EU Prosperity Programme in Central Asia
ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS IN CENTRAL ASIA
The objective of the programme is to help create the conditions for sustained economic growth and enhanced EU-Central Asia connectivity
OECD component of the programme
With financial support from the European Union, the OECD recently started a new phase of work in Central Asia to help improve the policy framework for sustainable economic growth and enhanced connectivity in the region by assessing, monitoring, and providing support to the implementation of competitiveness policy reforms, while stimulating high-level policy dialogue.
Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor in Central Asia
This OECD publication provides fresh analysis of regional integration with an in depth look at the development of trade
and transport connectivity in Central Asia in the context of the region’s efforts to diversify production, employment
and exports and to increase freight traffic along the Trans‑Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC). The TCTC has gained
increasing attention as governments seek to expand connections to European and global markets. Governments are
accelerating infrastructure development and regional dialogue has served to resolve remaining border disputes. They
have also made significant progress in digitalising customs procedures and border controls. Nevertheless, persistent
challenges remain. The report identifies options for further improving trade facilitation reforms in a co‑ordinated way,
and it addresses such challenges as widespread informal fees, warehousing capacity bottlenecks, and limited private
investment, all of which continue to constrain the corridor’s potential.