Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 1 / Trend N.Ismayilova /
Donor assistance to member countries of the Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) is expected to reach $40 billion this year, Azerbaijani Deputy Economic Development Minister Niyazi Safarov said at a two-day conference of SPECA ministers in Baku. The SPECA program is designed for countries in Asia, as well as Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
"In 2007, donor assistance to these countries amounted to $25.4 billion, and this year it might reach $40 billion," Safarov said.
To enhance SPECA's trade role in the region, Safarov said, work will be undertaken in three directions - increasing national productive capacity, developing cross-border cooperation and advancing the multilateral trading system.
Safarov also offered to work to reduce the volume of raw material exports.
"Azerbaijan calls upon SPECA countries for closer cooperation to enhance the region's role and to improve the business environment," he said.
UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS and Bratislava Regional Center Director Jens Wandel said increased trade with SPECA countries is a sound indicator as trade is a major gateway for small- and medium-sized enterprises, which, in turn, are the engines of commerce.
UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Andrey Vasilyev noted that the region is dependent on natural resources and SPECA country investments open the possibility for expansion to attract foreign investment, which can be used to increase IT production and introduction.
"It is important for regional countries to have united forces for the use of technical assistance, via which they can improve the overall potential for trade," he said. "We support Azerbaijan's initiative to discuss SPECA country issues and initiatives to join the World Trade Organization. This would help countries to increase their export potential."