On October 29, the first meeting of the Silk Road Working Group of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) commenced in Shaki, organized by the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan.

The event brought together experts and representatives from government institutions of the member states to discuss cooperation prospects in Silk Road tourism, with presentations on Silk Road heritage in Azerbaijan and other member countries.

The agenda included the working group’s objectives and activities, leveraging the tourism potential of the historic Silk Road, youth and student exchange programs under the Silk Road initiative, the creation of joint tourism packages among member states, collaborative branding and promotional initiatives, the development of ECO’s online Silk Road platform and annual forum, as well as the preservation of Silk Road heritage in member countries and its significance for sustainable tourism development.

During the meeting, presentations were made on Azerbaijan’s Silk Road tourism development concept, gastronomic experiences along the Silk Road in Azerbaijan, and activities outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Silk Road Tourism signed between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in April of this year.

It should be noted that the ECO Silk Road Working Group was established during the Tourism Committee meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, from February 24–27, 2025.