Tashkent Hosts 3rd EU – Central Asia Economic Forum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The 3rd Economic Forum “European Union – Central Asia” concluded in Tashkent, focusing on expanding strategic partnerships and deepening economic cooperation between the regions.

The forum marked another important milestone following the EU–Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, the ministerial meeting in Ashgabat, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Brussels.

Leaders discussed advancing strategic investments, digital transformation, energy infrastructure, public administration reforms, and sustainable growth.

During the forum, several key programs were signed. DATA4CRM, a Team Europe initiative with a budget of €7.5 million, aims to modernize geodata systems and improve access to information on critical raw materials, implemented jointly by the EU and Finland. SECURE CRM, with a budget of €3 million in collaboration with UNODC and UNECE, focuses on developing transparent and sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials. GROW CRM, a partnership with the EBRD with a €3 million budget, provides for techno-economic research and the creation of a regulatory framework for diversified sector development.

The Aral Sea Project, a forest restoration program, received an EU contribution of €8.8 million, along with €20 million loans each from the EIB and AFD, targeting ecological and socio-economic rehabilitation of the region. The BOMCA and CADAP programs, with total budgets of €12 million and €18 million respectively, aim to enhance border security and combat illicit drug trafficking.

EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Johannes Sikkela, emphasized the importance of implementing the Global Gateway strategy and noted that these new initiatives promote sustainable growth, strengthen regional resilience, and create additional opportunities for investors.

The forum confirmed the alignment of EU and Central Asian priorities in the areas of critical raw materials, digitalization, the green transition, and public administration reforms, laying the foundation for long-term stability and mutually beneficial regional development.