In 2025, the CAREC Program delivered tangible results while laying the foundation for future growth across priority sectors. Regional cooperation is supported by robust project pipeline, with new financing facilities, regional strategies, and mainstreaming regional public goods in country programming, with an estimate of up to $10 billion investments with support from ADB through 2030. Achievements spanned infrastructure connectivity, energy cooperation, trade facilitation, tourism development, economic corridors, water, health, education, and financial stability, supported by investment projects, policy dialogues, and capacity-building. These were reinforced through crosscutting initiatives on gender, climate change, disaster risk management, innovation and digital transformation. Overall, CAREC strengthened collaboration, project quality, and results monitoring, supported by improved communications tools and continued enhancements to the Program Results Framework aligned with CAREC 2030 priorities. Read more.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q4 2025 EVENTS
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Advancing regional cooperation for a green and digital CAREC
At the 24th CAREC Ministerial Conference held on 20 November in Bishkek, ADB President Masato Kanda announced plans to invest over $10 billion through 2030 to strengthen regional integration in the CAREC region. Ministers endorsed the Bishkek Declaration to launch negotiations on trade and investment facilitation. The CAREC Business Forum, stressed the private sector’s role in shaping a connected region with ADB VP Yingming Yang reaffirming ADB’s commitment to engaging with the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises. The Country Chair, represented by Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov emphasized the need for regional cooperation for advancing regulatory reforms and infrastructure development.
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Reaffirming commitment to regional cooperation
At the inaugural Tianshan Forum for Central Asia Economic Cooperation and the 9th CAREC Think Tank Development Forum held on 1-3 December in Urumqi, PRC, VP Yingming Yang underscored ADB’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable development across the CAREC region. VP Yang also met with the PRC’s Minister of Finance and ADB Governor Lan Fo’an, Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, and representatives from international financial institutions, the private sector, and academia attending the Forums.
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Strengthening partnerships for regional progress
The CAREC Development Partners’ Retreat on 21 November in Bishkek provided a platform for development partners to discuss concrete actions for stronger collaboration, including building a regional project pipeline, enhancing project monitoring and evaluation, and mobilizing resources. Partners also explored ways to enhance institutional and knowledge coordination, including joint knowledge products and plans to commemorate CAREC’s 25th anniversary in 2026.
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Defining path for regional knowledge and cooperation
The 16th Governing Council Meeting of the CAREC Institute on 21 November endorsed the CAREC Institute Strategy 2026–2030 and the Rolling Operational Plan 2026–2027. Members commended progress in research, capacity building, and knowledge management, while emphasizing the need for greater responsiveness to country needs, enhanced financial sustainability, measurable results frameworks, and ongoing governance reforms to ensure long-term sustainability.
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Charting roadmap for advancing digital and green trade facilitation
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Enhancing green skills through TVET and higher education
On 4-6 November, 20 participants from Ministries of Education, Economy, Labor, Social Protection, and research institutions across CAREC countries completed an advanced training series supported by the ADB and International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization.
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Deepening integration in Central Asia and beyond
On 22-23 October in Geneva, ADB and the WTO Secretariat co-organized a High-Level Forum on the CAREC Region and the Multilateral Trading System: Deepening Integration in Central Asia and Beyond. WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recognized CAREC region’s potential to play an important role in the re-globalization agenda and opportunities for the region to be a trade hub of land-linked economies.
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Setting the stage for CAREC’s 24th Ministerial outcomes
On 15 October, the National Focal Points of the CAREC Program, chaired by the Kyrgyz Republic’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Sultan Akhmatov, met virtually to prepare for the 24th CAREC Ministerial Conference, the CAREC Business Forum, and related activities in November 2025 in Bishkek.
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Strengthening regional commitment to gender equality
On 22 October, members of the CAREC Regional Gender Expert Group (RGEG) convened for its 4th Annual Meeting in Bishkek. UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic organized a training in designing, assessing, and implementing gender-responsive and socially inclusive climate policies.
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Celebrating champions of gender and green innovation
On 21 October, the CAREC Gender and Green Innovation Awards 2025 celebrated seven outstanding individuals and 10 organizations from CAREC countries in a prestigious ceremony in Bishkek. The awards honored remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations advancing gender equality through sustainable technologies and innovative solutions. View the full list of awardees.
