On 8 June 2026, under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Nuriddinzoda Ahliddin Nuriddin, the 21st meeting of the SPECA Working Group on Trade of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was held on the sidelines of the Paperless Trade Week.
Nuriddinzoda A. N. opened the 21st meeting of the SPECA Working Group on Trade with a welcoming speech, noting that, thanks to the wise policy of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and the Heads of SPECA member States, cooperation in addressing issues related to trade connectivity and digitalization of data exchange in the Trans-Caspian transport corridors, improvement of transport connectivity for sustainable Eurasian linkages, energy connectivity within and beyond the region, as well as the development of sustainable trade, innovation, and the circular economy, has demonstrated a positive development trend.
Subsequently, heads of delegations from SPECA member States, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, provided information on the implementation of the measures under the Roadmap of the Working Group for 2025–2026 and on the assessment of significant achievements in the field of trade within the SPECA region.
Representatives of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) also participated actively, addressing issues related to digitalization and the development of digital trade, as well as representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) regarding the organization of events and the implementation of concrete measures in the field of trade development, along with other development partners.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Nuriddinzoda A. N. emphasized the need for concrete measures by participating countries, international organizations, and development partners to strengthen the SPECA Working Group on Trade. He put forward constructive proposals on eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade, strengthening the integration of electronic systems and standards, accelerating trade procedures and data exchange, and the broad implementation of digital trade facilitation measures.
