SPECA Summit to discuss deepening cooperation among Central Asian countries

SPECA Summit to discuss deepening cooperation among Central Asian countries

Today, the summit of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) is kicking off in Baku. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the summit, alongside leaders of other countries, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Established by the UN in 1998, SPECA serves as a platform to promote sustainable development and strengthen ties among Central Asian states. Another important goal of the program is to assist the region's countries in integrating into the economies of Europe and Asia. The meeting participants plan to discuss various issues, including the intensification of supply chains, streamlining of customs procedures, and the creation of a special fund. Experts note that such meetings once again underscore the potential for development, both for the member states and the overall regional space, extending to the continent.

“This is an opportunity to once again demonstrate our absolute commitment to the UN as the central international organization. And, of course, this is practical support for the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan stands as one of Kazakhstan’s key strategic partners. This year, our country holds the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States, of which Azerbaijan is also a member. The main initiative of Kazakhstan's chairmanship is TURKTIME, which allows us not only to share common historical values but also strive to create a new, positive agenda for our current cooperation, including in the economic dimension,” said Miras Zhiyenbayev, leading expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies.