Mumbai, India | 9 October 2026
The SCO Trade Council participated in the SCO Symposium on Financing Infrastructure Projects in Central Asia, under the guidance of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The symposium brought together diplomatic representatives, financial institutions, infrastructure experts and business leaders to explore financing mechanisms and opportunities for infrastructure-led growth across the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) region.
With representation from across the SCO member countries, the symposium provided an important platform for strengthening regional dialogue on infrastructure financing, connectivity and economic cooperation. Among the distinguished dignitaries present were Mr. Alok Dimri, Additional Secretary and Country Coordinator (SCO), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Mr. Ahmed Saidmurodzoda, Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO Secretariat; and Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Hon’ble Governor of Bihar.
Emphasising the importance of regional cooperation, Mr. Alok Dimri stated, “Regional connectivity and infrastructure development are essential to strengthening economic cooperation among SCO member states. By bringing together governments, financial institutions and the private sector, we can encourage practical collaboration, improve access to investment and support projects that contribute to shared prosperity across the region.”
A central theme of the symposium was the importance of viewing infrastructure development as an interconnected economic priority. Transport networks, energy systems, agricultural value chains, healthcare facilities and tourism infrastructure are closely linked, with progress in one sector creating opportunities across several others.
The SCO region brings together economies with diverse natural resources, industrial capabilities and development priorities, creating significant scope for complementary partnerships. Efficient transport networks can reduce trade costs, improve market access and connect agricultural producers, industries and tourism destinations. Reliable energy, including renewable power, supports industrial production, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and digital infrastructure.
Commenting on the opportunities emerging from Central Asia and its engagement with India, Mr. Kalybek Uulu Bekturgan, Head of Indian Affairs, Kyrgyz Republic, SCO Trade Council – Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation.
“Central Asia offers significant opportunities for investment and economic partnership across transport, renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and tourism. These sectors are closely interconnected, and their development requires coordinated planning, accessible financing and strong partnerships between countries. Greater engagement with India and other SCO members can help translate these opportunities into sustainable projects and long-term economic benefits.”
The symposium highlighted the importance of healthcare, agriculture and tourism infrastructure in strengthening regional resilience and creating new avenues for investment.
Healthcare infrastructure encompasses hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing, diagnostics and digital health systems, all of which depend on reliable energy, logistics and technology. Agricultural development similarly requires irrigation, storage, cold-chain facilities, food processing and transportation to reduce post-harvest losses, improve food security and expand regional trade in value-added products.
Tourism offers further opportunities through investments in transport, hospitality, utilities and digital connectivity, generating employment, supporting local businesses and encouraging cultural and commercial exchanges.
These interdependencies reinforce the need for integrated planning. Transport corridors become more economically valuable when they connect industrial centres, agricultural markets and tourist destinations, while reliable energy and efficient logistics enable businesses across multiple sectors to operate more effectively.
Translating the SCO region’s infrastructure potential into viable projects requires appropriate financing structures, effective risk assessment and stronger institutional coordination. The symposium also addressed the importance of regional credit assessment mechanisms and the prospects for an SCO credit rating mechanism, highlighting the role of financial cooperation in supporting infrastructure investment.
Opportunities across the region extend to engineering, renewable energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, agricultural technologies, food processing, logistics and tourism. India’s industrial capabilities, services sector and infrastructure expertise offer scope for mutually beneficial partnerships with businesses and institutions across SCO member countries.
Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the SCO Trade Council, emphasised the importance of approaching regional cooperation as a connected economic framework rather than as isolated sectoral initiatives.
“The future of economic cooperation within the SCO region lies in recognising that infrastructure, finance, trade and industrial development must advance together. Connectivity creates access to markets, energy enables production, agriculture supports food security, healthcare strengthens human development, and tourism generates new avenues for enterprise. We must focus on partnerships that connect these priorities and transform regional potential into practical economic opportunities. Our recent meetings in Brussels with the incoming chair Pakistan were very positive and we look forward to strengthen trade relations with them”
The SCO Trade Council’s participation reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement between governments, financial institutions and businesses in advancing regional economic integration. By encouraging institutional connections and cross-border partnerships, the Council seeks to support collaboration across complementary sectors and help translate investment opportunities into practical outcomes.
The symposium focused on a broader vision for the SCO region: an interconnected economic ecosystem in which infrastructure enables trade, finance supports enterprise, technology improves efficiency and cross-border cooperation expands market access. Aligning investments across these priorities can help strengthen regional connectivity, unlock new avenues for trade and promote sustainable, shared prosperity across SCO member countries.
▪️ Regional connectivity and transport infrastructure
▪️ Green energy transition and renewable energy
▪️ Healthcare infrastructure and pharmaceutical opportunities
▪️ Food security, agriculture and food processing
▪️ Tourism infrastructure and regional cooperation
▪️ Infrastructure financing and regional credit assessment mechanisms
Connecting Markets. Strengthening Partnerships. Advancing Regional Prosperity.
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