Ashgabat: Rovnag Abdullayev, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Economy, participated in the 20th meeting of the Governing Council of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The meeting was chaired by Babaniyaz Yalakov, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, and included delegates from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and SPECA member countries.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Abdullayev emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to enhancing both bilateral and multilateral ties with Central Asian nations. He outlined key areas for regional development, including partnerships in transport and transit, trade, energy, investment, and digitalization.

Abdullayev also discussed Azerbaijan's initiatives to develop the Middle Corridor and improve transport and communication links. He highlighted the significance of joint investment funds with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan to support collaborative projects.

The meeting concluded with the approval of the SPECA Economic Forum's final document and reviewed the SPECA Work Plan for 2024-2025. Reports from the working groups were presented, and the SPECA Work Plan for 2026-2027 was approved. The Kyrgyz Republic was elected as Chair of the SPECA Programme for 2026.

During SPECA Week, Abdullayev attended the second meeting of the SPECA Fund Steering Committee, describing the establishment of the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund as a crucial step toward fostering regional cooperation. Discussions centered on the fund's establishment and future actions, culminating in the adoption of the SPECA MPTF Financing Strategy and the first Call for Proposals.