DRAFT AGENDA

EU Central Asia Invest

Networking Meeting 2017 ENHANCING THE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND

STRENGTHENING BIOs IN CENTRAL ASIA

25, 26 October 2017

Rixos Almaty Hotel

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Co-funded by the

European Union

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OBJECTIVES OF THE EVENT

The EU Central Asia Invest (CAI) Networking Meeting

is a platform where the CAI Programme’s stakeholders

exchange knowledge and share experiences and

approaches to strengthening the role played by

business intermediary organisations (BIOs) in Central

Asia. It offers participants a unique chance to explore

common solutions to the challenges that BIOs and

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face in the

region.

WHO WILL BE THERE?

The CAI Networking Meeting will draw representatives

from:

• BIOs from Central Asia and from EU countries;

• government representatives from Central Asia;

• the European Commission’s DG DEVCO

(headquarters and EU delegations);

• the OECD Central Asia Initiative; and

• relevant development partners.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Participants will:

• benefit from others experience in implementing

on-going projects as part of the CAI;

• advocate key messages to policy makers in the

region about steps to improve the business

climate;

• find ways to better co-ordinate and create

synergies among projects; and

• increase the visibility of their work and have

multiple opportunities to network.

L ASIA What

WHAT IS THE CENTRAL ASIA

INVEST PROGRAMME?

Since 2007, the CAI Programme has helped to

stimulate and support SMEs’ competitiveness in

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and

Uzbekistan. To have as wide an impact as possible,

Central Asia Invest targets BIOs, which serve as advisors

and advocates for SMEs. The need for an enabling

policy environment is also recognised by the CAI

Programme, hence the close co-operation with the

OECD.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE OECD?

• The OECD supports the EU in organising the

CAI Networking Meeting.

• The OECD will also contribute to the CAI

Networking Meeting as it carries out a CAI

project, the “Investment and

Competitiveness in Central Asia – Phase III”.

WHY ALSO ATTEND EURASIA

WEEK?

The CAI Networking Meeting is taking place back to

back to OECD Eurasia Week 2017. OECD Eurasia Week

serves as a ministerial platform for a discussion on a

broad spectrum of thematic issues relevant to further

improving the region’s competitiveness. During OECD

Eurasia Week, the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness

Roundtable aims to carry out peer review and

knowledge sharing between OECD members, Eurasia

countries and partner organisations on the

implementation of reforms to foster competitiveness.

This year the Roundtable will focus on the peer review

of Uzbekistan and the monitoring of competitiveness

reforms in Tajikistan, both of which are part of the

OECD-EU (CAI) project “Investment and

Competitiveness in Central Asia – Phase III”.

NETWORKING MEETING CONTACTS:

Mr. Thomas Boyer Ms. Anja Nagel

Programme Manager Head of Sector Global Initiatives

EU Commission, DG DEVCO EU Commission, DG DEVCO

Mr. Grégory Lecomte Ms. Anna Chahtahtinsky

Project Manager Project Assistant

OECD Eurasia OECD Eurasia

If you have any enquiries, please write to: CAEUNetworking@oecd.org

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CAI PROJECTS: SCOPE, BIOs INVOLVED & COUNTRIES COVERED

Project BIOs Implementer KZ KG UZB TAJ TUR

Networking Intermediaries &

Competitive Enterprises in Tajikistan

and Kyrgyzstan (NICE-TAK)

• Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT)

• National Association of Small and Medium Businesses (NASMB)

• National Association of Business Women in Tajikistan (NABWT)

• Bishkek Business Club (BBC)

Sequa GmbH /

CESVI

Advanced Support Programme to

Central Asian Business Intermediary

Organisations – Specialised and

Integrated Services for Export-

Oriented Food Processing SMEs

• Association of Scientific and Technical Intelligentsia (ASTI)

• National Association of Small and Medium Business (NASMB)

• Training & Extension System (TES) Centre, Kyrgyzstan

• Association of Fruit and Vegetable Enterprises in Kyrgyzstan (AFVE)

• AgroLead Public Association, Kyrgyzstan

• Markazi Idorakunii Sifat (MIS) Public Consulting Organization, Tajikistan

• Neksigol Mushovir, Agriculture Promotion Public Organization, Tajikistan

Hilfswerk Austria

International (HWA)

