Publications

This publication provides briefings on key trade issues in Central Asia: (i) addressing technical barriers to trade, (ii) expanding trade in services, (iii) engaging in regional trade agreements, and (iv) establishing special economic zones. These issues are priorities under the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030. This set of short papers aims to support policy deliberations and implementation at the regional and national levels

This publication discusses how the CAREC Program can enhance trade by addressing key challenges, including poor market access, limited economic diversification, and weak institutions for trade. CAREC’s new trade strategy leverages on the successes of past CAREC trade work built on mutual trust and collective efforts. It is designed to foster deepened regional cooperation and integration

Trade helps drive inclusive growth and poverty reduction. Strong value added from trade-related activities contributes to economic growth and development in developing Asia. Global trade helps reallocate capital and labor toward sectors with comparative advantage.

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation(CAREC) Program has established six corridors that crisscross the region, shortening structural distances for people and freight. It continues to chip away at barriers to trade by improving hardware and software elements that require cooperation between neighbors and the region in general.

CAREC 2030 provides the new long-term strategic framework for the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program leading to 2030.

We, the Ministers representing the Governments of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, adopt the following declaration after the 16th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 27 October 2017.

A Background Note for the Panel Discussion at the Ministerial Conference

We develop an index to measure the degree of regional integration in Asia and the Pacific (48 economies in six subregions). The index comprises 26 indicators in six dimensions of regional integration, i.e., trade and investment, money and finance, regional value chains, infrastructure and connectivity, free movement of people, and institutional and social integration.

This trade policy agenda is based on numerous recent studies that indicate that there are substantial potential gains to economies that lower trade costs.

The ADB Working Paper Series on Regional Economic Integration focuses on topics relating to regional cooperation and integration in the areas of infrastructure and software, trade and investment, money and finance, and regional public goods.