At the VIII Central Asian Expert Forum in Tashkent, Tajikistan called for the development of joint ventures for export and emphasized the importance of the completed CASA-1000 energy project.
The Expert Forum (CAEF) under the motto "Central Asia – a common space of trust, security and sustainable development" was held on August 14-15. The event brought together more than 100 experts, diplomats and government officials from the countries of the region and partner organizations. For the first time in the seven years of the forum, specialists from the EU, ASEAN, the Nordic Council, Russia, the USA and other countries joined the discussion.
Tajikistan's focus on integration
At the forum, Tajikistan focused on the creation of joint production enterprises focused on exports to third countries.
"Industrial development, the creation of integrated production chains in the agro-industrial complex, light and food industries, as well as the mining sector, opens up opportunities for the formation of regional added value," said Oraz Murtazozoda, First Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan.
CASA-1000 – a new stage in Central Asian energy security
The Tajik side paid special attention to energy issues. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Abdujabbor Rahmonzoda emphasized the importance of the completed CASA-1000 project:
“In 2025, the construction of the CASA-1000 power transmission line was completed, which connected the energy systems of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This project will allow our countries to export surplus electricity in the summer to Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the diplomat noted.
According to him, such initiatives strengthen the region’s energy security and create conditions for entering foreign markets.
Roadmap to 2050
At the forum, the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan presented scenarios for the development of Central Asia until 2050. Among the key proposals: turning the region into a logistics hub, forming a single energy market, joint climate projects and developing a single social space.
For Tajikistan, which has significant hydro potential, these initiatives open up opportunities to strengthen its position in the regional energy market and expand electricity exports.
Following the presentation, representatives of the Central Asian countries supported the proposals and expressed their readiness to jointly implement projects.
Social development and cultural cooperation
One of the areas of cooperation was the promotion of cultural heritage. By 2026, the possibility of creating a joint alliance of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the field of intellectual property to protect and popularize traditional weaving (ikat, abr fabrics) is being considered. The initiative involves registering collective trademarks and organizing exhibitions at the international level.
The forum became a platform for discussing proposals for the creation of a Single Regional Market, the formation of an investment council, the coordination of water and climate policy and the development of a transport framework. Based on the results of the discussions, experts will prepare recommendations for the upcoming Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia.
