Implications of intensified globalization in Central Asia: centrifugal vs. centripetal trends

Summary

The consequences of state of affairs in the post communist world and new trends in the globalizing Central Asia are analyzed. The efforts of the countries of the region are integrated through the prism of the recent reforms conducted in the new age. Within the scope of the article centrifugal and centripetal forces driving these countries are studied. Recent opening of the countries to the larger world community by the tackling the diverse problems are noteworthy. Since 2016 new age of relations are being conducted in the region where formerly economic and political competition was prevalent. By the start of the 21^st century new format of infrastructural changes is in progress. The fact that the regional countries are deepening the reforms, many structural reforms are undergoing.

Highlights: desertification in Central Asia, drop irrigation, nuclear, pipeline, water, development, implications of Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

In the following article, I apply the comparative approach based on the empirical data of the crosscountry development in Central Asia (CA), the democratic activities in the region. It was revealed that the immense amounts of the technical and financial assistance was offered to the enterprises in the region including private and public. A new study identifies recent wind of changes, challenges and opportunities to help CA countries to diversify their economy, boost their infrastructural capabilities given as a historical chance (Frankopan P. (2015) The Silk Roads: A new history of the world. -London, Bloomsbury, 2015. -P. 636). This revision provides a primary analysis of data and follows the actualities of the work of organizations dealing with the human development issues in the CA countries following the path laid in the framework of activities of international organizations (Bourginon F. How the rich get richer as the poor catch up. Foreign affairs. January / February 2016. Volume 95(1). -Washington. -P. 11-15.). I argue that the achieved model can be modified more in order to achieve more profits (composed of several factors: development, promotion, strategy, legal, human rights, environment, assistance, project, dialogue, cooperation, sustainable). The paper tries to track and continue the trend in the change of centrifugal tendencies to be substituted by centripetal. The constantly growing tendency in interest by the global organizations, transnational corporations, mainly Fortune-500 companies in CA.

Keywords: Development, promotion, strategy, human, climate, environment, assistance, project, dialogue, cooperation, Sustainable Development Goals.

Introduction

Central Asia has a centuries-old tradition of blending Europe and Asia together. Situated at the crossroads between the two continents and the states of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have renewed this role for the region. 2019 is a crucial year for boosting democratic tendencies in CA, taking stock of the experience to deliver a contribution to implementing the European Union-CA Strategy. Uzbekistan's successful sale of USD 1 billion Eurobond sale in February 2019 is the most important news of the year, the case which was inspired by other countries of the region such as the sale of those by Tajikistan in 2017 and by Kazakhstan in 2018. All these countries are going out of the shadows. Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are also intending to issue Eurobonds. Countries of the region have a tendency of attracting FDIs, the flow tourists showing upward trend in the growing globalization. The changes in the investment environment in the region shows the improvement in the ranking of these countries in the Doing business Uzbekistan had the 69^th, Tajikistan 105^th Kazakhstan 25^thand Kyrgyzstan 80^th position

Central Asia is a landlocked region in which almost half of the population lives in urban settlements; the fertile Fergana Valley, has been counted among the most densely populated parts of Central Asia. From the immemorial times this region was always coveted by superpowers starting with the Cyrus the Great and ending with Bolsheviks. Since their independence in 1991, the governments have largely maintained their Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production, prices, and access to foreign currency. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify crops, agriculture of the region remains largely centered on cotton which has tendency to diversify.

1. The objective of the study is to study the recent trends in human development in CA

Materials and methods. Statistical and comparative methods.

