The 11^th ECO Summit Meeting was held on 23^rd December 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey with the participation of Heads of States/Governments. The member states discussed important regional and global issues and reviewed the performance of the ECO and progress made on the programmes and projects since the previous Summit. The İstanbul Decleration adopted by the Summit focused on strenghthening regional economic partnership and defined major directions to this end. While reaffirming their commitments to fulfill 2015 Vision Statement, the member states decided to take further actions to enhance trade, investment, transportation networks, re-construction of Afghanistan, environmental and energy security, tourism, health and agriculture.

Meanwhile, the Istanbul Declaration appreciated the financial instruments introduced by the ECO Trade and Development Bank to support member states and called upon the Bank to increase its role as a major financial institution in the region and renewed its call to remaining ECO member states to join the Bank. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan declared its readiness to join the ECO Bank and assured that the process is already underway. In addition, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan conveyed their country’s intention to become members of the Bank. The President (Mr. Murat Ulus) of the Bank held brief meetings with the delegations of the member states and informed them about the activities of the Bank and exchanged views regarding their membership to the Bank.

Preceding the 11^th Summit, the foreign ministers/senior officials of the ECO member countries convened for the 19^th meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of ECO in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22^nd December, 2010. The President, Mr. Ulus made a speech at the meeting, outlining operations and progress of the Bank in view of the current global economic developments. He underlined that despite a positive outlook, the global economic growth is fragile and challenges are several. Therefore, while economies of the ECO countries showed considerable strength during the global crisis era, it is very important to continue macroeconomic prudence and fiscal discipline in the current post crisis era. On the other hand, the Council appreciated the activities of the Bank aimed to lend financial facilities for the development of the region and also welcomed opening of the Representatives Offices in Iran and Pakistan. The Council called on the remaining member states to join the Bank.