Past Events

7th Meeting of the CAREC Regional Trade Group

On 13 June 2025, the CAREC Regional Trade Group deliberated on the midterm review of the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 and recommended to prioritize digital trade, services trade and cross-border investment promotion, green and digital supply chain, and private sector engagement, including SMEs, business innovators, and startups. Mr. Sanzharbek Bolotov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce and […]

Regional Workshop on CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation (CARTIF) Partnership

ADB is organized a one-day regional workshop with CAREC Trade Focals in Bishkek on 13 June 2025 as a part of the Regional Trade Group meeting. The objectives of the workshop were the following: to review and discuss the draft text of CARTIF; to discuss the written comments on the draft text of CARTIF expected […]

9th CAREC Railway Working Group Meeting

Background At this 9th meeting of the Railway Working Group (RWG), findings of the prefeasibility studies in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan will be presented, together with an update on plan to develop a direct railway link between the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan (CKU Railway). Further sessions will examine rail-port connectivity, […]

Asia-Pacific Sustainable Trade Forum: Roundtable on CAREC Partnership for Trade, Climate, and Innovation

Held at the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Sustainable Trade Forum (21-23 May 2025), the Roundtable on CAREC Partnership for Trade, Climate, and Innovation (CPCIT), discussed the operationalization of the CAREC Declaration signed by CAREC Member Countries in Baku in November 2024 at the margins of COP29. Read the news article here. Event Materials Agenda (ENG | […]

First CAREC Food Security Working Group Meeting

In support of ADB’s $40 billion by 2030 investment program for food systems transformation, the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) working group convened in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic from 21 to 23 May to discuss regional programming prioritizing agriculture and food security. Kyrgyz Republic’s Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry […]

Issuance of Sovereign and Private Sector Green/Climate Bonds: Lessons from the ASEAN

Background Finance is key to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Green and sustainability bonds are a key instrument to finance environmentally friendly businesses and projects. The government, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and large private businesses can all tap the bond market. Banks can also refinance loans financing environmentally friendly businesses and projects by either securitizing […]

58th ADB Annual Meeting Side Event: CAREC Session on Trans-Caspian Connectivity: Unlocking Green Transport and Energy Corridors

A CAREC high-level session held on May 6, on the sidelines of ADB’s 58th Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, gathered CAREC high-level officials, regional leaders, and experts, delving into the transformative potential of the Trans-Caspian connectivity, focusing on transport and green energy corridors. The Caspian Sea plays a strategic role in the CAREC region and presents […]

4th Meeting of CAREC Climate Change Working Group

Background and Objectives The CAREC Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) 2025–2027 provides a framework to address climate change challenges and advance regional climate actions through enhanced coordination among CAREC sector committees and working groups. The plan focuses on four main thematic areas: Climate Risk, Preparedness and Health, the Water–Energy–Food Security Nexus, Low-Carbon Growth, and the […]

6th Meeting of the CAREC Working Group on Health

Background and Overview Fostering regional cooperation can facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange, leverage economies of scale, harmonize regulations and standards, and develop joint regional approaches and mechanisms to address health challenges. To this end, the CAREC Working Group on Health (WGH) was established in March 2021 to guide CAREC health cooperation and implement the CAREC […]

The Caspian Link: Building Sustainable Bridges Across Eurasia—Powering the Caspian Green Energy Corridor from Source to Market: Stakeholders’ Roundtable Meeting

THIS MEETING IS BY INVITATION ONLY The governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan embarked on a transformative regional energy initiative with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 2 May 2024, marking the launch of the Caspian Green Energy Corridor Project. This pivotal project aims to enhance regional energy cooperation and lay the […]