Central Asia seeks new trade routes and markets The Economic Forum of the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was held at the Ala-Archa State Residence. In 2026, the program is led by Kyrgyzstan, and the main theme of the meeting is the development of regional connectivity, transport, trade and digital infrastructure. SPECA includes Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The forum discussed transportation corridors, trade facilitation, e-commerce, supporting small and medium businesses, attracting investments and developing women's entrepreneurship. The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Edilbek Kassimliev, said that Bishkek sees the presidency not only as an international responsibility, but as an opportunity to give practical impetus to economic cooperation in the region. He reported that Kyrgyzstan had voluntarily contributed 1 million to the SPECA Multilateral Trust Fund. The republic was also the first in the region to join the UN Railway Convention. The UN Deputy Secretary-General, ESCAP's Executive Secretary, Armida Selesia Elishavna, emphasized three main areas of work: development of transport and trade links, digital connectivity and sustainable economic growth. She noted that modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, can help countries in the region use transport routes more efficiently, develop digital services and energy interaction. The UN Secretary, Tatiana Molchan, called for moving from discussions to specific projects. Among the main examples she named the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the transport route from Central Asia through the South Caucasus to Europe. On the sidelines of the forum, the Eurasian Economic Commission and ESCAP signed a memorandum of cooperation until the end of 2030.

Central Asia seeks new trade routes and markets The Economic Forum of the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was held at the Ala-Archa State Residence. In 2026, the program is led by Kyrgyzstan, and the main theme of the meeting is the development of regional connectivity, transport, trade and digital infrastructure. SPECA includes Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The forum discussed transportation corridors, trade facilitation, e-commerce, supporting small and medium businesses, attracting investments and developing women's entrepreneurship. The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Edilbek Kassimliev, said that Bishkek sees the presidency not only as an international responsibility, but as an opportunity to give practical impetus to economic cooperation in the region. He reported that Kyrgyzstan had voluntarily contributed 1 million to the SPECA Multilateral Trust Fund. The republic was also the first in the region to join the UN Railway Convention. The UN Deputy Secretary-General, ESCAP's Executive Secretary, Armida Selesia Elishavna, emphasized three main areas of work: development of transport and trade links, digital connectivity and sustainable economic growth. She noted that modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, can help countries in the region use transport routes more efficiently, develop digital services and energy interaction. The UN Secretary, Tatiana Molchan, called for moving from discussions to specific projects. Among the main examples she named the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the transport route from Central Asia through the South Caucasus to Europe. On the sidelines of the forum, the Eurasian Economic Commission and ESCAP signed a memorandum of cooperation until the end of 2030.