Activity under preparation Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Contract related to: Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor - Under the MIP 2014-2020, the EU has financed a number of regional ¿prosperity¿ programmes supporting policy reforms[1], addressing trade facilitation bottlenecks and assisting SMEs to trade internationally[2]. In addition, the EU provided finance facilities[3] to help SMEs through project (co-)financing and advice. These complementary and mutually reinforcing actions succeeded to promote a series of policy reforms, which already contributed to improve statutory conditions for business in Central Asia. These programmes also offered important visibility opportunities for the EU with different key constituencies, including decision makers, trade associations, SMEs, international development banks, and consumers/citizens. For example, at macro-level, the follow up work to the first in-person EU-Central Asia Economic Forum, held in 2021, is helping to monitor the progress and steer large-scale reforms (e.g. business climate, connectivity). In between Economic Forum meetings (the next one to be held on 18-19 May in Almaty), a highly demanded technical assistance has been provided to the governments to accurately implement these policy reforms using the latest international best practices. The Info Trade Central Asia Gateway, a network of interconnected trade portals, is set to become a practical tool for both traders to comply with export/import rules along the Trans-Caspian corridor and for the authorities to eliminate non-tariff barriers, impeding swift trans-border movement of goods. Finally, a series of cutting-edge digital solutions have been launched to stimulate business connections and increase economic ties between the EU and Central Asia (e.g. B2B virtual marketplace, CA trade academies, individual business coaching). Capitalising on these achievements, this Prosperity Central Asia programme will direct EU¿s assistance in a Team Europe spirit to address ongoing and emerging challenges: the need for further improvement of business environments and mobilisation of investments for the green transition. Besides, opening and efficiency of new trade routes between Central Asia and the EU will depend on the deepening of regional integration, both in terms of infrastructure and harmonisation of regulatory standards. The true value added of the EU assistance will be gained by ensuring closer monitoring/benchmarking of the evolution in the business climate (both legislation and implementation), inspiring and providing practical solutions for regional integration (e.g. though digitalisation), enhancing trade and transport connectivity, cross-border cooperation, and supporting SMEs in addressing challenges to private sector development arising from issues such as climate change, the role of women in the economy, and digitalisation.[1] Central Asia Invest (CAI [4th phase; 4.8M EUR; OECD]): https://eu-cai.org/ [2] Ready for Trade (R4T [15M EUR, ITC]): https://intracen.org/our-work/projects/central-asia-ready4trade-r4tca [3] SME Finance facility CA [implemented by EBRD].