Massive desertification processes are intensifying in the region highlighting the need to eliminate the communist approach to resources, which dictated the subduing the nature, the practice which turned to be miscalculation ending in the Aral Sea catastrophe. The communist approach to resources ended with the massive climate changes, diminishing glaciers of the region. Mass sand and salt storms of May 2018 in Nukus, Urgench cities of Uzbekistan, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan lead to the launch of project in December 2018 of planting saxaul trees (Haloxylon ammodendron) in the former seabed of Aral Sea having a target of 500000 hectares, increasing the plant cover of the sea serving to the decrease of the hazardous sand storms. Uzbekistan is increasing the use of water saving technologies promoting the drop irrigation. The President of Uzbekistan suggested establishing a Zone of Ecologic innovations and technologies in the Aral Sea basin which will promote “Green economy”. Uzbekistan's initiative on the organization of trust fund based on the multilateral partnership in human security was accepted by the UN. Countries of the region always advocate for consideration and resolution of water- related and environmental problems in CA on the basis of norms of international law.

Uzbekistan is intending to increase the lands under drop irrigation which has an established target of at least 10 percent. All these countries are benefitting the energy and water saving projects supported by WB and its partners: governments, and other institutions which in the end should help to reach the sustainable levels of human development. In Uzbekistan growth has been driven primarily by state - led investments, and export of natural gas, gold, and textiles provides a significant share of foreign exchange earnings. Recently, lower global commodity prices and economics diminishing in neighboring Russia and China have impacted Uzbekistan's trade and investment. Aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government is taking incremental steps to reform the business sector and address impediments to foreign investment in the country.

2. Methodology

Regardless of theoretical advances in the works on Central Asia, there remains a shortage of methodological reflection. In one of the few studies to explore this problem, Svante E.Cornell et al. (2018) conceptualize Central Asia in terms of implications of intensified globalization in and their impact in centrifugal and centripetal direction. Whereas Bourginon F. (2016) records that the rich get richer as the poor catch up in the societies of the developing world. From the economic values, cultural orientations and contemporary issues Frankopan P. (2018, p.226), Walsh, B.A. et al. (2017) propose that more usefully encompass the discourses that represent these regional elements: national, regional and supranational establishments. It is likely to apply these groupings to study of the Central Asian component, that is, how these components and levels are established in relation to treatises of CA, to regional aspect, and to definite socio-economic, and political questions. This extends the scope of study away from the production of accounts, towards the important exchanges and gradual formations in CA.

Certainly, these formations intersect and it is vital to observe such junctures. For instance, Development is a possibly important issue account for numerous organizations. Cooperation, as with frequent other issues, can be closely related with regional priorities (Walsh, B.A. et al., 2017). Therefore, these matters can take on a region-wide aspect related with the international financial organizations. Influence could be observed as an essential priorities of the research conducted. By studying the regional levels of cooperation in the CA, it's revealed that the numerous countries, partners and organizations are interested in dealing with the Central Asian countries.

The data used in the article mainly was drawn from the researches, studies, conferences and international negotiations conducted at the regional, inter-states and global level. Reflecting the contemporary issues in the water and energy saving technologies, desertification processes the joint effort of the countries of the region is coded. To obtain the correlated data multiple printed and online resources were extensively used. Cross-country approach of the countries of CA in relation to the SDGs is studied

The info was not only used as a primary material, but also as the issues of climate change, environment, assistance, project, dialogue, cooperation, sustainable. As an alternative path of development the significance of the human development in the CA countries, and the need for further reforms in the region underlining their successes. Although the multi-dimensional analysis is conducted based on the data of the national-level international organizations, the extensive regional aspect is maintained.

The adoption on 12 April, 2018 the UN General Assembly Resolution on Cooperation between the UN and the IFAS - International Fund for Aral Sea, initiated by Turkmenistan, will give substance to new horizons. Turkmenistan proposed this in June 2012 at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20). It is UN Special Program for the Aral, which could include concrete plans to stabilize and improve the situation in the Aral Sea basin. Supporting the promotion of water diplomacy as a new form of multilateral political communication on water issues, cooperating is pertinent primarily in the context of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

