This report is the outcome of work conducted in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, within the framework of the Central Asia Invest programme co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for International Co-operation and Development (DG DEVCO) of the European Commission, and the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme under the authority of the Central Asia Initiative Steering Committee.
The report was written under the guidance of Andreas Schaal, Director of Global Relations, OECD; as well as William Tompson, Head of the Eurasia Division, OECD.
The work was led by Grégory Lecomte, Eurasia Division, OECD. The principal authors of the report are Arnault Prêtet, Marco Bianchini (lead author of the first chapter), Sebastian Kupferschmid and Olga Olson, Eurasia Division, OECD. Valuable research and drafting support was provided by Tabea Klang, Damiano Fior and Evgeniia Zherzdeva, Eurasia Division, OECD.
The report benefitted from further inputs provided by Marzena Kisielewska, Head of South East Europe Division, OECD (Chapters 2, 3, 4); Irène Hors, Head of Special Partnerships and New Initiatives Division, OECD (Chapter 2); Antonio Fanelli, Special Partnerships and New Initiatives Division, OECD (Chapter 1); Jean‑Francois Lengellé, Eurasia Division, OECD (Chapter 1); Professor Richard Pomfret, University of Adelaide (Chapter 1); Chiara Monticone, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs (Chapter 2); Kris Boschmans, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development (Chapter 2); Clément Brenot, South East Europe Division, OECD (Chapters 2, 3); Péline Atamer, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD (Chapter 3); Jovana Pavlovic, South East Europe Division, OECD (Chapter 3); Stuart Thompson, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development (Chapter 3); Jibran Punthakey, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development (Chapters 2, 3); Kateryna Obvintseva, Directorate for Education and Skills, OECD (Chapter 4); and Wouter Meester, Eurasia Division, OECD (Chapter 4).
In partner countries, the following stakeholders led their countries’ participation in all stages of the various country-projects: H.E. Yerbolat Dossayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Madina Abylkassimova, Vice Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan; H.E. Tolkunbek Abdygulov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan; Daniiar Imanaliev, Deputy Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan; Asel Uzagalieva and Asel Albanova, GIZ, Kyrgyzstan; H.E. Sergelen Purev, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia; Dashdorj Luvsandash, Citizen Participation and Economic Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia at the time of the peer review; Lakshmi Boojoo, Director of the Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center of Mongolia; H.E. Azim Ibrohim, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan; Saidrahmon Nazrizoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) of Tajikistan (2009-2017); Muhammad Murod Asludinov, MEDT of Tajikistan; H.E. Nodir Otajonov, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan; Mubin Mirzaev, Deputy Minister of Economy of Uzbekistan; Shukhrat Ismoilov, Deputy Minister of Economy of Uzbekistan (2015-2017); Azizbek Urunov, Head of Department for Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan.
The Directorate-General for International Co-operation and Development (DG DEVCO) of the European Commission financed this work and provided importance guidance and support, particularly Pierre Amilhat, Director; Raffaela Iodice, Head of F1 Unit; Frank Hess, Deputy Head of F1 Unit; Bérénice Muraille, Head of Sector, F1 Unit ; Anja Nagel, Head of Sector, F1 Unit; Thomas Boyer, Programme Manager, F1 Unit; Laure Dupin and Anna Berdach, former Programme Managers.
Editorial and visual support was provided by Sally Hinchcliffe, editor; Vanessa Vallée, Communications Manager, Global Relations, OECD; and Anne Gimenez, Communications Officer, Global Relations, OECD. Valuable administrative support was offered by Anna Chahtahtinsky, Mariana Tanova and Orla Halliday, OECD Eurasia Division.