Publications

In this issue, we inform that the Institute has signed the host city agreement. There is information on workshops and conferences regarding the topics of trans-Caspian transport and trade; Aral Sea restoration; biodiversity conservation; and water cooperation in Central Asia. COVID-19 and WASH related analysis is also shared.

Our workshop report of November 2020 scientific-practical conference summarizes participation of the CAREC Institute in the session regarding the climate change impact on infrastructure and logistics In CAREC. The conference itself focused on regional collaboration, informed by science, that can help solve climate-related challenges in Central Asia.

This report covers summary of a symposium titled “Ecological Restoration and Management of the Aral Sea” held by the CAREC Institute and Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XIEG) in collaboration with the National University of Uzbekistan during 24-25 November 2020.

This workshop report summarizes presentations and discussions of a joint webinar by the CAREC Institute and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) titled “Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor: Infrastructure and Trade” held during 16-20 November 2020.

This economic brief focusses on some megatrends that are accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses briefly what new technologies have emerged globally, how these change the organization of supply chains and globalization, and how COVID-19 impacts these developments.

A team of researchers from Quaid-i-Azam University of Pakistan and Baku Engineering University of Azerbaijan examined the impact of Pakistan-China free trade agreement (FTA) on exports creation.

Our October newsletter covers details of the third Advisory Council meeting, CAREC senior official meeting, and sector coordination committee meetings. It also narrates about two research projects conducted under the CAREC Think Tanks Network research grants program.

This policy brief reviews determinants of vulnerability to climate-induced water stress in CAREC and proposes recommendations to mitigate adverse effects.

The workshop report covers proceedings of a joint virtual event by the CAREC Institute and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) titled Unlocking Private Investments in Sustainable Infrastructure in Asia: Lessons from Central Asia

The paper under the CAREC Think Tanks Research Grants Program focuses on the potential of tourism along the Almaty–Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC) given post-COVID development scenarios.

Our September newsletter covers the inaugural meeting of the Financial Sustainability Working Group, CAREC customs cooperation and regional trade group meetings, CAREC cooperation meeting with historian Peter Frankopan, details of participation in various conferences, workshop on infrastructure investment, and details of two workshop reports.

Dr. Giorgi Khishtovani from the PMC Research Center of Georgia reviewed migration and development and the role of local authorities in Central Asia to leverage migration’s developmental potential. The paper focuses on migration from the southern rim of Central Asia - Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyz Republic - to Russia.

In support of the CAREC Energy Strategy 2030, Ms. Bulganmurun Tsevegjav analyzed challenges and opportunities of regional cooperation in promoting low-carbon energy development in CAREC.

The research findings suggest that agriculture in Central Asia is sensitive to climate change, and the impacts will be more acute after the temperature increase. Results indicate that every degree Celsius increase in annual temperature has resulted in a modest benefit of $4/hectare increase in agricultural net revenue, which amounts to $117 million in total agricultural benefits across Central Asia.

The analysis revealed that across a multitude of indicators such as population growth, economic activity variation, road density differences and change of land use, the values within the influence zone of the corridor are heterogenous across countries but significantly higher (Tajikistan being an exception in population growth variable) in comparison with the country-wide averages determined from national statistics.

Our August newsletter provides short descriptions of several workshop proceedings, describes preliminary findings of two more visiting fellows 2020, and gives details of several cooperation discussion which took place in August.