Iran has set out a series of proposals aimed at advancing women’s economic and social participation across the region during the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) forum.

Speaking at the event, Behzad Azarsa outlined a number of Iran’s key policies and achievements in supporting women. These include increasing women’s representation in government leadership roles, expanding their presence in science and technology sectors, and encouraging the development of female-led cooperatives and businesses, particularly in rural areas. The country has also introduced financial schemes and training opportunities to help women develop new skills.

Among the proposals presented by Azarsa was the creation of a regional ECO Women’s Platform to promote sustainable development. Other suggestions included establishing a virtual business network for women entrepreneurs, hosting digital skills and green economy workshops, and allocating ECO Green Credit Fund resources to women-led projects. Iran also recommended targeted support for female-driven ventures in renewable energy, smart agriculture, and sustainable tourism.

To further strengthen regional collaboration, Azarsa proposed holding yearly high-level gatherings for women from ECO member countries and said Iran would be ready to host the inaugural meeting next year. He emphasised the importance of unity and cooperation to overcome shared challenges across the region.

The Iranian government has committed to supporting women’s access to economic opportunities and public services through a range of national initiatives.

“Iran has always focused on programs that empower women, particularly those who are heads of household, economically and socially. Actions taken by the country have always aimed to promote women’s status by observing the principles of the constitution and Islamic teachings,” said Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, while addressing the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference in Thailand last year, as reported by Mehr News Agency.

Behrouz-Azar also highlighted Iranian women’s achievements in areas such as education, health, science, and entrepreneurship, noting that over 70 women currently hold senior government roles including vice president, minister, and spokesperson.