Strengthening rural and community

tourism Business Intermediary

Organisations for Inclusive

Economic Development in Central

Asia

• Association of Private Tourism Agencies of Uzbekistan (ASR)

• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan (CCI Uzbekistan)

• Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association "Hospitality Kyrgyzstan"

• Ule Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA1)

• Tajik Community Based Tourism Association

• Tajik Association for Travel Organisation (TATO)

Stichting European

Centre for Eco and

Agro Tourism –

Nederland (ECEAT)

Strengthening Transport and

logistics BIOs in Central Asia

• Latvijas Stividorkompaniju Asociacija (LSA)

• CCI Uzbekistan

• Business Logistics Development Association in Uzbekistan (ADBL)

• Turkmen Association of International Road Carriers (THADA)

Centre for

Entrepreneurship and

Executive Development

– Bulgaria Foundation

(CEED)

Value chain competitiveness of

agro-business and food processing

SMEs through sustainable

development and eco-innovation in

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

• CCI Uzbekistan

• Association of Commercial and Industrial Enterprises of Kazakhstan (ACIE)

FORMAPER/

AGROCOMP

Professional Housing Management

in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

• National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan (Atameken)

• Association of the Organizations of Professionally Managing and Serving

Housing Funds in Uzbekistan (ASSOCIATION)

Housing Initiative for

Eastern Europe (IWO),

Germany

Central Asia Investment and

Competitiveness– phase III

• CCI Tajikistan

• CCI Kyrgyzstan

• CCI Uzbekistan

OECD

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EU CENTRAL ASIA INVEST NETWORKING MEETING

25 & 26 OCTOBER 2017

EURASIA WEEK

WEDNESDAY 25 October

EU CENTRAL ASIA INVEST NETWORKING MEETING

THURSDAY 26 October

LUNCH

Brasserie

OFFICIAL PHOTO

EURASIA

COMPETITIVENESS

ROUNDTABLE

(CENTRAL ASIA)

Peer Review of Uzbekistan –

Boosting SME

Internationalisation through

Better Export Promotion

Policies

Monitoring Review of

Tajikistan – Enhancing

Access to Finance for SMEs

and Increasing Export in

Agriculture

Ballroom 2

PLENARY SESSION: PEER SHARING

Sharing project insights and good practices

Ballroom 1

HOW TO IMPROVE

Co-ordination, visibility, impact

Ballroom 1

COFFEE

Ballroom 1

WELCOMING COCKTAIL

AND REGISTRATION

Fun Centre and Lobby

REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

WORKSHOPS

Devising key messages to enhance the business climate in Central Asia

Ballroom 1 and Diamond rooms

OPENING ADDRESS

Ballroom 1

DINNER AND FAREWELL

Lotus Restaurant

EURASIA NETWORKING

LUNCH

Lotus Restaurant

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WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2017

13.30 - 17.00 OECD EURASIA WEEK: OECD EURASIA COMPETITIVENESS ROUNDTABLE

The OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable was established in 2013 as a joint platform

between OECD members and Eurasia partner countries to carry out peer reviews on

competitiveness reform implementation. The Roundtable is chaired by H.E. Ms. Annika

Markovic, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD.

12.15 - 13.30

Lotus Restaurant EURASIA NETWORKING LUNCH

13.30 - 13.40

Ballroom 2

• Opening remarks by the Chair of the Roundtable

• Welcoming remarks by the European Union (DG DEVCO)

13.40 - 15.00

Ballroom 2

PEER REVIEW OF UZBEKISTAN (Co-funded by the European Union)

Boosting SME Internationalisation through Better Export Promotion Policies

Co-funded by the

European Union

● Opening Statement by H.E. Mr Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Trade, Uzbekistan (tbc)

● Overview of key recommendations:

o OECD Secretariat

o Mr. Sunatulla Bekenov, First Deputy Minister of Economy, Uzbekistan (TBC)

● Peer Reviewer Remarks

● Open discussion followed by final remarks from the Government of Uzbekistan

15.00 - 15.15 COFFEE

15.15 - 16.35

Ballroom 2

MONITORING REVIEW OF TAJIKISTAN (Co-funded by the European Union)

