NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19 and 20 to represent India at the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of Government.According to news agency ANI, citing the Ministry of Defence, the meeting will focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation among SCO member states in trade, economy, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural-humanitarian exchanges. The participating countries are also expected to review ongoing cooperation initiatives and consider decisions related to the organisation’s financial and institutional functioning.The agenda is expected to cover trade and investment cooperation, transport and logistics, industrial cooperation, the creative and digital economy, innovation and financial interaction, according to Interfax, which cited the Russian trade mission in Tajikistan. Social and cultural-humanitarian cooperation is also expected to feature in the discussions.India has highlighted the need to expand intra-SCO trade, lower trade costs, strengthen supply chains and improve connectivity.At a meeting of SCO ministers responsible for foreign economic and trade activities in Dushanbe in September, India called for simplified customs procedures, paperless trade, electronic document exchange and stronger multimodal connectivity, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.India also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, electronics, energy security, renewable energy and green hydrogen. It called for greater use of digital and cross-border payments and improved access to trade finance for micro, small and medium enterprises and start-ups.The October meeting will provide India an opportunity to exchange views with other SCO member states on advancing practical and mutually beneficial cooperation. India remains actively engaged in SCO mechanisms and contributes to regional cooperation through initiatives in start-ups and innovation, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges, the Ministry of Defence said.
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The Council of Heads of Government adopts the SCO’s budget and addresses key issues related to cooperation within the organisation, particularly in the economic sphere. The body meets annually and is distinct from the Council of Heads of State, which serves as the organisation’s highest decision-making forum.The previous meeting of the Council of Heads of Government was held in Moscow on November 18, 2025, where India was represented by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, according to ANI.
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