Ministers of Central Asian countries, representatives of international financial institutions, development partners and senior United Nations officials have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing regional cooperation at the 2026 SPECA Economic Forum.
The Forum concluded with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration which reaffirms the commitment to enhancing regional cooperation, strengthening economic integration and promoting sustainable transport, trade and connectivity across the region.
"Connectivity is not an end in itself. It should diversify economies, strengthen value chains, create jobs and advance the Sustainable Development Goals," said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the SPECA region can turn its strategic position into shared prosperity, she added.
"Kyrgyzstan has an important role in this work, as it is promoting diversified trade and transport routes and the development of the SPECA region as a connectivity hub in a complex global economy," said Tatiana Molcean, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
H.E. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic and SPECA Chair country in 2026, reaffirmed the Kyrgyz Republic's commitment to promoting regional cooperation and connectivity among SPECA participating States and highlighted the importance of strengthening links between European and Asian markets through enhanced transport, trade and digital cooperation.
Over two days, participants discussed policy solutions and practical measures to strengthen multimodal transport corridors, improve logistics and border-crossing procedures, advance paperless trade and digitalization, promote e-commerce, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), strengthen women's entrepreneurship and leadership and mobilize financing for regional connectivity projects.
Discussions underscored the growing importance of seamless transport, trade and digital networks for the predominantly landlocked economies of the region, as well as the need to strengthen interoperability among customs, trade and transport systems. Participants also explored opportunities to leverage the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund to support regional initiatives and translate shared priorities into concrete development actions.
About SPECA
The United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) promotes economic cooperation, regional integration and sustainable development among its participating States: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. SPECA is jointly supported by ESCAP and UNECE and serves as a platform for advancing regional cooperation and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
