Central Asia Initiative

Objectives l Strategic approach l Administrative structure l Related meetings

Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/daf/psd/centralasia

Launched in November 2008, the Central Asia (CA) Initiative is part of the Eurasia Competitiveness Programme, and aims to help create a sound business climate for investment, enhance productivity, support entrepreneurship, develop the private sector, and build knowledge-based economies to render the region more competitive and attractive to foreign investment.

Located at the crossroads of East and West, and with a total population of almost 100 million people, an educated workforce and abundant energy resources, Central Asia (including Afghanistan and Mongolia) is emerging as an attractive destination for investment and trade. In order to boost competitiveness of participating countries and and region as a whole, the Central Asia Initiative is working with governments and the private sector to strengthen legal and economic institutions, develop the SME sector, and increase capacity of business representative organisations.

The Central Asia (CA) Initiative aims to:

• improve competitiveness in participating countries through better policy design and implementation
• support private sector development with a focus on SMEs
• foster economic development and stability
• encourage regional integration

To achieve these objectives, the initiative will encourage the exchange of best practices and experiences in policy reforms relevant to improving the business climate, support regional dialogue, and assist governments in developing policies that build a dynamic business environment for local businesses and foreign investors.

The CA Initiative's work programme is structured into three stages:

• stage 1: perform a regional policy review identifying sector-specific policy barriers to business climate reform, as well as priority reform policies inducive to the development of a vibrant business environment
• stage 2: establish a regional forum for dialogue and peer review to facilitate the exchange and application of OECD instruments, tools and methodologies, and develop recommendations to address policy barriers and reform initiatives
• stage 3: lend strategic support to the implementation of structural reforms in targeted policy areas, as well as to capacity-building efforts in the region

After performing a regional policy review identifying common policy areas and specific priority sectors driving the reform process towards an improved business climate, regional Working Groups are established with country experts and the private sector.

The regional policy working groups allow countries to exchange experiences, conduct peer reviews and develp recommendations to address common policy issues. The Working Groups are:

• investment climate policy and promotion
• financial market development
• human capital for financial and business services

The Working Groups focus on sector-specific policy barriers in sectors such as information and communication technologies, agro-business, business services, and transport and logistics.

Oversight and regional ownership is ensured through an Advisory Council, chaired or co-chaired by OECD member countries, while the Steering Group and Working Groups, chaired by participating countries from the region, are responsible for the delivery of substantive work. The Advisory Council, which includes representatives of participating countries, OECD representatives and members, and donors, international organisations and private sector representatives, meets twice a year. The Steering Group and Working Groups meet once or twice a year.

In addition, an annual conference at ministerial level is held.

Launch of the Central Asian Initiative to boost investment and competitiveness, Berlin, 4-5 November 2008

Promoting investment in times of economic crisis and beyond, Astana, 17 September 2009