The EU has been actively supporting Central Asia’s transition towards a sustainable, climate-neutral growth model and is working to help Central Asia’s governments diversify their economies, boost trade, modernise regulatory frameworks for businesses with particular focus on SMEs, and reinforce the rule of law. Given the common history and challenges faced by the region’s economies as well as their interconnectedness, closely co-ordinated regional responses will bring additional value when pursuing these objectives.
In this regard, the European Union-Central Asia Economic Forum (‘the Forum’) provides a platform for intra- and inter-regional dialogue on shared solutions, that will help translate the goals of resilience, prosperity and regional cooperation, set out in the EU Strategy on Central Asia, into action. In 2021, the Forum is to be hosted by the Kyrgyz Republic and foresees a restricted high-level in-person meeting in Bishkek. The Forum, from the EU side, will be led by the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.
The EU Central Asia Economic Forum will allow participants to identify ways to strengthen sustainable connectivity and promote regulatory convergence in the economic area between the EU and Central Asia, so vital for improving the business environment. It will also provide an opportunity to focus attention on the efforts already under way in the region to create a more integrated and interconnected regional market.
The Forum will focus on three priority areas – green recovery, digitalisation, and a better business environment. It will gather high-level officials from Central Asia and the EU, representatives of the private sector, international financial institutions and international organisations, as well as civil society.
To attend the press briefing of the Forum virtually, please register by following the link.