First Regional Sustainable Development Goals Summit

“Mobilizing Finance for Sustainable Development Goals”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme, and the Government of Kazakhstan organized the first regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit.

The summit brought together high-level officials from government agencies, business community, and civil society in CAREC member countries as well as senior representatives from international organizations and financial institutions.

ADB Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) Director General Werner Liepach participated as a panelist in the strategic policy dialogue, “Are we on track to achieve the SDGs?”

Liepach reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to continue supporting CAREC countries in achieving the SDGs through promotion of policy dialogue and advocacy campaigns, provision of technical assistance, and mobilization of finance and implementation of projects and programs.

ADB led the organization of the panel discussion on “Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” The session was moderated by ADB Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division (CWRC) Director CWRC Safdar Parvez and comprised panelists from government agencies and the private sector in the tourism and financial sectors.

Panelists deliberated on key opportunities and challenges for achieving the SDGs through collective actions and regional endeavors, and the role regional cooperation platforms such as CAREC can play in supporting this process going forward.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Ashikbayev highlighted the importance of strengthening dialogue among all stakeholders at national, regional, and global levels, and leveraging the private sector’s role in financing sustainable development.