Құрметті Раимбек Ануарұлы, Мұрат Ратұлы,
Уважаемый Павел Владимирович,
Değerli Murat Soykan,
Dear guests,
I want to express my sincere appreciation for your essential role in the CICA Business Council and for meeting today. Your participation is vital as we navigate the upcoming changes.
First, I would like to acknowledge your significant contributions. Your efforts were instrumental in the success of our last meeting in Astana, which brought together over 140 participants from more than 20 CICA Member States.
In March 2024, the CICA Ministerial Council made a significant decision by appointing Azerbaijan as the Chairmanship for the 2024–2026 term, following Kazakhstan's term in 2020–2024. This decision reflects the complete confidence of the CICA Member States in Azerbaijan's commitment to promoting peace, stability, and cooperation across Asia. Azerbaijan will formally assume the Chairmanship at the CICA Ministerial meeting in Baku on 19 December this year. It will also lead key CICA bodies such as the Business Council and Youth Council.
In April, I visited Baku and held high-level meetings with the incoming Azerbaijani Chairmanship. My discussions with H.E. President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, and other officials confirmed Azerbaijan's strong commitment to strengthening the CICA process, especially at this pivotal moment as we work to transform CICA into a full-fledged intenational regional organization. I also had a productive meeting with Mr. Elnur Aliyev, the First Deputy Minister of the Economy, to explore ways to enhance cooperation within CICA, particularly for small and medium enterprises, through the CICA Business Council and Business Forum.
I welcome Mr. Orkhan Vidadi Oglu, the future Chair of the CICA Business Council, to today’s meeting.
Now, let me turn to organizational matters to prepare for the seventh plenary session of the CICA Business Council and the ninth Business Forum. Last November, the CICA Business Council decided, at the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic, to hold its next plenary session and Business Forum in Bishkek in the fourth quarter of 2024. During my visit to Bishkek in May, the Secretariat held detailed consultations with the Kyrgyz authorities on the arrangements, and we expected to receive confirmation of the dates and venue by the end of May.
However, on 11 September, we received a letter from our Kyrgyz colleagues suggesting rescheduling these events to 2025–2026. While we appreciate Kyrgyzstan's continued interest in hosting these key events, I propose we finalize the date and venue for the Business Council and Business Forum in 2024.
The upcoming changes in the composition of the CICA Business Council Board will impact the agenda for the seventh plenary session. It would be fitting for the current Chair of the Board to present a report on the Business Council's activities under the Kazakh Chairmanship from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, it is advisable to request a representative of Kazakhstan's Ministry of National Economy, in their capacity as a CICA Business Council member, to present the key achievements of Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship in CICA to the Business Council members.
In line with CICA's goal of becoming a significant pillar in the global and regional architecture for peace and development, the Secretariat proposes inviting the following international organizations to the next Plenary Session and Business Forum: the Islamic Development Bank, the Eurasian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, UN Women for Asia Pacific, UNESCAP, and UNESCWA. These organizations would be invited to share their insights on the agenda items approved last year by the CICA Business Council, including:
This list is subject to the consensus of all Member States.
Another essential matter to consider is the initiative to invite representatives of the Afghan business community to the following Business Forum. This idea emerged following my productive meeting with Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in January 2024.
This proposal received positive feedback from some CICA Member States during my visits to their capitals in 2024, including Russia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. Therefore, the draft concept paper for the upcoming Business Council plenary session and Business Forum includes the suggestion to invite Afghan business representatives.
The aim is to support the people of Afghanistan by utilizing platforms like the CICA Business Forum to enhance their trade and investment opportunities, regional cooperation, and connectivity. B2B contacts established at the CICA Business Forum could assist Afghan agricultural producers in selling their products and securing alternative sources of income. This support is crucial in light of Afghanistan's significant efforts to reduce opium poppy cultivation. Such initiatives would help alleviate the challenging economic situation in Afghanistan, indirectly affecting overall regional peace and security.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my deep appreciation to the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken," its Acting Chair of the Board, Mr. Raimbek Batalov, and the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan for their effective leadership of the CICA Business Council and their invaluable contribution to fostering cooperation among SMEs in the CICA Member States.
I rely on the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken" to continue actively advancing the Council's agenda, including intersessional activities, even after it steps down from the Chairmanship of the CICA Business Council.
Thank you.
17 September 2024, 11:30
Astana, Kazakhstan