With commissioning of the first stage of the Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake waste water from the oases are united into a single hydrosystem. In the past 20 years Turkmenistan saw planting of 90 million trees under the Green Belt National Program. Overall, during the 25 years of the Fund's work, several hydraulic structures were built, environmental and other activities were carried out to tackle the Aral problems. CA countries are improving social infrastructure including the installation of water treatment technologies in remote rural areas. Uzbekistan, one of the leaders in the SDG indicators of the region has reached the 70 percent in the coverage of the population by 2019 with access to drinking water pipes. With the financial support of the European union The Central Asian Regional environmental center (CAREC) conducts the project “Узбекистонда баркарор сув ва экологик ривожланиш учун хабардорликни ва шерикликни орттириш лойиyаси“ (UzWaterAware)

Since 2017, emphasis on such initiatives and government efforts to improve the ranking of private sector have increased. As a part of its economic reform efforts, the Uzbek Government is looking to expand opportunities for small and medium enterprises and prioritizes increased foreign direct investment. In September 2017, the government devalued the official currency rate by almost 50% and announced the loosening of currency restrictions to eliminate the currency gray market, increased access to hard currency, and boosting investment.

In order to counter-balance the country's deep and multi-layered economic dependency on hydrocarbons, Turkmenistan is diversifying the transit routes. Some of the underlying causes of the economic crisis are largely dependent on the collapse of oil prices. Despite enormous geopolitical challenges, India and Pakistan are still participating in a major Central Asia - South Asia pipeline project that would send natural gas from Turkmenistan to India. This project is known as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project. The TAPI Pipeline is to be 1800 km long, including 200 km in Turkmenistan. 773 km in Afghanistan, and 827 km. across Pakistan. The pipelines are designed to transmit up to 33 bcm of gas annually. Total project cost is around 10 billion. The cost of the project continues to escalate because of delays associated with project financing and instability in the region. The Asian Development Bank has acted as the Secretariat of the TAPI project since 2003 and has been involved in selecting consortium to coordinate implementation of the pipeline.

This is due to the fact that the Russian energy firm Gazprom announced that it would no longer purchase natural gas from Turkmenistan, this is despite that in 2003, Turkmenistan's state-owned gas company signed a 25- year agreement with Gazprom for the delivery of the 70-80 bcm of gas to Russia. Starting from April 2019 there are positive signs of diversifying the gas supplies. A deal for Russia's Gazprom to resume buying gas from Turkmenistan came not a moment too soon for the Central Asian state because it is so short of foreign currency that a number of foreign companies have taken it to court over unpaid bills. Turkmenistan's economy had boomed until 2015, supported by high energy prices and gas exports, and the government awarded megaproject contracts for new factories and highways. After energy prices crashed and Russia, one of the two main gas buyers, halted all purchases from Turkmenistan, foreign contractors started complaining about non-payments. (Foreign companies queue up to sue cash-strapped Turkmenistan). In 2017 Uzbekistan was invited by the Turkmenistan to help in the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline, which was readily accepted. (F. Mashrab During the visit by delegation of the Rosatom State Corporation according to the ambassador of Russia to Uzbekistan Vladimir Tyurdenev the representatives of the corporation discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the nuclear energy field.

The C.E.O of the corporation Alexei Likhachev had meeting with the president of Uzbekistan. According to the president of Uzbekistan in his visit to the Kandym gas processing plant the agreement on the first nuclear plant in the region will be built until the end of the year. Russia is proposing the construction of two modern blocs of generation “3+VVER-1200” worth of 11 billion USD. The same model of the nuclear plant which is under construction in Bangladesh is worth 13 billion USD, of which 11,3 is granted by Russia as the state export credit. Russia is offering several types of the financing including on the conditions of state credit, the scheme that stipulates the loan from the market, investing its proper means, on the conditions of Build- Own-Operate.

