DUSHANBE, October 11, 2012, Asia-Plus -- The University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) organized a three day workshop for Kyrgyz civil servants on “Issues of Regional Economic Cooperation in Central Asia” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 10, 12, and 15 October.

Press release issued by UCA says the training followed IPPA’s 10 day training in Issyk – Kul, Kyrgyzstan, on trade policy and negotiations for 60 civil servants from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in August 2012.  Led by top Canadian trade negotiations experts from Carleton University, the training covered topics ranging from trade economics, trade barriers and tariff regimes, to international finance and international trade negotiation.

The three-day workshop in Bishkek focused on the energy and transport sectors of Kyrgyzstan and implications of development for regional trade; the challenges of Customs Union Accession by Kyrgyzstan; and the country’s export development strategy.  The workshop came as a response to the country’s need to build the capacity of civil servants to engage in relevant policy analysis in an economic environment increasingly conducive to regional synergies.

Representatives of ministries and state committees, business associations as well as independent experts and members of the non-government sector also participated in the workshop.

The trainings in Bishkek and Issyk – Kul are part of IPPA’s initiative to strengthen the knowledge of public servants on current developments and dynamics of national trade and regional economic cooperation issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan.  The project is supported by the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC).

IPPA aims to provide in-depth analyses of Central Asian economic policies and organize quality professional development opportunities for civil servants in the region. The Institute has produced and published a series of peer-reviewed original research papers on a broad range of topics dealing with social and economic issues, public administration and public policy as they relate to Central Asia and Afghanistan.