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Fourth Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)

In keynote speeches, Kyrgyz Republic Prime Minister Felix Kulov addressed the urgency of greater regional cooperation and presented a vision to 2015, and President Kuroda emphasized the critical importance of regional cooperation for realizing the economic potential of Central Asia.

In a joint statement, Ministers called for the acceleration of economic integration and deepening of the CAREC agenda. World Bank Vice President Shigeo Katsu stated a collective view on behalf of the MIs on progress under CAREC and the need for close partnership by all stakeholders. UNDP Assistant Administrator Kalman Miszei and Mr. Johannes Linn, Fellow, Brookings Institution, presented highlights of UNDP's Central Asia Human Development Report, notably the benefits to be gained from regional cooperation in a wide range of areas.

Vice-President Eichenberger co-chaired the conference and presided over the signing by seven countries of a memorandum of understanding establishing the CAREC Members Electricity Regulators Forum.

Read the CAREC January 2006 Newsletter.

The Fourth Ministerial Conference (MC) will:

• review progress in regional cooperation activities since the Third MC on 31 October - 1 November 2004
• set the direction and medium to long-term priorities for regional economic cooperation

Agenda [ PDF ]

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• Report of the Preparatory Senior Officials' Meeting to the Fourth MC [ PDF ]
• Joint Ministerial Statement [ PDF ]

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Participation is by invitation only.

• Ministerial and senior level officials from the governments of participating countries in the CAREC Program, namely, Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition, Russia and Afghanistan were invited to attend the MC as full CAREC participants.
• Representatives of the CAREC Working Group (ADB, EBRD, IMF, ISDB, UNDP, and World Bank)
• Observers from other multilateral and bilateral institutions
• Observers from neighboring countries
• Observers from civil society including business associations, academia, and NGOs

List of Participants [ PDF ]

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• Proceedings of the Preparatory Regional Business Roundtable for Central and South Asia, held in conjunction with the 4th Ministerial Conference, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 3-4 November 2005
• Preparatory Senior Officials' Meeting on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, Kyrgyz, Republic, 14 October 2005
• Third Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, Astana, Kazakhstan, 31 October - 1 November 2004

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Kyrgyz prime minister opens the Fourth Ministerial Conference of CAREC	President Kuroda speaking at the Conference stressing on partnership for prosperity in Central Asia
Head of Afghanistan delegation participating for the first time at the CAREC ministerial conference and looking forward to being an active CAREC member	Head of Azerbaijan delegation proposing ways to stimulate regional cooperation
Head of People’s Republic of China (PRC) delegation affirming that regional cooperation is in the right direction	Head of Kazakhstan delegation stating that regional cooperation in Central Asia is based on inter-dependence and mutual complementarily of the economies
Head of Kyrgyz Republic delegation pointing out the priorities in regional cooperation	Head of Mongolia delegation calling for continuous efforts from each CAREC country
Head of Russian delegation stressing the importance of historical connection of CAREC countries with Russia	Head of Tajikistan delegation speaking on the importance of regional cooperation for Tajikistan
Head of Uzbekistan delegation saying that regional cooperation becomes an effective mechanism in addressing many problems	Heads of CAREC countries and multilateral institutions: first row from left Afghanistan finance minister Ahady, Azerbaijan deputy director Mammadzadeh from ministry of economic development, PRC vice minister of finance Yong, KAZ vice minister of finance Uzbekov, ADB president Kuroda, Kyrgyz prime minister Kulov, Kyrgyz finance minister Japarov, Mongolia vice minister of finance Ganzorig, Russian advisor to ambassador Shageyev, Tajikistan head of finance division from president’s office Jabborov, Uzbekistan minister of foreign economic relations Azimov; second row from left Kyrgyz transport minister Sulaimanov, ADB vice president Eichenberger, EBRD vice president Schmognerova, IMF senior advisor Owen, IsDB regional office director Abidin, UNDP assistant administrator Mizsei, and World Bank vice president Katsu