Connecting the Region for Shared and Sustainable Development CAREC 2030 Strategy Connecting the Region for Shared and Sustainable Development Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:   As already mentioned by our President in his special address this morning, the highlight of today’s conference is the CAREC 2030 strategy paper, which provides the new long-term strategic framework for the CAREC Program leading to the year 2030. Let us all now watch a short video, that sums up what the CAREC 2030 is all about.

Formulation of CAREC 2030 Fully Consultative and Participatory Process 11 Government Agencies Multilateral and bilateral development partners Think tanks and civil society Private sector and business associations Countries 350 Key stakeholders CAREC 2030 has been formulated in a fully consultative and participatory manner. During the first half of 2017, consultations were conducted in the 11 member countries, involving more than 350 government officials, multilateral and bilateral development partners, think tanks and civil society, the private sector, and business associations. During the Senior Officials’ meeting held in June this year in Tbilisi, Georgia and the National Focal Points’ meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in September, we have received strong and across the board support for the new strategy.

CAREC 2030 Mission Statement CAREC 2030: “A Regional Cooperation Platform to Connect People, Policies and Projects for Shared and Sustainable Development” CAREC 2030 is inspired by a mission to create an open and inclusive regional cooperation platform that connects people, policies, and projects for shared and sustainable development. This mission statement is comprised of three parts: First, it envisages CAREC as an open and inclusive platform where member countries and development partners come together to plan regional cooperation initiatives. Second, it cements the intent for CAREC to pursue a “project++” approach, where regional projects are complemented with policy dialogue and knowledge cooperation on one hand, and promotion of people-to-people contacts on the other hand. And, third, the quest for shared and sustainable development shows the resolve to align closely with countries’ national strategies and the 2030 global development agenda.

CAREC 2030’s Operational Priorities Economic and Financial Stability Cluster Trade, Tourism and Economic Corridors Cluster Infrastructure and Economic Connectivity Cluster As it has been mentioned in the video, CAREC 2030 envisages five operational clusters to better align with CAREC countries’ development agenda and 2030 global development agenda: Economic and financial stability: CAREC will help support stable macroeconomic conditions and sound banking systems and capital markets as vital ingredients for economic growth and poverty reduction. Trade, tourism, and economic corridors: CAREC will further efforts in improving trade openness and doing business environment in the region and helping member countries implement or better align with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement which took into effect in February this year. CAREC will also promote a regional approach to tourism development in the region to maximize economic opportunities and to safeguard ecosystems. Economic corridor development efforts will be furthered and sustainable urbanization process will be facilitated. Infrastructure and economic connectivity: CAREC 2030 will continue to advance the regional infrastructure agenda with more focus on sustainability and climate resilience. Sustainable infrastructure and clean and renewable energy development will be attached more importance. CAREC will support adoption of modern technologies for improved connectivity, improve policy and governance frameworks, and mobilize funding from the public and private sectors. Agriculture and water: CAREC 2030 will strengthen the agriculture-water nexus and help CAREC countries integrate into global agricultural value chains and facilitate dialogue on water management issues. Human development: CAREC will promote technical and vocational training, educations services and greater labor mobility to match employment opportunities in the region. CAREC will also help address pandemic risks and control of communicable diseases.   Agriculture and Water Cluster Human Development Cluster ICT cuts across all clusters

Institutional Framework: Guiding Elements Building countries’ ownership at both senior and technical working levels Introducing an incremental approach to building up implementation modalities in the new areas Enhancing development partners’ role and capitalizing on their areas of expertise Retaining flexibility and pragmatism through the “2+X principle” Establishing integrated groupings to activate cross-linkages between sectors Strengthening engagement of the private sector and civil society at all levels

Institutional Framework Ministerial Conference Policy and strategic dialogue Decision body   Development Partners Technical and financial support Operational Clusters Senior Officials’ Meeting Complex projects / initiatives approval and coordination Oversight and progress monitoring Economic and financial stability Trade, tourism and economic corridors Infrastructure and economic connectivity Agriculture and water Human Development ICT cuts across all above clusters Expert groups Sector committees and sub-working groups An Open and Inclusive Platform CAREC Secretariat Technical and organizational support Institute Knowledge support Private Sector Financing and public-private dialogue CAREC 2030 further refine the institutional arrangements to ensure more effective execution of operations under the new strategy: First, I would like to draw your attention to the bottom of the diagram, where it is mentioned CAREC’s resolve to become an open and inclusive platform. The broadened scope of CAREC 2030 provides new space for all development partners to engage with the region in the five operational clusters for technical and financial support. Going forward, development partners will be encouraged to lead dialogue and operations in various sectors based on their comparative advantage. The Ministerial Conference will function as a strategy-setting and policy body to discuss and debate policy and strategic issue of regional significance. The Senior Officials’ Meeting will monitor overall operational progress and consider complex multisector projects. Sector committees will be further strengthened with full operational authorities to discuss and develop options and recommendations for their respective sectors. Sub-working groups could be formulated under the sector committees as needed. For new operational areas cooperation, CAREC will take an incremental approach. Flexible and demand-driven expert groups could be created and it will also help provide rapid responses to CAREC countries’ emerging priorities and changing needs.

Thank you. www.carecprogram.org With this introduction, we request the Ministers’ kind endorsement of the new CAREC 2030 strategy and invite your views and insights on the way forward. Thank you for your attention. I would like now to hand the floor back to our Chair, Minister. Hikmatullozoda. www.carecprogram.org