The U.N. Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, known as SPECA, will hold its annual economic forum and the 20th session of the Governing Council as part of SPECA High-Level Week in Ashgabat from Jan. 20–23, 2026.
The U.N. Economic Commission for Europe said Thursday the events will serve as a key platform for regional cooperation and for strengthening partnerships in trade, transport and energy.
The forum’s main theme is “Regional Connectivity for Sustainable Development.” Discussions will focus on the development of energy, transport and trade links, the digitization of transport corridors and the harmonization of legislation among SPECA countries.
Held under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship, the forum will also review progress in implementing key SPECA strategic documents, including the Roadmap for the Digitization of the Trans-Caspian Corridor and the Development Concept through 2030.
SPECA is a U.N. program aimed at integrating the economies of Central Asian countries into the global economy and strengthening regional cooperation. It was established in 1998 and initially included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan later joined the program.
