Central Asian Republics
Trade Facilitation and Investment Activities Evaluation

In October of 2001, USAID began a program in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan for increased Trade Facilitation and Investment (TF&I). The Pragma Corporation implemented this program with the goals of creating a legal and regulatory environment conducive to growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) within the region. In particular, the specific aims were to reduce investment constraints, modernize customs support, and aid with WTO accession and compliance. In August of 2003, a team comprised of member s from MSI and MetaMetrics Inc, evaluated the effectiveness of these activities. At the request of USAID, the team focused on modifications to the current Pragma project that would maximize resources for program impact on SME development.

The evaluation consisted of three members, Mr. Leo Surla, Team Leader, Karen Hiatt, Trade Facilitation Specialist, and Mr. Gorge L. Daly, RIC Specialist. The team conducted their evaluation during three and half weeks in August. Field visits were included and the team went to Almaty, Uralsk, Pavlodar, and Astana in Kazakhstan; Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan; Dushanbe and Khojand in Tajikistan; and Tashkent and Fergana in Uzbekistan. The field visits included interviews and workshops to gather information and create a participatory atmosphere.

The Team concluded that in year one of the project, Pragma was very successful in their goals. Pragma staffed their offices with host-county nationals, built a network of associations and removed 25 trade constraints. In year two, Pragma was able to remove 96 constraints in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyztan aided by land acquisition reform. In Kazakhstan, staff delivered workshops and trainings, thereby increasing internal capacity. In year three, each country had separate goals, but the overall focus shifted from a national sphere to local spheres. This included better border crossings, stronger associations, better regulation, cross-border trade, and WTO assistance.

Fortunately, since the TF&I activities had both trained and utilized Central Asian based personal, the participatory approach worked fantastically. The conclusions and recommendations flowed naturally from the process. The MSI/MetaMetrics Inc. Team concluded that each countries strategy was on target and that the "lessons learned" in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan could be used in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Certain themes emerged for recommendations for all four countries, despite each country's very specific needs. Firstly, high profile conferences on the challenge of removing trade constraints that hurt SME development were very effective. Secondly, business associations were a very practical and powerful way to create an atmosphere condusive to economic growth. Education, stakeholder participation and collaboration are all benefits of associations. Thirdly, harmonization of cross border trade standards would help facilitate cross-border trade amongst the countries. Lastly, for the WTO component, each country had very specific needs, but that if assistance was demanded, the USAID mission should help aid with any issues that arose.

U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports
The U.S. Department of State issues yearly reports on human rights practices throughout the world that also include recent histories and summaries of current political process. Go directly to the report for Kazakhstan.

Krygz Republic

U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports
The U.S. Department of State issues yearly reports on human rights practices throughout the world that also include recent histories and summaries of current political process. Go directly to the report for Krygz Republic.

Tajikistan

U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports
The U.S. Department of State issues yearly reports on human rights practices throughout the world that also include recent histories and summaries of current political process. Go directly to the report for Tajikistan.

Turkmenistan

U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports
The U.S. Department of State issues yearly reports on human rights practices throughout the world that also include recent histories and summaries of current political process. Go directly to the report for Turkmenistan.

Uzbekistan

U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports
The U.S. Department of State issues yearly reports on human rights practices throughout the world that also include recent histories and summaries of current political process. Go directly to the report for Uzbekistan.

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