QUARTERLY REPORT XVII FY 2021: USAID’s Competitiveness, Trade and Jobs Activity

The activity facilitates exports and employment by incentivizing firms to become more regionally competitive and by addressing cross-border impediments to trade. This approach helps to develop more diverse and competitive private sectors, and accelerates export-driven growth in each client country. The activity is implemented through two components: Component 1, Facilitating Trade, and Component 2, Partnering for Innovation. Component 1 focuses on partnering with government and the private sector under C5+1 to expand horticulture exports, strengthen transport and logistics, and develop tourism in the region. Component 2 competitively selects firms to co-finance innovation, improve skills, and inspire entrepreneurship to expand exports and employment in horticulture, transport and logistics, and tourism. During the period covered by this report, January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021, the activity made significant progress in various areas. In Uzbekistan, the activity supported the State Customs Committee in applying international integrity practices, reducing opportunities for corruption and enhancing the effectiveness of internal affairs control functions. The activity also facilitated interim results of a pest survey in the Ferghana Valley, providing reagents and supplies for laboratory tests to identify the presence or absence of bacterial blight. In addition, the activity provided online network space for Central Asian horticulture producers, linking twenty-one producers with potential buyers through the World of Trade's virtual B2B network. This effort helped small and medium enterprises seize international trade opportunities by overcoming the challenge of attracting the attention of foreign buyers. The activity also issued an electronic Directory of Central Asian Horticulture Exporters showcasing export-ready producers. The activity's progress in various areas is reflected in the success stories presented in Annex 1. These stories highlight the impact of the activity's interventions in promoting regional trade, employment, and economic growth in Central Asia. The activity's efforts to strengthen transport and logistics services, tourism, and horticulture exports have contributed to the development of more diverse and competitive private sectors in the region. The activity's progress is also reflected in the regional updates presented in the report. In Kazakhstan, the activity supported the development of agricultural cooperatives, while in the Kyrgyz Republic, it promoted winter tourism and supported the transition to natural production. In Turkmenistan, the activity supported sustainable agricultural practices and food security, while in Uzbekistan, it strengthened regional connectivity and customs reform. Overall, the USAID's Competitiveness, Trade and Jobs activity in Central Asia has made significant progress in promoting regional trade, employment, and economic growth in the region. The activity's interventions have contributed to the development of more diverse and competitive private sectors, and have accelerated export-driven growth in each client country.