Enhancing Access to Finance for SMEs and Increasing Export in Agriculture

Co-funded by the

European Union

● Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Azim Ibrohim, Deputy Prime Minister, Tajikistan

● Discussion of key recommendations:

o OECD Secretariat

o H.E. Mr. Saidrakhmon Nazrizoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic

Development and Trade, Tajikistan

● Peer Reviewer Remarks

● Open discussion followed by final remarks by the Government of Tajikistan

16.35 – 16.45

Ballroom 2

• Closing remarks by the European Union (DG DEVCO)

• Final remarks by the Chair to conclude the Roundtable

16.45 – 17.00 COFFEE and CLOSING OF EURASIA WEEK

BEGINNING OF THE 2017 CAI NETWORKING MEETING

18.00 - 22.00

Fun Centre WELCOME COCKTAIL AND REGISTRATION

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THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2017

EU CENTRAL ASIA INVEST NETWORKING MEETING

The OECD will support the moderation of the event.

8.30 - 9.00 WELCOME COFFEE

9.00 - 9.30

Ballroom 1

OPENING ADDRESS

Introduction and expectations

• H.E. Mr. Traian Larentiu Hristea, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to

Kazakhstan (TBC)

• Ms. Madina Abylkassymova, Vice Minister of National Economy, Kazakhstan

• Mr. Daniiar Imanaliev, Deputy Minister of Economy, Kyrgyzstan

• Mr. Saidrahmon Nazrizoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and

Trade, Tajikistan

9.30 - 11.15

Ballroom 1

PLENARY SESSION: PEER SHARING

Sharing project insights and good practices

CAI stakeholders will share project achievements, challenges and solutions. Projects are

clustered by good project management practices and tools, based on inputs collected

through exchanges and a survey to participants. This will allow for CAI stakeholders to present

their projects and discuss ways of working with BIOs in Central Asia.

9.45-10.30

PANEL 1 – Promoting Public-Private Dialogue

Introduction and moderation by Mr. Maciej Madalinski, Head of Cooperation Section, EU

Delegation to Tajikistan

Speakers:

• Mr. Fiorenzo Sperotto, SEQUA

• Mr. Johann Strese, PROHOUSE

• Ms. Asel Albanova, GIZ

Discussion with the audience

10.30-11.15

PANEL 2 – Enhancing Trade and Transport Linkages

Introduction and moderation by Mr. Thomas Boyer, Programme Manager, DG DEVCO, EU

(TBC)

Speakers:

• Mr. Naut Kusters, ECEAT

• Mr. Nikolay Yarmov, CEED

• Mr. Armen Zargaryan, ITC

Discussion with the audience

11.15-11.45 COFFEE BREAK

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11.45-12.30 PANEL 3 - Building BIOs capacities for better services to SMEs

Introduction and moderation by Ms. Anja Nagel, Head of Sector: Global Initiative, EU, DG

DEVCO

Speakers:

• Mr. Umed Aslanov, Hilfswerk Austria

• Mr. Carlos Talamas, FORMAPER

• Mr. Filippo Crivellaro, CESVI

Discussion with the audience

12.30 – 12.45 SUMMARY

12.45 – 14.00

Brasserie

OFFICIAL PHOTO

LUNCH

14.00 - 15.30

Ballroom 1 and

Diamond rooms

WORKSHOPS (BREAK-OUT GROUPS)

Devising key messages to enhance the business climate in Central Asia

Vertical co-ordination between the CAI projects and the policy component is of primary

important to maximise the impact of the CAI programme for all stakeholders, and to present

key messages on the business climate to policy-makers in Central Asia.

Three break-out groups will be organised according to the priority business climate topics

identified in the survey: (i) taxation and business regulations; (ii) access to finance and

technology; (iii) trade facilitation and logistics. Each group will appoint a rapporteur and

report to the plenary. The key messages will be conveyed afterwards to the various

governments by the OECD, building on the workshops’ minutes and on the inputs given in

the survey.

