Improving the Business Climate in Central Asia
Developing the private sector can render Central Asia more competitive and attractive to foreign investment. The five countries of the region have long recognised the importance of fostering private sector-led growth to diversify their production structures and improve resilience to external shocks.
Despite recent efforts to encourage private sector development, notably by streamlining legislation and digitalising many government services, the business environment remains challenging in Central Asia. Uneven implementation, frequent policy changes and a volatile international context all pose challenges to the region’s transition to a private sector-driven growth. Closing the gap between de jure policy settings and de facto realities for firms is critical.
Improving the business environment and the enabling environment more broadly is a major priority of the European Union in the region, reflected in both the Global Gateway framework and the Strategy on Central Asia. This session will start with a presentation of the results of on-going OECD work on business climate in the region, including two recent private-sector surveys, in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It will be followed by broader exchanges on potential policy actions to foster private sector development in the region.
- Mr Luke Mackle
- Ms Zsuzsanna Hargitai
- Mr David Syed
- Mr Alibek Kuantyrov
- Mr Shukhrat Vafaev
- Ms Galina Romanova
Moderated: Mr William Tompson, Head of the OECD Eurasia Division
Driving the Green and Digital Transitions in Central Asia
The green and digital transitions have been identified as priorities for Central Asia. Significant investments in clean energy and broadband infrastructure have materialised in recent years in the region.
Yet much more remains to be done. Central Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, with temperatures rising more rapidly than the global average, and lags in digital connectivity. Further action is needed to mitigate climate change, manage natural resources sustainably, and tackle the digital divide.
Within the framework of the Global Gateway, the Water-Energy-Climate Change and Digital Connectivity Team Europe initiatives were launched in 2022 to help Central Asia harness solar, wind and hydropower energy and accelerate up digitalisation. Following a presentation of recent OECD work on digitalisation and green growth in the region, the session will provide the opportunity to discuss upcoming projects under the Global Gateway and identify concrete actions for the EU and Central Asia to achieve the common goals of a greener and more digital future.
- Ms Céleste Laporte Talamon
- Mr Markku Teräsvasara
- Mr Aydyn Abjanbekov
- Mr Grégory Lecomte
- Mr René Pforte
- Ms Fabienne Demol
- Ms Zarafo Qiyomzoda
- Mr Kanatbek Sadykov
- Ms Axelle Nos
Moderated: Ms Tehri Hakala, EU Special Representative for Central Asia
Strengthening EU-Central Asia Economic and Trade Relations
Co-operation between the EU and Central Asia has substantially increased in political importance, potential and ambition in recent years, as demonstrated by the launch of the EU’s Global Gateway in Central Asia at the Samarkand Connectivity Conference in November 2022.
This session will bring together high-level government officials from the five Central Asian countries and from Team Europe, including the EU, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These strategic partners will discuss the state of play and the ways forward on the policies, programmes, and investments needed to develop a more integrated and interconnected regional market.
- Mr Alikhan Smailov
- Mr Akylbek Zhaparov
- Mr Kokhir Rasulzoda
- Mr Hojamurat Geldymuradov
- Mr Abdulla Aripov
- Mr Valdis Dombrovskis
- Ms Odile Renaud-Basso
- Mr Werner Hoyer
Moderated: Mr Ulrik Knudsen, OECD Deputy Secretary General
Enhancing Trade and Transport Connectivity between the EU and Central Asia
As trade flows continue to grow while recent geopolitical events have disrupted traditional transport corridors, Central Asia faces the need to diversity trade routes.
In line with the Global Gateway’s goal of developing transport connections between Europe and Central Asia, the EBRD will present the key findings of an EU-financed study on sustainable transport corridors, with particular focus on current viable transport corridors, and will suggest policy actions to improve existing infrastructure and the regulatory environment. This session will also give stakeholders an opportunity to exchange ideas about how to address current bottlenecks and further develop regional and EU-Central Asia connectivity, building on the EBRD findings.
- Mr William Tompson
- Ms Tabea Klang
- Ms Asel Uzagalieva
- Mr Olli Pohjanvirta
- Mr Kairat Torebayev
Moderated: Ms Sarah Rinaldi, DG INTPA, European Union