The first summit of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), taking place in Baku, marks an important stage for cooperation between countries, this opinion was expressed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Khojamyrat Geldimyradov.

“Interest in Central Asia is growing every year. Our region is developing rapidly. The presence of natural resources here and the favorable geographical location are attractive for serious investments,” he said.

Geldimyradov also noted that in recent years Turkmenistan has intensified trade cooperation with the program countries.

According to Report, speaking at the summit, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said: “We welcome the resolution adopted recently in the UN General Assembly in connection with the 25th anniversary of SPECA. The SPECA Trust Fund was established under the auspices of the UN. Azerbaijan will allocate 3.5 million US dollars to the Trust Fund.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban noted that initiatives such as the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia provide a link between West and East. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between countries on various platforms. “We are building fraternal relations with Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia,” Orban added.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said that the time has come to implement important and productive projects within the framework of SPECA and called for more effective use of SPECA for the development of regional integration, transport infrastructure in SPECA countries and their further connection to international transport corridors. The Tajik leader also proposed opening an Artificial Intelligence Center in Tajikistan for cooperation among SPECA countries.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, speaking at the summit, said that there is every opportunity to increase trade turnover between the countries participating in the program. He proposed creating a working group to achieve food security in the countries participating in the program.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the SPECA countries are able to provide each other with various goods at competitive prices, reducing imports from other countries. The creation of “green” corridors and the removal of various barriers will give a significant impetus to our trade cooperation, including in such industries as construction, chemical and food industries, he said. Tokayev also called for the development of a general action plan to improve the condition of the Caspian Sea.

Kyrgyzstan intends to use the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor for road and rail transport of goods from Kyrgyzstan and China to European countries, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, President Sadyr Japarov said. He noted the importance of the project for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the ongoing work on the organization and implementation of cargo transportation along the route Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey and further to European countries, as well as along the route Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran and further to Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili noted during his speech that Georgia is interested in consolidating partnership with Azerbaijan and the Central Asian region.

The Gulf states are ready to expand cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, stated the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Jassim Muhammad al-Budaiwi in Baku. According to him, global regional challenges emphasize the importance of taking collective multilateral action, and in this sense, the activities of SPECA are very important.

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Tatiana Molchan noted the unique transit potential of the SPECA region. “Cooperation between SPECA countries creates new opportunities for the economic development of the region. New supply chains are being formed. The SPECA region demonstrates fairly stable economic growth dynamics,” she said.

It is necessary to expand the digital capabilities of the region of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia, Armida Salsia Alishahbana, executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) says. According to her, the development of renewable energy sources (RES) and the economies of the region will create opportunities to increase competitiveness.

The summit of the participating states of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia ended with the adoption of the Baku Declaration.

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