Kyrgyzstan Contributed $1 Million to a UN Fund for the Development of Central Asian Economies

Kyrgyzstan contributed $1 million to the Multi-Partner Trust Fund of the United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). This was announced by UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Armida Salsia Alishahbana, at the opening of the SPECA Economic Forum in Bishkek.

She thanked Kyrgyzstan for hosting the forum and for assuming the chairmanship of the program in 2026. According to her, the country’s financial contribution demonstrates its commitment to regional cooperation and its confidence in the further development of SPECA.

In her remarks, Armida Salsia Alishakhbana identified three main areas of regional cooperation: strengthening transport and trade links, developing digital connectivity, and ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

She paid particular attention to transport corridors, logistics, and the simplification of border procedures. For Central Asian countries, most of which are landlocked, the development of transportation infrastructure is crucial for reducing costs, attracting investment, and enhancing economic resilience.

In the area of digitalization, the ESCAP head noted the need to transition to paperless trade, ensure the compatibility of customs systems, and implement digital transportation services. These measures, she said, will help reduce delays and operational costs in international transport.

She also emphasized the importance of expanding small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to markets and technologies, developing digital skills, and engaging women entrepreneurs and young professionals in the digital economy, including through the use of artificial intelligence.

Alishakhbana also highlighted the upcoming adoption of the Bishkek Declaration. She noted that regional commitments must be backed by concrete actions, and that the SPECA Trust Fund could serve as a tool for raising funds to implement joint initiatives.

ESCAT, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will continue to support program countries in developing transportation and digital connectivity.