The EDB and the ESCAP to Launch an Experience-Sharing Project for Energy Professionals from Central Asia
Almaty, April 16, 2025. — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), is launching an experience-sharing project for the energy professionals from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Named "Supporting Sustainable Energy Development in Central Asia by Expanding Sub-Regional and Cross-Country Cooperation Through the Exchange of Competencies and Knowledge," the project is being implemented with the financial support from the ESCAP and the EDB Technical Assistance Fund.
The project focuses on sharing experience in the field of modern methods of operational and supervisory management of power systems. The project will be launched in 2025 and involve 170 professionals from Central Asia. The project aims at improving the skills of dispatch office personnel, boosting the efficiency of energy system management and strengthening cross-country communications in the region.
Evgeny Vinokurov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Economist of the EDB, noted: "Central Asian economies are growing at 6% yearly. To do that, they need not only larger volumes of electric power but also stability of supply. Energy systems, working in parallel mode, increase their efficiency at the national level and manage spikes of demand, thus ensuring stable supply of electric power. Moreover, cooperation leads to less carbon emissions as an important by-product. Our project not only contributes to the experts' professional growth, but also lays foundations for long-term cooperation between the countries of the region."
"This joint project of the ESCAP and the EDB serves as an example of the implementation of the recently updated memorandum of understanding signed by these organizations. For the ESCAP, the Central Asian region - a union of 5 landlocked developing countries - is one of the priorities. We will continue to implement projects aimed at strengthening cooperation and achieving sustainable development in this region, with the participation of reliable partners such as the EDB," said Nikolay Pomoshchnikov, Officer-in-Charge of the ESCAP Subregional Office for North and Central Asia.
This project is part of the EDB's key investment megaproject "Water and Energy Complex of Central Asia", and is aimed at developing energy cooperation in the region and contributing to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 7: Ensure Universal Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for All.
Additional Information: The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For more than 18 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By 2025, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 305 projects with a total investment of US $16.5 billion. The Bank's portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. The Bank’s operations are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. It is the largest of the UN’s five regional economic commissions in terms of geographic coverage and population size. Established in 1947 with its headquarters in Bangkok, ESCAP promotes cooperation among its 53 member states. The main areas of work of the Commission include environmental protection, natural resource management, investment cooperation, trade, energy, and transport.
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