CAREC member countries endorse new long-term strategies to promote digitalization 

A coordinated response to public health challenges and closer regional cooperation enabled by digitalization are crucial to recovering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, participants at the 20th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Ministerial Conference heard today, Report informs, citing the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) website.

“As we transition from the pandemic to a new normal marked by renewed globalization, we must work to strengthen regional cooperation through digitalization,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa in his keynote address. “This will allow us to build resilience to future crises, restore trade, and emerge stronger, more connected, and more inclusive—and the CAREC Program will play a vital role in enabling this.”

At the virtual event themed “Connectivity, Cooperation, and Resilience in a Digital Era,” ministers from Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan endorsed new long-term strategies to promote digitalization and strengthen health systems through regional cooperation.

The CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 will encourage investments in digital infrastructure in the region where about half of the population remains without internet access. The strategy aims to develop digital skills to create jobs, including for women and vulnerable populations, expand business opportunities, particularly in e-commerce, and create interoperable digital platforms.

The CAREC Health Strategy 2030 aims to improve member countries’ capacity to respond to public health threats through effective surveillance systems and ensuring that sufficient laboratory infrastructure is in place. It seeks to establish reliable regulatory and procurement mechanisms to ensure sufficient medical supplies are available to meet surges in demand. It also outlines actions to improve health services for migrants, border communities, and vulnerable groups.

Hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan, the conference was co-chaired by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and ADB Vice-President Shixin Chen. Ministers and senior officials from CAREC member countries attended the event, as well as representatives from development partners.