Representatives of Central Asian countries on November 28 recognized the urgent need for regional cooperation on green development and committed to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, including energy, trade digitalization, trade integration, trade facilitation, investment promotion, small and medium-sized enterprise development, water cooperation and innovation ecosystems. This was reported on the website of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The Dushanbe Declaration was adopted following the 2024 SPECA Economic Forum and Governing Council Meeting, which were convened this week in Tajikistan with the support of UNECE and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

“SPECA should work to become an attractive destination for green investment and sustainable growth”, ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana emphasized in her opening remarks.

 This year, the Forum focused on key priorities such as climate action, technology and innovation, and sustainable transport and energy. In several presentations, delegates highlighted how climate change is affecting the economies and ecosystems of the SPECA region, including issues such as melting glaciers, water shortages and increased pollution.

High-level participants from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan discussed the operationalization of the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund. The Trust Fund provides an excellent opportunity to launch climate, innovation and green projects tailored to the unique needs of the region.

SPECA stands for the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, which aims to support landlocked developing countries in their integration into the global economy and provides a platform for cross-border cooperation on a wide range of issues, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.