Avaza, 12 August 2019: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) senior management takes part in the first Caspian Economic Forum held in Avaza. Mr. Gerd Trogemann, Director of UNDP Regional Hub in Istanbul and Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, Resident Representative a.i. attended the international conference and held discussions with senior Government officials on ongoing and upcoming cooperation. Gerd Trogemann has also contributed to the side event on financing implementation of Agenda 2030 in Turkmenistan, as well as to the Session “Trade and Economic Cooperation in the Caspian Region”.

“We, the United Nations Development Programme, are privileged to join the First Caspian Economic Forum and contribute with our global and local experience to the successful outcomes of this important forum. Being the largest development agency in Turkmenistan, sustainable economic development takes an important place in the portfolio of our cooperation, and we look up to the Economic Forum as the opportunity to further reinforce our partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan, international organizations, private sector and other stakeholders ” stated Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative a.i.

As part of the Forum, UNDP has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan concerning joint cooperation in promoting trade for the achievement of the SDGs. This MOU is a further step ahead in sealing our cooperation and support to promoting international trade cooperation in Turkmenistan.  

In Turkmenistan, UNDP backs up economic reform aimed at diversification and digitalization. For that, UNDP supports the banking and trade sector development; embedding SDGs in development strategies, planning and financial frameworks and supports the national statistical system for a better evidence-based policy making.

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The Forum brought together high-ranking officials from the Government, international organization, international financial institutions and the private sector. It provides the platform for discussions of the issues related to the development of trade-economic, transport cooperation, creation of conditions for large projects, discussions on the role of economy of the Caspian region on global scale, investment attractiveness in various sectors of economy of the littoral Caspian States