DUSHANBE, March 20, 2012, Asia-Plus — The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in cooperation with the People”s Republic of China (PRC), is organizing a two-day conference that will bring together government officials from Asia and the Pacific to share their experiences in regional cooperation in transport, energy and trade, the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) reports.
Senior officials from the Tajikistan government will also attend the Conference on Regional Cooperation and Integration—Experiences in Asia and the Pacific, which takes place in Kunming, PRC on March 26-27, 2012.
“The conference will discuss, among others, the role of economic corridors, regional financial integration and investment promotion; and at the end, will consolidate lessons learned and prepare a summary of best practices and a plan to widen and deepen cooperation in the region,” said Joji Tokeshi, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan.
Tajikistan’s delegation will be headed by the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Hoidullokhon Faqerov, and comprise senior representatives from the President’s Office and State Committee on Investments and State Property Management.
ADB supports several regional economic cooperation programs, including the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program, and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Program. CAREC 2020, new 10-year strategy adopted last November, focuses on trade expansion and improved competitiveness; GMS’s 10-year strategy aims to enhance agricultural development, implement multi-country tourism packages, and promote low-carbon development.
Tajikistan is an active participant and major beneficiary of CAREC Program, receiving over $445 million to rehabilitate road corridors from Dushanbe to the Kyrgyz border (Sarytash), and Uzbek border (Tursunzoda); modernize customs infrastructure; build power transmission line connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan; rebuild the 500kV switchyard at Norak Hydro Power Plant; and expand and modernize the electricity transmission system.
Established in 2001, CAREC brings together Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It promotes regional projects in energy, transport, and trade facilitation.
Cambodia, the PRC (specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao People”s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam formed the GMS Program in 1992.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.
