The President of Uzbekistan outlined the priorities of regional cooperation within the framework of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia

On November 24, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the first summit of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in Baku, the press service of the head of our state reports.

The event, chaired by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, was attended by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Khojamyrat Geldimyradov, the executive secretaries of the Economic Commission for Europe Tatyana Molchan and UNESCAP Armida Alisjabana, as well as honored guests – Prime Ministers of Hungary Viktor Orban and Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Jassim Al-Budaiwi.

At the beginning of his speech, the head of our state sincerely congratulated all participants of the event on the 25th anniversary of the Program, which was established by the Tashkent Declaration in 1998, as well as the adoption of a separate resolution of the UN General Assembly dedicated to this significant date.

The leader of Uzbekistan especially noted Azerbaijan’s fruitful chairmanship in SPECA, during which regional cooperation within the framework of the Program reached a qualitatively new level.

The President emphasized that over the past period, SPECA has demonstrated its relevance as an effective mechanism for regional partnership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the framework of the Program, more than 400 projects were implemented to expand practical cooperation in the areas of trade, communications, transport and logistics, digitalization, energy, water resources, ecology, gender equality and others, strategies for trade facilitation and innovative development were adopted.

The strengthening atmosphere of good neighborliness and trust in recent years and the deepening of integration processes in Central Asia were noted with satisfaction.

– Today, with the countries of the region, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Hungary, we are implementing large programs in the field of industrial cooperation and infrastructure. Joint investment companies have been created and mechanisms for financing projects have been established. Modern trade and logistics centers and special economic zones are being created in border areas,” the President noted.

Drawing attention to the modern challenges and threats faced by the countries of the region in the context of global geopolitical instability, the leader of Uzbekistan outlined a number of practical initiatives to further strengthen regional cooperation within the framework of SPECA.

In order to transform the Program into a more effective regional platform for expanding economic cooperation, the need to radically increase the efficiency of the work of working groups in the main areas of partnership and strengthen the institutional foundations of the Program was noted.

It was proposed, together with experts from the UN Economic Commission for Europe and ESCAP, to develop the SPECA 2030 Development Concept.

In order to stimulate intraregional trade, the head of our state noted the expediency of preparing a Joint Action Plan, which provides for the introduction of world-leading experience and practices in eliminating existing barriers and harmonizing measures for technical regulation of export-import operations.

The adoption of such measures, according to the leader of Uzbekistan, will allow increasing trade turnover in the SPECA region from the current 52 billion dollars to 100 billion by 2030, the share of industrial products in its structure – 70 percent.

The importance of creating and launching the SPECA Trust Fund next year was emphasized to support large projects in the areas of green economy, innovation, high technology, logistics, alternative energy, smart agriculture, and the creation of modern social infrastructure.

– The Fund must actively work with international development institutions, attract financial resources and grant funds to priority projects and programs on the most favorable terms. Uzbekistan is also ready to make a financial contribution to the formation of the fund, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Speaking about the development of interconnected transport corridors, the President of our country noted the need to fully implement the “road map” adopted during the summit for the digitalization of the data exchange process within the Trans-Caspian multimodal corridor.

A proposal was voiced to hold the international forum “Digital Transport Corridors” in Uzbekistan next year.

The intention was also expressed, together with specialized UN institutions, to actively promote large projects to strengthen transport connectivity in the region.

The leader of Uzbekistan proposed creating a special high-level working group on ensuring food security within SPECA and holding its first meeting next year in Samarkand.

“The main agenda of the event will be the development of cooperative ties between leading agro-industrial enterprises, the creation of value chains, the stimulation of scientific and technological exchanges and the introduction of advanced resource-saving solutions, and the use of express corridors,” said the head of our state.

Taking into account the interconnectedness of the spheres of water resources, energy, ecology and agriculture, the importance of adopting a comprehensive new conceptual document of SPECA – the multilateral “Green Strategy” was emphasized.

According to UN research, countries in the region lose about $2 billion annually due to water shortages. In the future, if this negative process intensifies and there is no comprehensive solution to the problems, the per capita water supply indicator may decrease by 25 percent, and crop yields by 40 percent, the President noted.

The head of our state paid special attention to the issues of ensuring gender equality and involving women in entrepreneurial activities.

In order to constantly and systematically stimulate active initiatives and specific plans within the framework of the Program, it was proposed to create a SPECA Business Women’s Council.

In addition, the President announced an initiative to award, within the framework of the Council, the international prize “SPECA Recognition” to women who make a great contribution to the prosperity and economic development of the countries of the region.

Addressing his colleagues, the leadership of the Economic Commission for Europe and ESCAP, the leader of Uzbekistan called for establishing working contacts and restoring cooperation with Afghanistan within the framework of SPECA.

– Afghanistan cannot be allowed to be left alone with its problems. Without establishing an international dialogue with the current government, it will be impossible to achieve any positive result,” he noted.

The leader of our country expressed special gratitude to all participants for supporting the historic decision made two days ago in Paris to hold the session of the UNESCO General Assembly for the first time in Central Asia – ancient Samarkand in 2025.

At the end of his speech, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to multilateral partnership within the framework of the SPECA Regional Program for the sake of ensuring sustainable development and well-being of the peoples of the countries of the region.