Assessing the Potential of Trade Along the Proposed Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand Economic Corridor


Book Description

This publication covers the review and assessment of existing and potential of trade in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan along the proposed Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand Economic Corridor (STKEC). The assessment explores the transit of international goods in the three cities and oblasts (administrative regions) in STKEC and trade regimes in the three countries. The publication also identifies and analyzes existing barriers and opportunities for trade expansion. It provides policy recommendations for trade improvement under the framework of the STKEC development.




Assessing the Potential of Trade Along the Proposed Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor Development


Book Description

This report covers the review and assessment of trade in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan along with the potential for development of the proposed Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor (STKEC). The assessment explores the transit of international goods in cities and oblasts (administrative divisions or regions) in STKEC and and trade regimes in the three countries. The report also identifies and analyzes existing barriers and opportunities for trade expansion. It provides recommendations for various stakeholders on policy measures for improvement under the framework of the STKEC development.




A Road Map for Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand Economic Corridor Development


Book Description

Economic corridor development (ECD) is pursued by developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank to spur economic growth. In Central Asia, ECD is being piloted as potential is immense but remains largely untapped. This publication provides a road map for developing the Shymkent–Tashkent–Khujand Economic Corridor (STKEC) connecting Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It proposes specific action plans for six intertwined thematic areas. An institutional framework to operationalize the STKEC development is also presented, along with possible investment projects in bordering cities and oblasts of the three countries.




Asian Economic Integration Report 2019/2020


Book Description

The Asian Economic Integration Report is an annual review of economic cooperation and integration that covers the 49 members of ADB in Asia and the Pacific. It documents progress made in trade and global value chains, cross-border investment, financial integration, the movement of people, and subregional cooperation. The theme chapter of this year’s report explores the potential of technology to boost productivity in aging economies. It also discusses how innovations can help turn demographic challenges into opportunities.







Borderless Bazaars and Regional Integration in Central Asia


Book Description

Bazaars in Central Asia play a major role in regional and national chains of production and distribution. This type of cross-border trade benefits particularly the poor, by keeping prices low and creating jobs also for women.




Infrastructure for Asian Connectivity


Book Description

This book addresses the prospects and challenges concerning both soft and hard infrastructure development in Asia and provides a framework for achieving Asian connectivity through regional infrastructure cooperation towards a seamless Asia. Key topics included are: ' demand estimates of national and regional infrastructure in transport, electricity, information and communication technology, and water and sanitation; ' empirical results on the costs and benefits of regional infrastructure for economies and households; ' the impact of infrastructure development on the environment and climate; ' sources and instruments of infrastructure financing; ' best practices and lessons learned from the experiences of the Asian region and other regions; and ' experiences of public_private partnership projects. This insightful book will serve as a definitive knowledge product for policymakers, academics, private sector experts and infrastructure practitioners interested in the regional and national infrastructure demand, investment and benefits in the region. Concerned officials from private and public sectors, and other experts involved in environmental and natural resources studies will also find this compendium invaluable.




Eurasian Cities


Book Description

This report responds to pressing questions for policymakers in Eurasian cities and national governments. Faced with changing economic circumstances and a reorientation of trade toward Europe and Asia, will Eurasia's cities be able to adjust? Will some cities be granted the flexible regulations and supportive policies necessary for growth? And will some be permitted to shrink and their people assisted in finding prosperity elsewhere in the region? Even as Eurasian cities diverge, they face shared challenges. Policymakers have a key role in assisting spatial restructuring, particularly in addressing imperfect information and coordination failures. They can do so by rethinking cities, better planning them, better connecting them, greening them and finding new ways to finance these changes. Eurasian cities will also have to find the right balance between markets and institutions to become sustainable. As the World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography illustrates, Eurasia (excluding Russia) is a 3D region- a region with low density, long distance, and many divisions. Securing accessibility to leading regional markets such as China, India, and Russia is thus critical. This will require key institutions to be developed to unite the countries, key connective infrastructures to be established between domestic and regional markets, and targeted interventions to be undertaken to compensate countries for short-term losses from this deepened economic integration. Policymakers at the highest levels in these countries should put accessibility at the top of their agendas.




The African Continental Free Trade Area: Potential Economic Impact and Challenges


Book Description

Political momentum towards Africa-wide free trade has been intensifying. In March 2018, over 40 countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Once fully implemented, the AfCFTA is expected to cover all 55 African countries, with a combined GDP of about US$2.2 trillion. This SDN takes stock of recent trade developments in Sub-Saharan Africa and assesses the potential benefits and costs of the AfCFTA, as well as challenges to its successful implementation. In addition to increased trade flows both in existing and new products, the AfCFTA has the potential to generate substantial economic benefits for African countries. These benefits include higher income arising from increased efficiency and productivity from improved resource allocation, higher cross-border investment flows, and technology transfers. Besides lowering import tariffs, to ensure these benefits, African countries will need reduce other trade barriers by making more efficient their customs procedures, reducing their wide infrastructure gaps, and improving their business climates. At the same time, policy measures should be taken to mitigate the differential impact of trade liberalization on certain groups as resources are reallocated in the economy and activities migrate to locations with comparatively lower costs.




World Development Indicators 2015


Book Description

World Development Indicators 2015 World Development Indicators 2015 provides a compilation of relevant, highquality, and internationally comparable statistics about global development and the fight against poverty. It is intended to help policymakers, students, analysts, professors, program managers, and citizens find and use data related to all aspects of development, including those that help monitor progress toward the World Bank Group’s two goals of ending poverty and promoting shared prosperity. Six themes are used to organize indicators—world view, people, environment, economy, states and markets, and global links. As in past editions, World Development Indicators reviews global progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and provides key indicators related to poverty. WDI 2015 includes: * A selection of the most popular indicators across 214 economies and 14 country groups organized into six WDI themes * Thematic and regional highlights, providing an overview of global development trends * An in-depth review of the progress made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals * A user guide describing resources available online and on mobile apps A complementary online data analysis tool is available this year to allow readers to further investigate global, regional, and country progress on the MDGs: data.worldbank.org/mdgs. Each of the remaining sections includes an introduction; six stories highlighting specific global, regional or country trends; and a table of the most relevant and popular indicators for that theme, together with a discussion of indicator compilation methodology. WDI DataFinder Mobile App Download the WDI DataFinder Mobile App and other Data Apps at data.worldbank.org/apps. WDI DataFinder is a mobile app for browsing the current WDI database on smartphones and tablets, using iOS, Android, and Blackberry, available in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Chinese. Use the app to: * browse data using the structure of the WDI * visually compare countries and indicators * create, edit, and save customized tables, charts, and maps * share what you create on Twitter, Facebook, and via email