US working with Central Asia Nations to Pursue Economic Cooperation with South Asia

20 July 2007: Washington

The United States is working with all the nations of Central Asia to pursue greater economic cooperation and integration with South Asia, the State Department said after a senior official’s meeting with representatives of regional countries.

Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher hosted a discussion on South and Central Asian regional economic integration, focused on ways in which the United States can support Central Asian nations’ development into independent, prosperous, and democratic states, integrated into the world economy.

Assistant Secretary Boucher was joined by Kazakhstani Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Zhanar Aitzhanova; Director of Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs Economic Cooperation Department, Ambassador Jeenbek Kulubayev; Tajik Minister of Trade and Economic Development Gulomjon Bobozoda; Turkmen Minister of Economy and Finance Hojamyrat Geldimyradov; and Uzbek Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade Elyor Ganiev.

Representatives from Pakistan, Afghanistan and India also attended. The meeting was part of a series of events centered on the Third Annual Meeting of the US-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) at the Office of the US Trade Representative.

In addition, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative hosted the third annual Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting, followed by a Department of Commerce and U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored roundtable with private sector companies interested in investing in the region. The TIFA meeting focused on identifying ways to increase trade and investment in the five Central Asian nations. All sides agreed that meeting under the framework of the Agreement provides an important opportunity to improve regional economic cooperation and expand U.S.-Central Asia trade and investment opportunities.

“The United States promotes increased regional economic integration among the Central Asian nations, as well as with Afghanistan and its South Asian neighbors,” the office of Spokesman said.

The State Department also noted that the re-opening of Afghanistan has created promising new possibilities and opportunities for these nations to develop infrastructure and economic links to the south, especially in the areas of trade, transportation, energy and communications. The United States also supports expansion of private investment in Central Asia, especially from American companies.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan