The work was carried out in groups in such areas as social development, climate and water, energy, and transport. Gazeta collected the participants’ proposals.

Social development

The group that outlined the goals for 2050 in the area of ​​social development views Central Asia as a region of unity and sustainable development. In a presentation, former director of the Talap applied research center Rahim Oshakbayev proposed harmonizing legislation, that is, bringing the norms of the Central Asian countries into line with each other so that they do not contradict each other and work in concert. This, according to him, will simplify interaction between the republics.

Rakhim Oshakbaev proposed creating a unified educational space and labor market, as well as a fund to support labor and professional mobility by 2030. As the specialist said, the Central Asian countries should develop unified educational standards and a system of unified diplomas, in which a university diploma from one country will be recognized in each of the five countries.

Participants emphasized that some professional skills are outdated and no longer in demand, while new competencies have not been included in educational programs. The group came up with an initiative to develop student and teacher exchange programs between countries. The possibility of creating a single register of in-demand professions and opening specialized faculties to eliminate the personnel shortage in the region was discussed.

Another initiative is the creation of a platform in the format of a marketplace, where job seekers post resumes, and organizations from Central Asia find and hire the necessary employees.

By 2050, a group of social development experts has proposed creating a single currency in the form of a cryptocurrency for Central Asian countries — something like the ECU (European Currency Unit) in the EU, which existed before the introduction of the euro. According to Rahim Oshakbayev, it could become a “common” instrument for settlements between countries in the region. The specialist emphasized that a single currency could support national currencies and ensure the sustainability of their economic growth.

The group also proposed creating by 2050:

• Central Asian Development Bank;
• A common parliament and a single legislative framework;
• Regional health insurance.

According to Rakhim Oshakbaev, it is necessary not to forget about regional identity, support projects in this direction and increase cultural exchange.

Climate and water

The climate and water group has proposed piloting cooperation on joint water management in two river basins by 2030. The specific basins have not yet been identified.

Experts note that the level of implementation of climate and water technologies in Central Asian countries remains uneven. In this regard, they propose creating a Regional Center for High Technologies in Agriculture and Water Management. As an interstate initiative, it will deal with forecasting, training and implementation of innovations. The center is expected to open up new opportunities for research in each country: from the use of satellite, drone and other modern technologies to joint training of personnel. It is also planned to hold consultations on the coordination of water and agricultural policies of the states of the region.

“This could become a point of unification and restoration of trust in the region,” one of the experts concluded.

The participants also discussed the possibility of synchronizing the Emergencies Ministry’s exercises to respond to natural and man-made disasters. Signing an intergovernmental agreement and creating a joint headquarters of the Emergencies Ministry of the countries of the region would allow for quick and coordinated action in emergency situations.

“We should not limit our efforts to ourselves. We need to coordinate our actions, especially in conditions when one country is experiencing flooding and another is experiencing drought,” was said during the discussion.

Interaction with Afghanistan turned out to be one of the most sensitive topics. Participants suggested considering the participation of Afghan specialists in the dialogue on the use of water resources. Experts believe that such a step could help stabilize the situation in the region and strengthen diplomatic relations.

Energy

Experts discussed the potential for creating a common energy space, investment funds and sustainable tariff mechanisms.

“In the Soviet Union, southern Tajikistan was fully supplied with electricity from neighboring regions. This model already existed. Now we just need to adapt it correctly,” said World Bank representative Daniyar Tamatov.

The group proposed creating an “energy ring” in Central Asia, within which tariffs and supply volumes would be agreed upon between countries. Turkmenistan, with its gas reserves, they believe, could be the starting point for this initiative.

Aziza Umarova, coordinator of the results management group of the Agency for Strategic Reforms (ASR), recalled the common energy system that existed in Soviet times, when the power grids of the Central Asian republics were united into a single network. According to her, this allowed for flexible distribution of electricity between countries, taking into account seasonal fluctuations and needs.