In December 2017 during the visit by D. Medvedyev to Uzbekistan, the intergovernmental agreement on the usage of nuclear energy in peaceful aims was signed between the governments of Russia and Uzbekistan. According to the preliminary agreement, the construction of the nuclear plant will be done as if they are constructing for themselves - the same scheme applied in Russia and Belarus. The plant will need up to 10 thousand construction workers and 1.5-1.6 thousand workers with sufficient training. During the negotiations in November 2017 the consent of memorandum on the cooperation between the “SC Rosatom” and the Academy of sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the production and delivery of nuclear fuel for the research reactor VVR-CM between the SC TVEL (part of the Rosatom) and Institute of Core physics of Academy of sciences of Uzbekistan was given. Nuclear plant will be inaugurated until the 2028.

It was revealed during the meeting of Sh.M. Mirziyayev on July 10, 2018 related to the issues of nuclear electricity. Rising demands for electricity in Uzbekistan needs 69 billion Kw/h of electricity. While starting its operational output it will save 3,7 bcm of natural gas, reducing the CO2 by 3 million tons per year. This plant needs the new law related to the Nuclear energy according to the requirements of IAEA and international acts. As of February 1, 2019 two separate fields were being studied under the construction site of the nuclear plant. As of June 1^st 2019, the priority construction site in Jizzakh region was chosen. In join and separate occasions, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are also increasing the construction of medium and large hydro power plants thus paving the way to become the major electric energy hubs in the region.

Following the recent developments in Uzbekistan the EBRD opened a new office in Tashkent in 2017. In Uzbekistan EBRD focuses on identifying potential new projects in areas set out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the authorities in March 2017[3]. In Tajikistan it focuses on stabilizing and rebuilding trust in the banking sector, developing private enterprises, agribusiness and improving the quality of energy supply and efficiency. In the Kyrgyz Republic it focuses on fostering sustainable growth; promoting the sustainability of public utilities; and supporting critical infrastructure. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the EBRD and the Ministry for Investment and Development of Kazakhstan, the Bank supports national economic policy known as NurlyZhol[4]. The EBRD is setting up a fund to deal with the legacy of Soviet-era uranium mining in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan[5]. It is reengaging in Uzbekistan with the provision of a financial package of up to US$ 30 million to JSCB Hamkorbank, the country's privately-owned bank[6]. EBRD provided US$ 100 million to Uzbekistan's leading bank NBU[7].

In September 2017, in his inaugural address to the UN General Assembly, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev used the global stage to pledge to protect human rights - a promise that has being transformed into real actions. During 2017-2018, Uzbekistan has increased the accountability of government institutions to citizens. It is important that Uzbekistan took to improve the judicial system, labor conditions and the fight against corruption. During the last two years the reforms facilitated to more than 2528 new citizens were granted the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan which was almost impossible before[8].

The GIZ (“Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH”) has been implementing sustainable development projects, programs in Kazakhstan. GIZ is supporting the Kazakh Government in the fields of sustainable economic development, education and vocational training, good governance, the environment and climate, and health [9].GIZ has been implementing projects in Kyrgyzstan country since the 1990s. Economic stabilization, structural reforms are key objectives of Kyrgyzstan's Country Development Strategy [10]. The project in Kyrgyzstan supports legal and judicial reforms in the area of civil and commercial law, provides assistance to the institutions monitoring government activities. In Kazakhstan the Supreme Court receives assistance in ensuring that lower-level courts are aware of and understand its rulings. In Tajikistan the project assists both the administration and the judiciary in implementing the existing modern administrative procedures act.

ACTED launched EU-funded DIPECHO X promoting integrated Watershed Management between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan [11]. In Uzbekistan the number of women in the Parliament of Uzbekistan has increased from 6 % in 1994 to 16 % in 2015. More changes are anticipated in the forthcoming elections of 2019. In Uzbekistan ACTED has started developing its activities in 1999. The purpose of the Uzbekistan's Strategy of Actions for 2017-2021 is raising the efficiency of reforms, creation of conditions to ensure comprehensive and accelerated development of the state and society. ACTED has started implementing its “Uzbekistan CSO Empowerment & Promotion Project” which aims at improving local governance in Uzbekistan by enhancing the capacity of CSOs to act as sustainable development actors. ACTED and its local partners are conducting a Grassroots Organizations Capacity Assessment of CSOs to identify the trainings. ACTED's Approach in Kyrgyzstan ACTED strategy in Kyrgyzstan is based on three Global Program Pillars: 1) To respond to emergencies and build disaster resilience; 2) To strengthen civil society, effective governance and social cohesion; 3) To promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan in co-operation with the National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has been issuing the information bulletin on the Drug Situation in Central Asia on yearly basis since 2003 [12]. Several large events were organized by the OSCE Project coordinator in Uzbekistan supporting open doors event at General Prosecutor's Office for International Anti-Corruption Day offering training courses, organizing regional seminar on combating money laundering in Tashkent[13]. In Uzbek media and society, OSCE is promoting social advertisement calling for the eradication of corruption with the help of the distribution of the brochures and posters, TV-ads.

Discussions. In general, these findings of the growth component in defining the assistance in the CA countries reinforce the total sustainability efforts in the region (composed of several factors: Development, promotion, strategy, legal, human, climate, environment, assistance, project, dialogue, cooperation, sustainable).The following projects are in progress in Tajikistan: Learning and Supporting: Two EU Aid Volunteers working on sustainable development in Tajikistan, Alleviating energy poverty in Tajikistan, Supporting Pasture Users Unions to prevent pasture degradation in Tajikistan, Community- based anticipation strategies to save lives, Water in Tajikistan, abundant yet challenging.

Recent developments indicate that CA countries are all collaborating in all fields. Until recently, regional cooperation among Central Asian states has left much to be desired (Svante E. Cornell and Starr, 2018). Opening of check points, visa-free movement of people between the countries facilitate the harmonization of the relations among the CA. It opened a corridor of dialogue for the establishment of intensified cooperation in all spheres among the countries of the region.

The Strategy of Actions of the Uzbekistan intended stipulates the following steps for the years 2017-2021. Parliamentary control is enhanced, E- government, Intended promulgation of Law on Public services, decreasing the level of the participation the state in 2019), Public control (2017 3^rdtrimester), Peoples' reception halls started to operate from 1 of January 2017 at regional and district level processing the addresses, complaints of the people, physical and legal entities[14].

Recently Decent Work country Program has been implemented in the countries of Central Asia designed to perfect the national labor legislation, ensure employment and social protection. Particular emphasis was placed on enhanced measures in Uzbekistan to promote social justice through successful social dialogue between the government, trade unions and employers, as well as representatives of civil society institutions. Since 2013, there is a cooperation between the ILO and Uzbekistan on the issue of occupational safety and health, decent work, eliminating the child and forced labor in Uzbekistan. While attending the 107^th session of the ILC held in Geneva from May 28 to June 8, 2018 the ILO Director-General Guy Ryder informed that Uzbekistan's achievements in recent years are highly appreciated and recognized by the organization and the expert community as well as the advanced nations. This is evidenced by the fact that within a short period of time Uzbekistan and the ILO have made tangible progress on complex issues. The countries of the region are improving labor legislation, creating decent working conditions and strengthening social protection [15].

On November 22-23, 2018 in Samarkand Asian forum on human rights was held. The forum hosted the representatives of UN and other organizations, human rights institutions in Asia, scholars. On the basisof the Asian forum on human rights the memorandum of national human rights institutes of Central Asian countries was accepted in Tashkent [16]. On 10 December 2018 on the basis of the Decree by the president of Uzbekistan the Uzbek National center on human rights was given extra tasks to fulfill which makes it more independent in the national and international levels [17].

A new round of numbers from the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index help shine a bit of light on where CA states stack up both within the Asia- Pacific. It is worth noting at the outset, as the EIU does, that global democracy scores have dropped slightly (on a scale of 0 through 10) over the past year, sagging from 5.55 to 5.52[18]. The picture within the EIU's report is a bleak one, especially as it pertains to the state of democratic affairs in Central Asia. Three states in CA marked declines in the 2018 Nations in Transit report; but Uzbekistan logged its first improvement since 2005. Freedom House's annual Nations in Transit report marks democratic declines in 19 of the 29 countries included in the survey, the most in its 23-year history.

The Nations in Transit report features reports on each included nation which discuss seven categories -- national democratic governance, electoral process, civil society, independent media, judicial framework and independence. A score of 1 to 7 is given for each category, with lower scores indicating higher levels of democratic progress. Estonia scored the best in the survey, at 1.82 and Turkmenistan the worst, at 6.96. In 2017, new president Shavkat Mirziyoyev took steps to improve the atmosphere for discussion and debate in the country. Uzbekistan consequently earned its first score improvements in Nations in Transit since the 2005 edition [19]. Live debates on TV and mass media appeared for the first time in the history. International emitters such as Radio Liberty/RFEL are accredited in Uzbekistan opening a wide opportunities for the discussions of the socio-political content. Previously blocked internet sources are opened showing the wind of changes. Voice of America, BBC and their Uzbek- language services, as well as sites of human rights organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch are opened (OSCE welcomes restored access to online media in Uzbekistan). Kazakhstan recorded a decline, to 6.71, in part due to worsening civil society conditions -- harassment of activists, journalists, lawyers, social media users, and religious communities -- and negative changes in the realm of judicial systems. Worth a total of $3.9 billon, the 15 Chinese projects have been launched in several sectors, including agriculture, the chemical industry, oil and gas, transport. Chinese companies produce more than 20 percent of Kazakhstan's oil and that some 1,200 enterprises in Kazakhstan operate with Chinese capital. Tajikistan continued its democratic march with its seventh consecutive year of decline -- its score now sits at 6.79. On September 9, 2019 the President of Tajikistan has inaugurated the 2^nd aggregate of Rogun hydro power plant.

Turkmenistan has posted scores of 7(the absolute bottom) in five of the seven categories -- electoral process, civil society, national democratic governance and judicial framework-- since at least 2004 [20]. Uzbekistan has the lowest indicators of the convicts among the countries of the world as it has been attested by the Akhmed Shaheen, special rapporteur of UN on human rights and the issues of religions and faith. Uzbekistan having 137 convicts per 100 thousand people has the lowest level among the countries of the world [21].

The National Human Rights Center, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR ROCA and the UNDP Office in Uzbekistan, hosted a webinar with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein with students from more than 20 higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan in May 2017. The country initiated the preparation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Youth, aimed at developing, implementing the youth policy in the context of globalization. Uzbekistan has also initiated the UN General Assembly Special Resolution “Education and Religious Tolerance” with the view to promote tolerance and mutual respect, ensure religious freedom, protect the rights of believers and prevent discrimination [22].

In Turkmenistan since 2015, six deputy prime ministers have held exclusive responsibility for the implementation of socio-economic development in rural areas through the National Program for the Transformation of Social and Living Conditions in Villages, Towns, District Cities and District Centers through 2020 [23]. The formal right to assemble is guaranteed by both the September 2016 constitution and a law “on gatherings” that first came into effect in July 2015. The new 2016 constitution calls for the country's first-ever human rights ombudsman to be established.

Tajikistan ranks 150^th out of 180 countries in the 2016 Worldwide Press Freedom Index of the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. This constitutes a drop of 36 places since the previous year, brought about by the government's harassment of the few remaining independent journalists [24]. On December 12, 2018 the General Assembly of the United Nations resolution A/RES/73/128 on Enlightenment and Religious tolerance was issued without a vote on the basis of proposal of Uzbekistan [25]. After the inauguration of President Mirziyoyev, pm.gov.uz site was transformed to a virtual reception room of the President which is a promising novelty in the overall state system of protection of civil rights. As of 21 February, 2020 3641722 addresses were processed by the presidential administration of Uzbekistan highlighting the necessities of the civil society [26].

