CENTRAL ASIA

CLDP facilitates meetings of expert level working groups comprised of relevant interested stakeholders from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Aligning with the goals of the U.S.-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, the C5+1 Platform, and other U.S. government initiatives, the working groups  seek to promote regional approaches to economic reforms, regional and international economic integration, and increased trade. These regional working groups cover key trade issues, namely  on Customs,  Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Digital Trade, and Women’s Economic Empowerment

Whereas the Customs,  SPS, and IPR Working Groups gather expert level government officials, the Women’s Economic Empowerment Working Group brings together women private sector representatives  from the region, and the Digital Trade Working Group consists of the private sector, civil society, and government representatives.

Each of these working groups support implementation of international trade-related best practices, including, where applicable, WTO requirements, promotes fair and less-restrictive trade policies and practices, and seek to increase market access for foreign and domestic businesses in the region.

In addition to the regional working groups, CLDP conducts bilateral programs in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Kyrgyz Republic

CLDP’s work in the Kyrgyz Republic includes strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights and supports the alignment of  country’s public procurement system  with international best practices. These programs help to enable the business environment in the Kyrgyz Republic and to reduce opportunities for corruption. The protection of intellectual property rights plays an important role in inducing technological change and facilitating economic growth, and transparent and accountable public procurement systems have the power to catalyze private sector development by opening access to business opportunities, improving the business and investment environment, enhancing competition, and promoting economic growth.

Tajikistan

Among CLDP’s work in Tajikistan, programs include assistance to the government of Tajikistan to reform its public procurement practices and to strengthen Tajikistan’s capacity to protect and enforce intellectual property rights. Robust implementation of international treaties, such as the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), can help developing countries address transparency, competition, and corruption in public procurement. The protection of intellectual property rights plays a similarly important role in economic development, including by inducing technological change and facilitating economic growth.

Uzbekistan

CLDP’s work in Uzbekistan is focused on supporting Uzbekistan’s recent rapid transformation into an open and transparent economy with strong ties to the region and the global trading system. This focus includes technical support for Uzbekistan’s plans to develop its capital markets and programs that support Uzbekistan's desire to rapidly accede to the WTO. As is evident throughout the world, properly established capital markets, backed by robust enforcement mechanisms, have the potential to unleash previously unseen levels of private sector participation in Uzbekistan’s economic growth. Similarly, intellectual property rights protection helps create an incentive structure encourages research and development, which in turn leads to increased innovation. Increased innovation generates greater rates of economic growth. Thus, CLDP’s work in both areas aims to enable greater economic diversification and build a more attractive investment climate, which will help Uzbekistan maintain its vigorous pace of reforms.