DUSHANBE, November 28, 2012, Asia-Plus — The University of Central Asia (UCA)’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) in cooperation with the Academy of Public Administration (APA) under the President of Kazakhstan organized a forum on “Trade Cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan” on November 28.
According to press release issued by UCA, ambassadors of Canada, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, representatives of international organizations (UNDP, EU), central government agencies of Kazakhstan, the Academy and research institutes, business associations, non-governmental organizations as well as independent experts participated in sessions covering: Overview of Trade in the Region; Trade between Afghanistan and Central Asia; Government Perspectives on Regional Trade; and Role of Regional and International Organizations in Promoting Regional Trade.
Mr. Zuhuriddin Kenjayev, from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Tajikistan was part of panel discussions on Trade between Central Asia and Afghanistan and Government Perspectives on Regional Trade, respectively.
The Astana forum is the last event of IPPA’s 2012 series of Central Asian and Afghan forums that have tried to highlight the importance of regional trade and economic relations for economic growth.
The forum follows IPPA’s recent 10-day training held in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, on trade policy and negotiations for 60 civil servants from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Led by top trade negotiations experts from Carleton University, Canada, the training covered topics ranging from trade economics, policy analysis and strategic options, trade barriers and tariff regimes, to international finance and international trade negotiation. Topics for the symposium were informed by issues identified by participants in the training including the importance of infrastructure development, small and medium enterprises, capacity building, integrating Afghanistan into the world economy and developing a tariff regime.
The training seminar and symposium were organized within the framework of a Regional Cooperation and Confidence Building (RCCB) project designed to strengthen the knowledge of public servants on current developments and dynamics of regional trade and economic cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan. The RCCB project is implemented by the University of Central Asia’s Institute for Public Policy and Administration with support from the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Aga Khan Foundation, Canada (AKFC).
UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration aims to provide in-depth analyses of economic policies and quality professional development opportunities for civil servants in the region. The Institute has produced and published a series of peer-reviewed original research papers on a broad range of topics dealing with social and economic issues, public administration and public policy as they relate to Central Asia and Afghanistan.
