New Platform to Facilitate Partnerships for Startups in Central Asia Region

Manila, June 30, 2022: The Central Asia Economic Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program has launched a new platform to improve the ecosystem for startup businesses and discuss potential avenues for collaboration in the program’s member countries.  

The platform consists of an interactive startup ecosystem map that will help locate and identify different players in the startup ecosystem in the CAREC region, and an innovation network to share information and resources. Together, these tools will help to nurture startups by connecting them with the resources they need, build partnerships, and ultimately facilitate business and economic growth in the region. 

The platform was launched at a virtual event on 30 June attended by government officials, business incubators, start-up accelerators, IT parks, students, and investor communities from CAREC’s member countries. 

“Initiatives such as this will help to set the stage for the technology-based growth of the future and position the Central Asian region for a new digital age of prosperity,” said Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General for Central and West Asia Mr. Yevgeniy Zhukov. “Regional cooperation can also help to address regional disparities and ensure more equitable access to technology.”  

ADB is the Secretariat of the CAREC Program. The session was also attended by representatives from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, GIZ, Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Bank. The participants shared information on their initiatives for improving startup ecosystems and discussed potential avenues for collaboration. The members of the CAREC Innovation Network also introduced their respective startup ecosystems to the regional and global community.  

The CAREC Program promotes economic growth and sustainable development in the region through cooperation among its member countries, supported by development partners. CAREC’s members include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, the People’s Republic of China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 envisions partnerships for innovative startups that will foster the economies of these countries. 

For more information on the CAREC Program or startup ecosystems in CAREC countries, please visit: www.carecprogram.org.