2020 SPECA Economic Forum

On 19 November 2020, the CAREC Institute Chief Economist Dr. Hans Holzhacker participated in a forum titled “Regional Cooperation to Support Socioeconomic Recovery in the Wake of COVID-19” organized by the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).

The event was hosted by H.E. Mr. Sanjar Mukanbetov, Minister of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the current Chair of SPECA. The high-level policy dialogue discussed regional cooperation strategies to support socioeconomic recovery in the wake of COVID-19 in SPECA countries. Heads of delegations made statements and provided their views with regard to the theme topic.

Dr. Holzhacker’s presentation focused on COVID-19 and innovation, decarbonization, and social protection. It touched on topics of building back better and opportunities which emerged to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The forum participants deliberated that the 2030 agenda for sustainable development needs to be kept at the core of the socioeconomic recovery efforts in the wake of COVID-19. To help SPECA participating countries in their work, policy directions and key areas that can potentially drive sustainable development in the region were discussed, and the framework of SDG drivers was introduced during the forum.