Discover how UNECE, in collaboration with partners, is bolstering agricultural export capacities in Central Asia through standards compliance and practical training.
Central Asia boasts a rich potential for fresh and dried fruit and vegetable production, with countries like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan emerging as key players in dried fruit production, particularly apricots. Despite this potential, traders in the region have encountered hurdles in diversifying their export portfolios and accessing high-end markets.
International standards, such as those set by UNECE for fresh fruit and vegetables as well as dry and dried produce, play a pivotal role in eliminating technical barriers and expanding export horizons. This alignment not only fosters rural employment and income growth but also directly contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeting poverty alleviation and improved nutrition.
Responding to the needs expressed by the Central Asian Working Group to Promote Exports of Agricultural Produce (CAWG), UNECE, alongside UNDP, OECD, and Hilfswerk International, organized a hands-on training workshop in Tashkent from 4th to 6th June 2024. The workshop aimed to equip stakeholders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan with the necessary tools and methods for adhering to international agricultural quality standards.
Mr. Ariel Ivanier, Chief of the UNECE Market Access Section, emphasized the significance of these standards in facilitating trade and eliminating technical barriers. He highlighted how UNECE standards benefit various stakeholders, including authorities, producers, traders, and retail chains, fostering confidence in product quality and enhancing market access.
The workshop covered a wide array of topics, from understanding the importance of quality standards to practical exercises on sampling techniques and assessing product compliance with UNECE standards. Experts from Slovakia, Germany, and the United States shared invaluable insights through case studies, enriching participants’ knowledge and skill sets.
This training workshop builds upon a series of collaborative capacity-building efforts by UNECE, UNDP, and Hilfswerk International since 2016. The tangible outcomes of these initiatives are evident, with Uzbekistan witnessing a significant increase in the export of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with a notable surge in the share of dried fruit exports.
