The New Central Asian Trade Agenda – Strengthening the Role of the Private Sector

Global Challenges Summit 2018: Astana Economic Forum

Asian Development Bank (ADB) sponsored a session at the Astana Economic Forum to introduce the proposed CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA), developed under the framework of the CAREC 2030 Strategy, and how it aims to improve cooperation and connectivity among CAREC countries.

The session highlights the role of the private sector and how that strategy can create a bigger and business-friendly market through trade and investment.

Shigeo Katsu, president, Nazarbayev University, moderated the session after giving a brief presentation introducing CITA.

Members of the panel included high-level officials. ADB Vice-President Wencai Zhang spoke at the panel along with Seric Zhumangarin, vice-minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Patrick Low, former chief economist of the World Trade Organization, Paul Vallely, program leader for Central Asia of World Bank, Ketevan Bochorishvili, CEO of JSC Anaklia City and former vice-minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia,  Aigul Djailaubenova, deputy CEO of Tsesnabank of Kazakhstan, and Nargis Khamidova, vice-chairman of Association of Logistics of Tajikistan.