At the Tashkent International Investment Forum (2-3 May 2024), UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean urged for the mobilization of private sector investments to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote regional cooperation in Central Asia. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing sustainability in investments in order to bridge the gap in SDG financing.
During her meeting with Uzbekistan’s President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the Forum, Ms. Molcean reaffirmed UNECE’s support for the country’s ambitious reform agenda on environment, innovation, trade, transport, and road safety, as well as its process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In her discussions with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baxtiyor Saidov; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Djamshid Kuchkarov; Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov; Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov; and Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, Ms. Molcean continued to address bilateral and regional cooperation on these issues.
She also presented the results of the Road Safety Performance Review, which aims to prioritize the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable, in Uzbekistan’s transportation system, to First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Shavkat Rahmonov.
The UNECE Executive Secretary emphasized that the WTO accession process is crucial for economic development in countries, but it also requires strengthening regional connectivity, especially for landlocked regions like Central Asia.
Through the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), UNECE is already supporting SDG progress and regional cooperation in Central Asia. SPECA brings together two UN Regional Commissions (UNECE and UNESCAP), UN Resident Coordinators in SPECA participating States, and other UN and non-UN entities to collaborate on issues such as transport connectivity, innovation, sustainable trade, gender equality, and the water-energy nexus.
UNECE’s legal instruments, standards, best practices, and guidelines serve as the foundation for much of the regional cooperation facilitated by SPECA. When it comes to trade and investments, UNECE’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) tools and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS) can assist governments in attracting private sector investments for SDG-compliant infrastructure projects. Additionally, UNECE’s Sustainability Pledge promotes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) traceability in the textile sector, which is significant for the economies of Central Asia.
UNECE has also provided capacity-building, particularly in Uzbekistan, for innovation in the circular economy and empowering startups to innovate for the SDGs. Lastly, UNECE has been supporting SPECA participating States in trade facilitation and removing regulatory and procedural barriers to trade, which is crucial for WTO accession.
Photo credits: Government of Uzbekistan