SPECA ministers adopt joint statement
Ministers from states participating in the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) have adopted a joint statement during a ministerial meeting held in Geneva. The meeting took place on April 17, 2023, and was attended by delegations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of SPECA, the ministers dialogued with heads of United Nations regional commissions, permanent missions of United Nations member-states, international organizations, specialized agencies, and non-governmental organizations. They discussed diversification of transit routes, trade and transport facilitation, digitalization, and green transformation in Central Asia and across the globe.
The ministers expressed their gratitude for the efforts of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship in successfully organizing the ministerial-level meeting with international partners in Geneva. They welcomed the focus of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship for 2023, “Transforming the SPECA region into a connectivity hub with global outreach”, emphasizing that SPECA has a unique role to play in tapping resources for sustainable and resilient development in Central Asia.
The United Nations regional commissions, UNECE and UNESCAP, were thanked for their support of SPECA’s efforts to become a more effective and impactful platform for regional cooperation and integration. The ministers also endorsed the proposal to initiate a United Nations General Assembly resolution highlighting the 25th anniversary of SPECA and urging United Nations member states, regional commissions, and specialized agencies to support the participating states. They further endorsed the initiative to create a Trust Fund under United Nations management to mobilize and harness financial support from potential partners for implementing regional assistance projects in SPECA participating states.
The ministers requested UNECE to develop a digitalization roadmap for multimodal data and document exchange along the trans-Caspian transport corridor using relevant United Nations standards to strengthen digital connectivity along the transit routes. The importance of fostering digital connectivity in Central Asia was highlighted, and a regional pilot project for SPECA participating states was proposed.
In conclusion, the ministers welcomed Azerbaijan’s initiative to arrange a summit of SPECA participating states as a follow-up to the Geneva ministerial meeting. The joint statement serves as a reaffirmation of the participating states’ commitment to regional cooperation and integration for the benefit of sustainable and inclusive development in Central Asia.