14.30 - 15.15

BREAK OUT GROUPS ON SELECTED BUSINESS CLIMATE ISSUES

Co-animated by the EU Delegations in the region and by the OECD

1) Taxation and Business Regulations

• Ms. Zulfia Davlatbekova, Programme Manager, EU Delegation to Tajikistan

2) Access to Finance and Technology

• Mr. Carl Frosio, Project Manager, EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan

3) Trade Facilitation and Regional Logistics

• Mr. Elbek Khodjaev, Project Manager, EU Delegation to Uzbekistan

15.15 – 15.45 COFFEE

15.45 - 16.00 REPORTING TO THE PLENARY

Mr. Thomas Boyer, Programme Manager, DG DEVCO, EU

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16.00 - 17.15

Ballroom 1

PLENARY SESSION: HOW TO IMPROVE

Co-ordination, visibility, impact

16.00 – 16.15 INTRODUCTION and MODERATION

• Mr. Johannes Stenbaek Madsen, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Delegation to

Kazakhstan

• Mr. Grégory Lecomte, Project Manager, OECD Eurasia

16.15 - 17.15

3 KEY QUESTIONS TO BE ADRESSED BY THE AUDIENCE

1. How to better co-ordinate between projects?

Key ideas included: establishing mechanisms to coordinate projects, organising follow-up

networking meetings and setting up joint databases. This session will help to explore these

ideas and how to put them into practice.

2. How to enhance interactions between CAI grant and policy components?

To draw the link between the policy and the project levels, CAI stakeholders asked for more

frequent common conferences and roundtables. CAI project managers called for Central

Asian government officials to be more involved. This session will elaborate on ways to

increase reach to governments.

3. How to improve projects’ visibility in the eyes of governments of Central Asia?

CAI stakeholders will discuss ideas on how their projects may increase their visibility and their

impact, for instance by organising events with external stakeholders beyond their direct

beneficiaries, involving the media, and disseminating information on the project’s activities.

17.15-17.30

Ballroom 1 CLOSING REMARKS

• H.E. Mr. Traian Larentiu Hristea, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to

Kazakhstan (TBC)

19.00 – 22.00

Lotus Restaurant DINNER AND FAREWELL

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DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Networking Intermediaries & Competitive

Enterprises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (NICE-

TAK)

• Project Managers: Fiorenzo Sperotto, Daniel

Thomann (SEQUA); Filippo Crivellaro (CESVI)

• BIOs:

o Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT);

o National Association of Small and

Medium Businesses (NASMB);

o National Association of Business

Women in Tajikistan (NABWT);

o Bishkek Business Club (BBC)

NICE-TAK promotes and supports networking

intermediaries and competitive enterprises, and

therefore has a number of BIOs involved to

advance the development of the private sector on

both the macro and meso-levels in Tajikistan and

Kyrgyzstan. SEQUA assists the chosen BIOs in

developing common platforms and networks with

public authorities to establish policies in their

favour. In addition, the BIOs from both countries

have the possibility to exchange good practices

and network amongst one another to enhance

their capacities and develop income-generating

tools. It is thus a demand-driven process aiming to

respond to the needs of the involved BIOs.

Advanced Support Programme to Central Asian

Business Intermediary Organisations:

Specialised and Integrated Services for Export-

Oriented Food Processing SMEs

• Project Managers: Umed Aslanov; Stoyanka

Manolcheva

• BIOs:

o Association of Scientific and Technical

Intelligentsia (ASTI)

o National Association of Small and

Medium Businesses (NASMB);

o Training & Extension System (TES)

Centre, Kyrgyzstan

o Association of Fruit and Vegetable

Enterprises of Kyrgyzstan (AFVE)

o AgroLead Kyrgyzstan

o Markazi Idorakunii Sifat (MIS);

o Neksigol Mushovir

The Advanced Support Programme to Central

Asian Business Intermediary Organizations focuses

on providing specialised and integrated services to

export-oriented fruit and vegetable processing

SMEs. This in turn strengthens the institutional and

technical capacities of the SMEs and involved BIOs.

In addition this process fosters a scientific-

entrepreneurial network between the European

Union and the Central Asian BIOs.

