Past Events

CAREC Conference on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates

On 11-12 September 2023, the Asian Development Bank co-organized the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Conference on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with the Agency of Plant Protection and Quarantine (APPQ) of Uzbekistan, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade Central Asia (TCA) activity and German Development Cooperation (GIZ). Over 70 participants from […]

Capacity Building on Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records

The Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), developed by United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), aims to address a key roadblock in the transition to paperless trade: the lack of recognition of electronic transferable records (ETRs), such as e-bills of exchange, e-bills of lading, e-promissory notes, and e-warehouse receipts, in domestic legal […]

Accession of Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organization: Technical Working Sessions on the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime

On 3-14 July 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) organized technical working sessions on the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) – a key document for WTO accession negotiations. Building on the Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the World Trade Organization held on 30 May […]

World Export Development Forum 2023 Session: Landlocked Developing Country Business Talks

On 26 June 2023, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs)’ businesses and government representatives discussed specific needs, aspirations, and the unique challenges they face at the Landlocked Developing Country Business Talks held in the framework of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Central Asia Regional Economic […]

22nd Meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC)

At the 22nd CAREC Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia held on 9-10 June, customs officials reaffirmed their commitment to promote customs digitalization and green customs initiatives. World Customs Organization Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya delivered a keynote address on establishing a culture of learning and a knowledge-management and knowledge-sharing system. In his welcome […]

Knowledge-Sharing Event: Single Window for Digital Customs Cooperation in CAREC

The Asian Development Bank organized a knowledge-sharing event on Single Window for Digital Customs Cooperation in CAREC in Tbilisi, Georgia on 8 June. Country presenters discussed their experiences in business process analysis and document standardization, which are critical for digital data exchange and shared key challenges and lessons learned in implementing a national single window […]

Azerbaijan: National Workshop on Potential CAREC-wide FTA

The major objective of the National workshop is to raise awareness among a broad range of interested stakeholders on the potential of the CAREC region and the benefits that a CAREC-wide FTA could offer. The Workshop is intended to launch a broad-based and inclusive public discussion on the topic and target a wide range of […]

Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the World Trade Organization

On 30 May 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat convened a high-level Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the WTO.   The Government of Turkmenistan announced the establishment of an intergovernmental government commission in-charge of WTO accession. Mr. Artur Andrysiak, […]

Turkmenistan: National Workshop on Potential CAREC-wide FTA

The major objective of the National workshop is to raise awareness among a broad range of interested stakeholders on the potential of the CAREC region and the benefits that a CAREC-wide FTA could offer. The Workshop is intended to launch a broad-based and inclusive public discussion on the topic and target a wide range of […]

Central Asian Governments and Private Sector E-Commerce Study Tour to Malaysia and Singapore

From 15 – 20 May 2023, twenty-seven (27) government officials and private sector representatives from 5 Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan gathered in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for the Central Asian Governments and Private Sector E-commerce Study Tour. The study tour was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank […]