12 Things to Know in 2012: Regional Cooperation in Central Asia

Date
29 October 2012
Countries
Show 10 tags
Afghanistan; Azerbaijan; China, People's Republic of; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz Republic; Mongolia; Pakistan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan
Subjects
Regional cooperation and integration

In an increasingly integrated world, regional cooperation is key to the long-term prosperity of nations. Here are 12 things to know about regional cooperation in Central Asia.

  1. The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program promotes development through a partnership of 10 countries and 6 multilateral institutions1, for which ADB serves as the Secretariat.
    Source: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program
  1. CAREC facilitates practical, results-based regional projects and policy initiatives in transport, energy, trade facilitation, and trade policy.
    Source: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program
  1. In 2001-2011, CAREC-related loan and grant investments in the 10 partner countries totaled over $17 billion, from both multilateral and government funds.
    Source: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program
  1. Over the same period, ADB channeled loan and grant investments for $5.8 billion, together with over $151 million in technical assistance.
    Source: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program
  1. In 2011, ADB approved over $1.3 billion in CAREC-related investments in the transport and trade facilitation sectors.
    Source: CAREC Development Effectiveness Review 2011
  1. Over $11.6 billion has been committed to CAREC transport and energy projects through ADB multitranche financing facilities, with 22 tranches totaling almost $9.9 billion already approved.
    Source: CAREC Development Effectiveness Review 2011
  1. Six CAREC transport corridors traverse the 10 partner countries, connecting markets from northern People’s Republic of China to Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan to the ports of Gwadar and Karachi. As of March 2012, around 4,000 kilometers of road and 3,000 kilometer of railways had been built or upgraded.
    Source: CAREC Development Effectiveness Review 2011
  1. In 2011, CAREC celebrated 10 years of institutional cooperation with the launch of a 10-year strategic framework (CAREC 2020) for the next decade of the Program.
    Source: CAREC Development Effectiveness Review 2011
  1. CAREC 2020 is accompanied by a medium-term (2011–2015) rolling list of priority investments and technical assistance projects, representing key regional projects that are also included in the participating countries’ national development plans.
    Source: CAREC 2020
  1. As of the CAREC Ministerial Conference in November 2011, 68 transport projects have been identified amounting to over $23 billion.
    Source: CAREC 2020
  1. 12 trade facilitation projects are expected to be implemented, half of which are ADB technical assistance projects.
    Source: CAREC 2020
  1. CAREC projects have led to the completion of 2,000 km of power transmission lines, including regular electricity to the city of Kabul for the first time in decades.
    Source: From Landlocked to Linked In

1 Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and World Bank.

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