DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 18. Strengthening relations under the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) has emerged as one of the key priorities for Tajikistan’s foreign economic policy, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Ahliddin Nuriddinzoda said during a meeting to prepare for high-level SPECA events, Trend reports.
During the meeting, the sides addressed issues related to enhancing cooperation among SPECA member countries, establishing the SPECA Trust Fund, and furthering sustainable trade goals in the region.
“With this purpose, intergovernmental cooperation under the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will also be significantly strengthened,” he said.
The meeting also covered preparations for high-level SPECA events, including the 19th session of the Governing Council and the SPECA Economic Forum in Dushanbe, the "Dushanbe Declaration" project, country initiatives, and the establishment of the SPECA Trust Fund.
Currently, the SPECA member states include Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Established on March 26, 1998, SPECA serves as a UN special program aimed at assisting these countries in economic development, cooperation, and integration into the economies of Europe and Asia. It provides a platform for subregional collaboration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which can be most effectively met through regional cooperation.