“We can take this example as a basis and adapt it to today’s realities. We can once again unite the energy sector of our region for common development,” said Aziza Umarova.

The former head of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of Kyrgyzstan (NISI) Aziz Kanatbek pointed out the need to create a clear and transparent system of payments for energy and resources within the region.

“We need an open market where tariffs, rules of the game and settlement mechanisms are clear,” he noted.

The discussion included a proposal to enshrine this at the legislative level, including mutual settlements between countries for the supply of gas, oil and electricity. Experts noted that this is a question of political trust, institutional building and the future of the interaction model.

“We have resources, we have needs, but there is no coordination. Until we establish transparent rules, we will remain in rhetoric, not in action,” said Aziz Kanatbek.

The group that developed the energy goals came up with the idea of ​​creating a Central Asian Investment Fund that could accumulate and distribute resources for the entire region.

An initiative has been put forward as a goal for 2050 to create a network of underground gas storage facilities (UGS) in Central Asia with a total capacity of 12-15 billion cubic meters to regulate seasonal supplies of natural gas, as well as:

• Increase the volume of the Gazli underground gas storage facility to 10 billion cubic meters;
• Reanimate the Sokh underground gas storage facility, which has an effective volume of 1.3 billion cubic meters;
• Build new underground gas storage facilities in the Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions of Uzbekistan with a total volume of 3-4 billion cubic meters;
• To attract private and public investments through the PPP mechanism.

The group’s proposals for expanding the regional gas transportation network included the following steps:

• Restore and modernize the Yangiyer-Sokh gas pipeline, which will make it possible to supply gas to the Sokh UGS facility, the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as a whole;
• To build the Mary-Gazli pipeline, which will make it possible to export Turkmen gas produced in the Galkynysh group of fields to countries in the region.

A proposal was made that Central Asian countries jointly process gas and jointly enter foreign markets.

Daniyar Tamatov raised the issue of the potential for a separate international summit, which could become a launching pad for discussing a unified energy and investment architecture for the region.

Transport and logistics

The experts discussed the prospects for developing regional transport infrastructure, standardizing freight transportation, and attracting private investment in this area. In their opinion, to turn Central Asia into a full-fledged transit hub, not only routes are needed, but also a coordinated policy, uniform standards, and a reliable legal framework. The first steps toward full integration of the region should be the elimination of trade barriers and the unification of transport standards. Work in this direction is proposed to begin this year. By 2026, a working group is planned to be created that will develop a regional strategy for the development of transport and trade.

“We discussed the transition to a single logic in documents. Independence should not mean isolation. On the contrary, it is a path to open interaction,” noted specialists from the “transport” group.

Particular attention is paid to the issue of private investment in transport infrastructure. Kazakhstan was cited as an example, where current legislation prohibits private ownership of railways. This automatically scares off potential investors.

“If there was an opportunity for at least long-term use, then investments would have already come,” noted one of the speakers.

The expert group proposes to strengthen cooperation between border agencies in 2026 to conduct inspections, collect and process data. By 2030, to harmonize standards related to environmental, sanitary, phytosanitary, veterinary standards, packaging and labeling of goods, product certification, and to create a Key Transport Infrastructure Development Fund that will finance the most important transport and logistics projects.

The European Union, as noted, serves as an example of systemic standardization. In the countries of Central Asia, such a level of harmonization is still only being discussed.

As Aziza Umarova noted, it is necessary to simplify the border crossing for citizens of Central Asian countries, the corridors should become freer. As an example, she cited relations with Kyrgyzstan, where the requirement to present a foreign passport upon entry and exit was recently abolished.

“We should treat citizens of other Central Asian countries as our own. In Uzbekistan, visiting tourist sites is cheaper for Uzbeks than for foreigners. I would like this to apply to neighbors as well, so that there is no division,” the ASR coordinator noted.

Participants in the foresight seminar, together with their teams, will spend the next few months refining their proposals, after which they plan to submit them to government agencies.

https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2025/06/04/foresight-central-asia/