Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the launch of a new five-year Central Asia trade development project with a total budget of US $ 19 million in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Trade development efforts under the new project will build on USAID’s longstanding achievements in regional trade facilitation, entrepreneurship development and regional engagement, the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic said.
Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Bishkek Sonata Coulter expressed support for the project, saying “Central Asia can once again become a center for world trade. This project will help develop regional and international commercial ties in Central Asia, creating new business opportunities and jobs. We look forward to partnering with the Kyrgyz government and Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and companies to help promote products faster and open up new markets. ”
USAID’s Central Asia Trade Project will provide technical assistance to the public and private sectors to achieve three key strategic objectives. First, the activities of the program will be aimed at harmonizing customs and border control procedures in order to reduce financial and time costs, as well as stimulate economic growth in the region. Second, the program will strengthen public-private partnerships to implement reforms that stimulate development and ensure investment flows. Third, work will be carried out with stakeholders to increase the volume of cross-border trade both within the Central Asian region and beyond.
Source: Kyrgyz National News Agency