Modernizing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for Trade in the CAREC Region

As Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries manage the fallout from COVID-19, ensuring that trade continues flowing while expanding regional cooperation can support the recovery and achieve sustainable growth.

Despite being a major producer of top agricultural commodities in the world, agriculture comprises only around 10% of CAREC exports (excluding the PRC). Access to global markets is crucial to CAREC countries but has been undermined by inadequate and outdated SPS systems.

Modernizing sanitary and phytosanitary measures can protect consumers’ health, manage transboundary risks to animal and plant health, and support agriculture ecosystems, which will help develop agricultural value chains and diversify economies.

The CAREC Program is helping its members address this including with co-financing from the Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund, and the People’s Republic of China Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund.