International statistical cooperation

In the Regional Strategy Paper for Assistance to Central Asia for the period 2007-2013 focus cooperation with Central Asian States, the principal objectives of EC assistance over the period covered by this strategy are to:

-promote Central Asian regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;

-reduce poverty and increase living standards, in the context of the Millennium Development Goals;

-promote democratisation, human rights, good governance and economic reform.

The statistical cooperation is essential. The administrative and statistical capabilities should be strengthened to develop and implement sector strategies and policies consistent with national key objectives for poverty reduction and food security is a general priority for all the countries of the region, and will be applied in accordance with mutually agreed priorities, in coordination with other donors.

 

Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan)

EC supported statistical cooperation with this region has been developed since 1994/1995 under the TACIS programme. It has been structured by projects related to countries/regions started in 1994/1995 under the so called Tacis Small Projects Programme (SPP). This programme had the real Tacis' nature, i.e. was a know-how transfer instrument. 5 Central Asian partner countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) benefited from this cooperation programme. As assistance was mainly provided on a regional basis interaction among the Central Asian countries took place.

Programmes were designed on a two-year basis in 1997 (Statistics 3) and 1999 (Statistics 5), and on an annual basis in 2001 (Statistics 7), 2002 (Statistics 8), 2003 (Statistics 9), 2004 (Statistics 10 for Uzbekistan) and 2005 (Statistics 11). These programmes did and will contribute considerably to the reforming of the national statistical systems in the partner countries. The former 10 programmes have already finalised, while the latter one is under implementation in 2009-2010.