Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) joined the Consortium of SCO Economic Analytical Think Tanks, which will develop measures aimed at restoring the economies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries during the coronavirus pandemic.

On 20-21 August 2020, the first meeting of the Consortium of Economic Analytical Centers of the SCO member countries was held in the format of a videoconference, which was organized by the Regional Trade Center in New Delhi (India). This was reported by the public relations service of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In accordance with the Consortium’s Regulations, its meetings are held once a year on the territory of the state presiding over the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO member states. In 2020, the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO countries and, accordingly, the meeting of the Consortium was to be held in India.

Given that there was no structure for cooperation of economic analytical centers in the SCO, at the initiative of the Chinese side represented by the Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, it was proposed to create a Consortium of SCO economic analytical centers, which was supported by all SCO countries. By the decision of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO member states of November 2, 2019 (Tashkent), the Rules of Procedure of the Consortium of SCO Economic Analytical Centers were approved.

The consortium is intended to unite the potential of the economic analytical centers of the SCO member states to conduct joint research and activities on priority areas of economic cooperation within the SCO and to promote the development of regional trade and economic cooperation. Only one research center or organization from each SCO member state can participate in the Consortium.

The purpose of the event was the discussion by the analytical economic centers of the SCO countries of the Consortium’s Work Plan for the coming year (Delhi Action Plan from the name of the city where it was adopted).

The meeting was opened by the head of the Indian Regional Trade Center, Professor Ram Upendra Das.

The meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of economic analytical centers of China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, from Uzbekistan, the director of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms Obid Khakimov took part in the meeting.

SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov addressed the Consortium participants with a welcoming speech, stressing that the Consortium of Economic Analytical Centers is a new vector of development for the SCO member states.

The SCO Secretary General also noted that the spread of coronavirus infection influenced the activities of many expert mechanisms of the Organization, in connection with which it is urgent to establish closer cooperation between the think tanks of the SCO countries, including on the study of issues related to the post-crisis recovery of the economies of the SCO countries.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the draft Work Plan, which provides for joint research on 8 topics, where each research will be coordinated by one think tank, which will summarize research and analytical materials from all other centers. As a result, upon completion of the work, each center will have access to all reports, which is the addition of the potential of think tanks to conduct joint research.

As part of the research, webinars will be held every two months at which they will discuss the progress of the research and intermediate results, as well as exchange views on future work.

In his speech to the participants of the Consortium, the director of the CERR Obid Khakimov informed about the large-scale transformations initiated by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as the results of the ongoing reforms.

The head of CERR noted the importance of the first meeting of the Consortium, which is another reason for establishing closer cooperation between the SCO member states.

Obid Khakimov stressed that CERR’s participation in the Consortium will also be used to conduct joint research with the analytical economic centers of the SCO countries on other priority topics in order to promote the development of the republic’s economy and trade and economic relations with the SCO member countries, which will be proposed to be included in Work plan of the Consortium for the forthcoming period.

In particular, he noted such areas as poverty reduction, issues of digital development and e-commerce, stimulation of foreign trade.

In accordance with the draft Work Plan of the Consortium, the parties agreed to conduct joint research on cooperation in the field of digital economy, innovation and new technologies, transport and communications, tourism, poverty reduction, harmonization of customs and trade standards, food security, in the field of small and medium business, eradicating corruption.

As a result of the meeting, the draft Work Plan of the Consortium for the coming year (Delhi Action Plan) was agreed, which will be approved in the coming days.