28 October 2026 – Representatives of CICA Member States, CICA Business Council and SME support organizations gathered for the online presentation of the “SME Landscape in Asia: Interactive Guidebook”, underscoring a shared commitment to enhancing economic cooperation and knowledge exchange across the region.
In his opening remarks, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay reaffirmed CICA’s broader commitment to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes. He noted that this approach is best reflected in the Economic Dimension, which accounts for the largest share of practical cooperation with 34 events held throughout 2022–2026. In particular, he commended the key contributions of the CICA Business Council and Business Forum under the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan, as well as the fruitful partnership with the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Businesses, Investment and Export Promotion under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Within this framework, Ambassador Sarybay emphasized the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises in driving economic growth, innovation and resilience across Asia.
Moderated by Ambassador Raushan Yesbulatova, Coordinator for CICA Economic Dimension, the presentation highlighted the extensive teamwork involved in developing the publication. First presented in Baku in May 2025, the earlier version of the guidebook covered several countries represented on the Board of the CICA Business Council with the expanded digital resource now offering unified information across the entire CICA region.
Ambassador Yesbulatova emphasized that the guidebook, originally initiated by Secretary General Sarybay, serves as “practical bridge” connecting experiences, institutions and business communities across the continent. By consolidating national regulatory frameworks and support measures into a single interactive format, the publication offers a seamless alternative to consulting numerous separate sources.
During his further remarks, Secretary General Sarybay encouraged Member States to support the guidebook’s dissemination and further development. Welcoming the recent accession of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to CICA, he expressed hope that Vientiane’s experience in supporting SMEs would enrich future editions of the guidebook.
Secretary General Sarybay welcomed the participation of AQSIA in the presentation, underscoring the growing significance of women’s entrepreneurship for the region's economic development. In this regard, he highlighted the CICA Women Council as key mechanism for empowering female entrepreneurs and strengthening cross-dimensional collaboration between CICA Economic and Human dimensions.
During the discussion, representatives of Member States highly commended the relevance and practical value of the publication. Speaking as Chair of the CICA Business Council, representatives of Azerbaijan’s Agency for Development of Small and Medium Business, Investment and Export promotion highlighted the growing momentum of the Economic Dimension in strengthening direct business-to-business ties. The representative of Russia emphasized the importance of focusing on SME support as a key driver of economic sustainability. Representatives of Jordan and Türkiye welcomed the initiative as a valuable tool for enhancing regional connectivity, exchanging best practices, and fostering sustainable business collaboration across Asia.
