From March 13 to 15, the B5+1 Forum entitled “Strengthening regional economic integration of Central Asia through public-private dialogue” was held in Almaty. The event brought together representatives of the business community and government agencies from five countries in the region.

The Forum was organized by the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) from the USA. The purpose of the event was to promote trade, investment and economic integration in Central Asia to achieve full economic independence of the region.

The Forum featured panel discussions in which representatives of business communities, government agencies and international institutions took part. They discussed regional achievements, economic development programs and potential partnerships to strengthen economic integration.

American companies presented their views on investing in Central Asia in key sectors of the economy. Local business associations discussed the use of advocacy and dialogue between the public and private sectors to develop and access new markets.

The result of the Forum should be active work with the private sector on national and regional business agendas. The event allowed the business community to present its vision of an inclusive and integrated economic future for Central Asia, and also gave governments the opportunity to assess the value of private sector advice in achieving the economic goals of the C5+1.