The United Nations will establish a regional center dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia’s nations and Afghanistan.

Fergana news agency, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, says the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on March 4, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which initiated the proposal.

The center will be based in Almaty.  Previously, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested housing it within the newly constructed International Organizations building, which already hosts 18 UN agencies.

The Kazakh President’s Administration in Akorda described the adoption of the resolution as a “significant foreign policy achievement for Kazakhstan.”

“The head of state expressed gratitude to all partners for supporting Kazakhstan’s initiative.  The president believes that the UN Regional Hub will serve as a key platform for coordinating international efforts in the region,” the Kazakh president’s official website stated.

President Tokayev reportedly first proposed the creation of a regional SDG center in Almaty during his address at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2019.  He reiterated this proposal at the 77th session and again in 2023, emphasizing the need to increase UN-led humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Reports indicate that the center will operate “with active involvement from UN structures” and will focus on fostering regional collaboration in industry, engineering, and agriculture.