Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Speaking at the IX international scientific and expert forum “Primakov Readings”, held on 27-28 November in Moscow with the participation of experts from 31 countries of the world, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISMI) Akramjon Nematov noted that today there is an increased interest in Central Asia due to its geostrategic location and geo-economic potential, as well as thanks to the established in the region there is a completely new political atmosphere of good neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

As the ISMI representative emphasized, Central Asia is one of the promising centers of economic and investment activity, a capacious market with 80 million people, where the population grows annually by almost 2%, and the average age is 28 years. It is home to 7% of the world’s oil and gas reserves, 5 to 40% of the world’s reserves of a dozen critical rare earth materials needed for digital and green transformation.

Moreover, Akramjon Nematov added, the region is located at the crossroads of many transport routes, two hours’ flight from 30% of the world’s population, and at a strategically important junction between China, the Russian Federation, Iran, Turkey, and India.

“All these advantages open up new opportunities for the region, including the prospects of becoming an important link in interregional interconnectedness and integrating into international value chains,” the expert said.

Speaking about the dynamics of development of Central Asia, Akramjon Nematov especially emphasized that today the countries of the region are consistently resolving border, water-energy, transport-communications and other issues, which for many years have been sources of interstate tension and have hindered the development of the region’s potential.

Moreover, against the backdrop of broken supply chains, logistical difficulties, and energy challenges, countries began to strengthen industrial cooperation, implementing projects to produce passenger cars, household appliances, textiles and food products, and creating border trade and industrial zones and energy facilities. This opens up new opportunities for establishing the production of import-substituting products, ensuring the sustainability of industrial infrastructure and transport communications.

As a result, the region demonstrates high rates of economic growth. Over the past six years, its total GDP has doubled, the influx of foreign investment has increased by 45%, and intraregional trade has increased by 2.5 times. At the same time, economic growth forecasts remain among the highest in the world – at least 5%.

According to Akramjon Nematov, today Central Asia, based on the interests of regional stability, is forming its own agenda. It is open in nature, excludes a “zero-sum game”, is not directed against any state, and is aimed solely at ensuring the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.

At the same time, the states of the region, being an integral part of the pan-Eurasian security architecture, are fully aware of their responsibility for the stability of the Eurasian space. All Central Asian countries are pursuing a balanced, pragmatic foreign policy, jointly increasing the region’s subjectivity, its ability to independently determine the vectors of its development, and showing a strong political will to find joint solutions on regional issues.

This, stated the first deputy director of the ISMI, is evidenced by the results of the fifth summit of the heads of state of Central Asia in Dushanbe, where it was decided to establish a Council of National Coordinators designed to coordinate regional cooperation, and initiatives were also voiced to launch separate platforms for interaction on issues of energy, climate, security and transport , establish a regional economic council.

The ISMI representative also especially emphasized the importance of using the increased interest in Central Asia to fully unlock the region’s potential and transform it into a space of mutually beneficial cooperation and sustainable development, where everyone can find their interests. “This is in the fundamental interests of the Central Asian countries. This is confirmed by our rich historical experience of intercivilizational interaction, which helps in the current difficult situation to maintain constructive interaction with all participants in international relations. This is the most optimal sustainable model, in which global and regional connections will be multi-vector and multifaceted,” said the Deputy Director of the Institute.

“Central Asia can become one of the global platforms for a new inclusive dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect, trust, and constructive cooperation. People will come here for cooperation, not confrontation. The openness of Central Asia brings benefits for the long-term stability of Eurasia and acts as a guarantee of its stable development, resistance to the pressure of external factors, and therefore the security of the entire Eurasian space,” concluded Akramjon Nematov.