Bishkek, Feb. 23, 2026 /Kabar/. The 14th Meeting of Ministers in charge of Economy and Trade of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held today in Turkistan, bringing together ministerial delegations from OTS Member States to advance economic cooperation, deepen trade ties, and promote sustainable, inclusive growth across the Turkic World.
During the meeting, Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS, highlighted the robust economic performance of the region and emphasized that in 2025, the Turkic region achieved an average growth rate of 6.86%, more than double the global average. Despite this success, the Secretary General called for intensified efforts to boost intra-group trade.
The Secretary General underscored the vital importance of the ongoing negotiations on the Agreement on Services and Investment Facilitation, describing it as a decisive step toward a more integrated economy. He further highlighted newly established and strengthened cooperation mechanisms, including the Council of Central (National) Banks of the OTS and the Turkic Green Finance Council and noted the advancement of full-fledged cooperation among Financial Intelligence Units and Competition Authorities, reinforcing the institutional foundation for closer economic collaboration. He also underlined importance of closer cooperation of the Turkic Investment Fund, the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and business communities of the Turkic World.
During the meeting, the heads of delegations exchanged views on current regional and global economic developments and discussed practical measures to strengthen intra-OTS trade, improve the business and investment climate, and enhance connectivity. The participants underscored the importance of coordinated approaches to reduce trade barriers, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and facilitate cross-border commerce.
Heads of delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to intensifying economic integration within the OTS framework and agreed to continue close coordination through relevant mechanisms to translate common priorities into tangible outcomes.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the Communique of the 14th Meeting, "Memorandum of Understanding on Partnership in Trade" and the approval of several strategic documents, including a comprehensive Roadmap for Cooperation in Economy, Trade, Investment, and Finance and Concept Note of the OTS Trade Nexus Forum.