SCO Dushanbe agenda: trade, innovation and cultural ties

At the forthcoming SCO Council of Heads meeting in Dushanbe, officials will examine a comprehensive agenda that places trade, innovation and cultural cooperation at its core.

Member states plan to assess the performance of existing trade frameworks and identify new mechanisms to boost intra‑SCO commerce. Discussions will also cover joint research programmes in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and clean energy.

Cultural exchange is slated to receive special attention, with proposals to increase people‑to‑people contacts through festivals, academic partnerships and tourism initiatives. The aim is to build deeper mutual understanding among the diverse populations of the SCO.

India’s delegation, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to contribute insights from its own experience in promoting digital public infrastructure and entrepreneurship across the region.

The meeting will also address financial and institutional matters, ensuring that the SCO’s governance structures remain effective and transparent as the organisation expands its scope.