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Strengthening Rural and Community Tourism

Business Intermediary Organisations for

Inclusive Economic Development in Central

Asia

• Project Manager: Naut Kusters

• BIOs:

o Association of Private Tourism

Agencies of Uzbekistan (ASR);

o Chamber of Commerce and Industry

of Uzbekistan (CCI);

o Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism

Association "Hospitality Kyrgyzstan"

(KCBTA);

o Ule Kazakhstan Tourist Association

(KTA1);

o Tajik Community Based Tourism

Association;

o Tajik Association for Travel

Organisation (TATO)

This project supports rural and community based

tourism organisations in Central Asia. This shall

foster economic development in the region, aided

by the project’s wide geographic presence, in

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The organisation thus makes use of its gained

expertise to promote capacity building in rural

community tourism in the BIOs of CA. With its

geographic presence, regional cooperation

improves and best practice may be exchanged.

Additionally linkages between Central Asian and

European Union BIOs occur, which simultaneously

benefits Central Asian SME’s.

Strengthening Transport and Logistics BIOs in

Central Asia

• Project Manager: Nikolay Yarmov

• BIOs:

o Latvijas Stividorkompaniju Asociacija

(LSA);

o Chamber of Commerce and Industry

of Uzbekistan (CCI);

o Business Logistics Development

Association in Uzbekistan (ADBL);

o Turkmen Association of International

Road Carriers (THADA)

The Strengthening Transport and Logistics BIOs in

Central Asia Project, implemented in

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, aims to support

and train local Uzbek and Turkmen BIOs and

SMEs. The main purpose is to aid the BIOs and

SMEs in the logistics of their supply chain, in

creating jobs and training staff, storing and

distributing goods. This occurs through the

institutional support of business associations that

engage in related fields and can support in

increasing the competitiveness of the selected

BIOs. The ultimate goal is to stimulate SME

growth and expand Central Asian exports through

providing trade related and investment

promoting technical assistance.

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Value Chain Competitiveness of Agro-Business

and Food Processing SMEs through Sustainable

Development and Eco-Innovation in Uzbekistan

and Kazakhstan (AGROCOMP)

• Project Manager: Carlos Talamas

• BIOs:

o Chamber of Commerce and Industry

of Uzbekistan (CCI);

o Association of commercial and

industrial enterprises of Kazakhstan

(ACIE)

The project Value chain competitiveness of agro-

business & food processing SMEs through

sustainable development and eco-innovation is

being carried out in six separate regions spread

across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. FORMAPER has

own projects in Italy, of which it draws experiences

in providing its unique services. The project

promotes the sustainable and eco-innovative

production of food processing enterprises. This in

turn fosters the value chain competitiveness of the

involved SMEs. The services provided are amongst

others, project cycle management including

monitoring and evaluation of the single projects;

training; as well as gender awareness classes,

accommodating psychological counselling for

women would-be entrepreneurs from rural areas.

Professional Housing Management in

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (PROHOUSE)

• Project Managers: Johann Strese; Knut

Hoeller

• BIOs:

o National Chamber of

Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan

(Atameken);

o Housing Ministry of the Republic

of Uzbekistan;

o Association of the Organizations

of Professionally Managing and

Serving Housing Funds in

Uzbekistan (ASSOCIATION)

The PROHOUSE project is being implemented

in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The

overall goal of the project is to strengthen

companies which are based in the housing

sector of the two countries. The focus is thus

to exchange good practices in the areas of

housing management and energy efficient

refurbishment. To improve this process all

stakeholders transfer knowledge and

experiences in the sector. Successful project

ideas and results, also through this exchange,

may be disseminated and promoted.

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OECD Central Asia Investment and

Competitiveness - Phase III

• Project Manager: Grégory Lecomte

The project helps governments in Central Asia to

design, implement and monitor policies to

enhance competitiveness. It thereby works at the

regional and country level. At the regional level,

the Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable serves as

a platform for policy dialogue where OECD

members and Eurasia partner countries jointly

conduct peer reviews and monitor the

implementation of competitiveness reforms.

Country-specific support provided by the project

includes: the assessment and recommendations of

selected competitiveness policies; the creation of

an in-country public-private consultative

mechanism; and country-specific workshops to

prepare for peer review and monitoring.