Clean Energy Centre (CECECO) is a regional center aimed at advancing clean energy initiatives across the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan, CECECO was established by the ECO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and is integrated into UNIDO’s Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC). The Centre’s mission is to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in the member countries, mobilize financial and technical resources to the relevant projects and drive climate action through collaboration, and capacity-building.
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