Meanwhile, the CAREC Women’s Business Forum (WBF) highlighted the importance of advancing gender equality and fostering green innovation as key drivers of sustainable economic growth in the region.
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Coordinating approaches to expand carbon markets
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Advancing regional climate cooperation
The 1st Annual Consultation Meeting for the CAREC Climate and Sustainability Project Preparatory Fund (CSPPF) was held on 26 September at ADB Headquarters in Manila. The Meeting reviewed the first batch of call for proposals, annual work plan, resource mobilization, and future activities and underscored the need to strengthen coordination and initiate fundraising activities.
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Building momentum for regional energy integration
On 25 September, the 35th CAREC Energy Sector Coordinating Committee (ESCC) meeting reviewed the capacity-building in Norway and Denmark in June 2024, among others and presented plans for the Interconnectivity and Transmission workshop in Tashkent in 2026, the draft CAREC ESCC work plan for 2025–2027, and the cooperation within the Unified Power System of Central Asia and an overview of the Caspian Green Corridor Project.
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Unlocking regional trade through digital payments
On 25–26 September, the CAREC Seminar on Advancing Trade through Digital Payments was held alongside the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, PRC. Participants benefited from knowledge-sharing on secure, interoperable payment systems and shared infrastructure including a study tour showcasing Hangzhou’s digital economy.
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Reinforcing water cooperation
On 16 September, the second CAREC Water Pillar Working Group meeting met to review progress on pre-feasibility study for potential regional projects. A session on water–energy nexus modelling demonstrated how multi-sector analysis enables coordinated water-energy management across the region. ADB introduced a new technical assistance proposal focused on strengthening institutional capacity, modernizing water management systems, and building a pipeline of climate-resilient, investment-ready projects.
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Enhancing green skills development and just transition
On 10-12 September, representatives from CAREC countries gathered for an in-person masterclass titled "Navigating a Changing Landscape: How Skills Development Can Contribute to a Just Transition" in Turin, Italy. The masterclass provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the policy process for skills development and the importance of integrating green skills and just transition aspects into technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education policies and strategies.
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Advancing regional transit system
On 8–9 September, the 6th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on the CAREC Advanced Transit System (CATS) and Information Common Exchange (ICE) in Tashkent, brought together customs authorities from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan to review progress in the pilot implementation of CATS/ICE as well as the potential expansion of CATS to more CAREC countries.
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Deepening cooperation in digital trade, border upgrades, and regional integration
On 3–4 September, the 24th Meeting of the CAREC Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) advanced trade facilitation initiatives, with a strong focus on border modernization, digital connectivity, and regional cooperation.
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The stories highlight ADB-supported projects across the CAREC region, showing how investments in transport, trade, energy, and economic corridor development, among many others, are strengtherning economies, enhacning livelihoods, and improving connectivity.
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CAREC 24th Ministerial Conference
The video showcases CAREC’s two-decade journey driving regional connectivity, green growth, and digital transformation, highlighting achievements and future pathways for an inclusive, sustainable region.
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Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program
The video highlights ADB’s risk-layered disaster relief finance program in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan that introduces contingent disaster financing and disaster relief bonds to help countries strengthen resilience and respond quickly to natural disasters.
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CAREC at 25: Mongolia Awaits
This video shows Mongolia’s role as host of CAREC’s 25th anniversary in 2026, emphasizing regional cooperation, cultural richness, and a shared vision for resilience and digital progress.
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- 1st Inception Meeting (Caspian Green Energy Corridor Project) | 3-4 March 2026; Baku, Azerbaijan
- 5th Meeting of CAREC Climate Change Working Group | 4-5 March 2026; Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation (CARTIF) Partnership Kickoff Meeting | 11 March 2026; Virtual
- Inaugural Meeting of the CAREC Road Working Group | 11-12 March 2026; Urumqi, PRC
- CAREC National Focal Points' Consultation Meeting | 17 March 2026; Virtual
- 8th Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor Subcommittee Meeting | April 2026; Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
- CAREC and the Global Silk Road: Connecting Regions through Tourism (CAREC Session at the ADB Annual Meeting) | 5 May 2026; Samarkand, Uzbekistan
For details and other upcoming events, visit CAREC events calendar.
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