To foster economic cooperation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States (US) inaugurated the B5+1 business platform on Nov. 16, announced the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) on its X official account.
The B5+1 initiative, operating within the framework of the existing C5+1 cooperation, will prioritize economic security by promoting regional economic integration, implementing reforms, fostering public-private dialogue, encouraging innovation, and attracting foreign investment to the member countries.
The inaugural meeting under the newly established business platform will take place in Almaty next year.
Director of the Center for Accountable Investment at the Center for International Private Enterprise Eric Hontz highlighted Central Asia as one of the most undercapitalized middle-income regions globally. Stressing the need for substantial investments, particularly in infrastructure such as railways and road connections in cities like Almaty, Bishkek, and Tashkent, Hontz welcomed the B5+1 business initiative. He underscored the potential for the US to assume a leading role in facilitating economic integration in the region.
Source : Astana