7th CAREC Regional Trade Group Meeting  

Objectives: The RTG Meeting will discuss the midterm review of the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 as part of the recommendations of the CAREC 2030 Midterm Review. The meeting will also deliberate on priority activities or projects for the CITA Rolling Strategic Action Plan 2025-2027 for reporting to the Senior Officials’ Meeting on 17-20 June 2025.

Participants: Appointed Representatives of Countries to the CAREC Regional Trade Group, Development Partners, experts

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09:30 – 09:45
(15 mins)		 Mr. Sanzharbek Bolotov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Commerce and CAREC National Focal Point for the Kyrgyz Republic

Mr. Zheng Wu, Country Director, ADB Resident Mission in the Kyrgyz Republic
09:45 –10:00
(15 mins)		 Group Photo and Coffee Break
10:00 – 11:30
(90 mins)		 The session will discuss the progress of implementation of CITA 2030 since its endorsement (including most recent activities implemented since the 6th RTG Meeting in April 2024) and outcomes of country consultations of the ongoing midterm review.

Moderator: Mr. Tynychbek Ermatov, Customs Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Commerce

Presentation: (15 mins)
– Ms. Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC
– Mr. Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CWRC
– Mr. Bahodir Ganiev, Resource Person

Tour de Table: CAREC Member Countries (5 mins per country)
Country interventions will focus on continued relevance and responsiveness of CITA 2030 against country priorities, and how can CITA more effectively expand, diversify and promote sustainable trade and deepen regional integration.

Development Partners Perspectives

Invited development partners will share their feedback and proposals of aligning their ongoing initiatives to support CAREC trade work.
11:30 – 12:30
(60 mins)		 The session will share completed and ongoing projects and initiatives, with significant impact and potential for replication or expansion, including Regional Improvement of Border Services, Trade Program, Customs Modernization and Single Window, and CAREC Advanced Transit System. The session will also discuss the outcomes of the Workshop on CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation Partnership, cross-sectoral linkage of CAREC trade and the progress of CAREC Partnership for Trade, Climate, and Innovation.

Moderator: Mr. Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CWRC

Presentation:

– Ms. Zulfia Karimova, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC
– Ms. Pramila Crivelli, Economist, Regional Cooperation and Integration Division, Economic Research and
Development Impact Department
– Ms. Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC

Country Speakers (TBC)
12:30 – 13:30
(60 mins)		 Lunch
13:30 – 14:30
(60 mins)		 The session will discuss projects proposals or opportunities for investment projects, including Policy-based loans or Sector programs related to trade. The session will also share available resources (technical assistance, RCI set aside, or project preparation facility).

Moderator: Ms. Syiyadat Ormonova, EAEU Coordination Department, Ministry of Economy and Commerce

Tour de Table: CAREC Member Countries
14:30 – 14:45
(15 mins)		 Coffee Break
15:45 – 16:30
(75 mins)		 Invited development partners will share their feedback and proposals of aligning their ongoing initiatives to support CAREC trade work.

– Mr. Charymuhammet Shallyyev, Director, CAREC Institute
– Mr. David Knight, Lead Country Economist and Program Leader, Central
Asia, World Bank (Virtual)
– Mr. Simon Padilla, Economic Affairs Officer, Standards and Trade Development Facility, World Trade Organization (Virtual)
– Ms. Adelina Harunjen, Trade Facilitation Officer, Business-driven Trade and Investment Facilitation Division of Market Development, International Trade Centre (virtual)
– Ms. Judith Blank, Head of Programme “Trade Facilitation in Central Asia”, GIZ
– Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Head, Trade, Environment & Climate Change, International Trade and Commodities Division, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (Virtual)
– Mr. Alexey Kravchenko, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade Policy and Facilitation Section of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) (Virtual)
– Mr. Luca Castellani, Legal Officer, Secretariat, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) (Virtual)
– Mr. Mario Apostolov, Regional Adviser, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (Virtual)
– Mr. Sung Heun (Rama) Ha, Director of International Business and Cooperation, Korea Trade Network (KTNET) (Virtual)

Open Discussion
16:30 – 16:45
(15 mins)		 This session will discuss the strategic direction for the next phase of CITA 2030 from 2025 to 2030, pursuing Green and Digital CAREC and hear country perspectives on how to make CITA more impactful.

Presentation:
– Ms. Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC
16:45 – 17:00
(15 mins)		 Ministry of Economy and Commerce
Ms. Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC

Supported under TA 0069: Implementing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 (Phase 2), funded by the Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF).

Documents

  • Agenda | RUS
  • CAREC Trade Sector Report April 2025 – May 2025 | RUS
  • CITA 2030 Midterm Review: Background Note and Preliminary Assessment | RUS
  • List of Participants | RUS

Presentations

  • Session 1: Midterm Review of the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 – ENG | RUS
  • Session 2: Updates and Lessons from Specific CAREC Trade Initiatives – ENG | RUS
  • Session 4: Development Partners Perspectives
    • 4.1. World Bank – ENG | RUS
    • 4.2. Standards and Trade Development Facility, World Trade Organization – ENG | RUS
    • 4.3. International Trade Centre (ITC) – ENG | RUS
    • 4.4. GIZ – ENG | RUS
    • 4.5. UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) – ENG | RUS
    • 4.6. UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) – ENG | RUS
    • 4.7. UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) – ENG | RUS
    • 4.8. UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) – ENG | RUS
    • 4.9. Korea Trade Network (KTNET) – ENG | RUS
  • Session 5: CITA Rolling Strategic Action Plan 2025–2027 and Recommendations – ENG | RUS