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

The 7th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) marked a turning point in the CAREC Program. With the endorsement of key strategic documents, the Program is now entering the implementation phase. "I believe our progress is a testament to the value we all see in working together and a sign of the great promise our cooperation holds for the future of this region," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda in his Keynote Address to the Conference.

Ministers and Senior Officials from the eight CAREC countries issued a Joint Ministerial Statement acknowledging the increased mobilization of investments in the priority areas of transport, energy, and trade in 2008; endorsing documents that will guide the Program in the years ahead; and recognizing the importance of more actively involving the private sector in regional economic cooperation. The Conference endorsed:

• the Report of Senior Officials to the Ministerial Conference , which provides a detailed review of the Program's progress and activities in 2008
• Implementation Action Plan for the Transport and Trade Faciliation Strategy
• the Implementation Action Plan for the Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy to accelerate development of the six CAREC transport and trade corridors;
• the Trade Policy Strategic Action Plan to achieve World Trade Organization membership for all CAREC countries and liberalize trade regimes to improve the investment climate across Central Asia;
• the Strategy for Regional Cooperation in the Energy Sector to expend energy trade, improve energy efficiency and security, and identify mutually beneficial approaches to meet regional energy needs; and
• the CAREC Institute Work Plan for 2009-2011 to provide training for government officials in areas related to regional economic cooperation and support research related to regional initiatives.

Full conference papers and presentations can be accessed through the interactive agenda .

The Ministerial Conference was Chaired by Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan, and Co-Chaired by Xiaoyu Zhao, ADB Vice President, Operations 1.

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A total of 147 invited participants attended the Ministerial Conference. They are

• Ministers and Senior Officials from the governments of CAREC participating countries-Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan;
• Representatives of CAREC's partner multilateral institutions-ADB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and World Bank;
• Observers from other bilateral, multilateral, and regional organizations;
• Delegates from Germany, Japan, Pakistan, and Turkey; and
• CAREC advisors and regional cooperation coordinators.

• Senior Officials Meeting on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 25-26 September 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
• Sixth Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 2-3 November 2007, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
• Fifth Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 18-20 October 2006, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
• Fourth Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, 5-6 November 2006, Bishkek, Kyrgyz, Republic

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• CAREC Program Adopts Ambitious Transport, Trade, and Energy Plans
• CAREC Countries Seek Trade Expansion through Regional Cooperation
• Statement by Xiaoyu Zhao, Vice President, Operations 1 of the Asian Development Bank at the CAREC Press Conference