Increasing the socio-political activity of women, strengthening their role in government and society, ensuring the employment of women, their widespread involvement in entrepreneurship and further strengthening the foundations of the family is set forth as a priority task in the Actions Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021. Expanding the role of women in public administration is also a key element of the national Sustainable Development Goal No.5. On October 20, 2018, the Government of Uzbekistan adopted a Resolution “On Measures for the Implementation of National Goals and Objectives in the Field of Sustainable Development for the Period until 2030”. Task 5.5.stipulates that it is necessary to “ensure the full and effective participation of women and equal opportunities for them to lead at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life”. These activities coincide with the Agenda 5- Gender equality aim of the SDG. The year 2019 was proclaimed as the “Active investments and social development year" in accordance with the address of the President of the republic of Uzbekistan.

To sum up, the data analyzed in the article shows that the international cooperation is one of the priority targets of the CA countries, where the traditional societies are being transformed into the market economy, are improving the infrastructural establishments in CA. The countries of CA can further promote their mutual relations with the joint socioeconomic projects. This research has been conducted to show the practical implications of the intensifying internationalization of the CA countries. Regional cooperation is linked with the further enhancement of the (Walsh B.A. & L. De Florio and M.M. Burnham, 2017) values of human development which used to be among the medium category countries of the world. Here the essential role could also be played by the international development agencies from the wider community. Many infrastructural changes are happening in CA including railway and pipeline systems which should lead to the opening-up of the region in the long-run.

All countries of the region are integrated into the developing system: Imamnazar-Akina-Andkhoi, Andijan-Osh-Irkeshtam-Kashgar transport corridor to start operating as of Feb 25, 2019. The Termez-Mazari Sharif railway was built in order to opening up Afghanistan to the wider world, funded with a $165 million ADB grant and an investment of $5 million by the Afghanistan government, the Uzbekistan Temir Yullari SC not only built the track, but also three station buildings, two buildings for passing loops, an automatic signaling system, and a gated automatic level crossing. Operations and maintenance were contracted to Uzbekistan's Sogdiana Trans for the first 3 years. The Afghan partners are also interested in the new auto corridor to transport goods by rail from Mazar-i-Sharif to Andijan and further to China. With the construction of the new Mazar-e-Sharif-Herat railway (TransAfghan corridor), the Trans-Continental transport corridor China-Central Asia-South Asia-Middle East will be completed.

Qatar-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan transport corridor is being constructed which will pave the way for the CA countries to reach seaborne trade. The construction of the new Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway will make it possible to reduce the distance in comparison with the existing corridors by almost 1,000 km.

Dushanbe-Osh-Kashgar Railway Construction Project is also under consideration. Funded with a $165 million ADB grant and an investment of $5 million by the Afghanistan government, the UTY not only built the track, but also three station buildings, two buildings for passing loops, an automatic signaling system, and a gated automatic level crossing. Operations and maintenance were contracted to Uzbekistan's Sogdiana Trans for the first 3 years.

The countries of the region are already in the centripetal relations with the world countries attracting the global corporations such as Honeywell, General Electric (GE), General Motors, Peugeot Citroлn, Chevron and others. These countries are decreasing the red tape, trade freedom, corruption, tax burden, investor protection which was prevalent. It supports the countries of the region's upward trend of positive changes. Boeing, John Deer, Case, Caterpillar, Exxon Mobile are already in the region assisting the countries of the region to be involved in the more globalized world. All these efforts are intended to make the Central Asia hub for development policies generating the high levels of human capital. The intentions of Uzbekistan to become one of the countries reaching the status of 50 advanced countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) by the year 2030 is noteworthy to mention based on the Decree signed by the President of Uzbekistan dated September 21, 2019 is stipulated by the urgent need to reform the Uzbekistani society. All these efforts are aimed to break with historical links with the past communist approach to the economics and politics.

References