Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek will host the first in-person meeting of the European Union-Central Asia Economic Forum on Friday. This high-level meeting is expected to be the first in a series of events taking place in Central Asian countries in the coming years, within the framework of the EU Strategy on Central Asia adopted in 2019, the EU delegation to Kyrgyzstan said on Monday.
The forum will offer an opportunity to exchange views on the Central Asia region’s priority needs in respect of sustainable economic development, with the aim of generating beneficial outcomes for all sides. The three main areas of the forum will be green recovery, digitalisation, and a better business environment. Initiatives and technological solutions offered by the EU private sector will be considered during the event.
The EU said the upcoming in-person gathering will enable an inclusive discussion with representatives of all Central Asian countries on the ongoing EU engagement and on further opportunities for EU-Central Asia economic cooperation with particular focus on the forum’s three priorities.
Central Asian states will be represented by senior government officials, while Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commission Executive Vice President for An Economy that Works for People and European Commissioner for Trade, will represent the European Union, according to the statement.
The event will also gather high-level representatives of EU Member States, organizations implementing EU funded projects in the region, private sector representatives from Central Asian and European countries, and development partners, including European financial institutions.
