Member Countries Start to Mainstream CAREC 2020 in National Development Programs
Five member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program have initiated discussion on mainstreaming CAREC 2020 into their national development programs. Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan conducted in-country workshops in May 2012 to start this process, and to accelerate awareness-raising efforts of CAREC’s work.
Endorsed at the 10th CAREC Ministerial Conference, CAREC 2020 is the Program’s new strategic framework for the period 2011–2020. Anchored on two objectives—expanded trade and improved competitiveness—CAREC 2020 promotes strengthened cooperation and participation of the 10 CAREC member countries. The framework looks at a more focused, country-driven approach based on CAREC’s sector strategies and action plans to help mainstream CAREC initiatives into member countries’ national development plans.
This country-level approach is essential in accelerating implementation of CAREC projects and closing funding gaps. The mainstreaming process also aims to assist CAREC development partners to focus more on the soft side of regional infrastructure development and cooperation.
The workshops conducted by the five member countries were attended by government officials from ministries and agencies involved in regional cooperation initiatives in the priority sectors of transport, trade, and energy. The workshops
- provided information about the CAREC Program and CAREC 2020,
- shared respective national development programs in the sectors of transport, trade, and energy,
- provided updated lists of medium-term priority projects in each of CAREC’s implementing sectors, and
- discussed other issues concerning regional cooperation, including second-tier areas and the CAREC Institute.
For details, visit the event pages of the workshops conducted in