Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
UK foreign policy in Central Asia must avoid single-issue dependence
Conclusion
We agree that Russia’s renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s scramble to secure willing partners is a key concern of the UK and must influence foreign policy toward Central Asia. However, the UK’s engagement with Central Asian countries and the relationships invested in must not succumb, once again, to an Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia 55 approach dependent on a single issue such as Afghanistan, Russia or trade. There is now an opportunity to build an enduring relationship with the people of Central Asia. (Paragraph 24) Illicit finance
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that its relationships with Central Asian countries extend beyond a single issue and details specific multi-million pound development, peace and security, climate, and private sector growth programs, including a new £18m fund launching in 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Agree 18. Russia’s illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine has put Central Asian countries in a difficult political and economic position. This is an important strategic moment, at which we are determined to help Central Asian countries strengthen their resilience and diversify their economies. 19. However, the UK’s bilateral relationships with Central Asian countries go well beyond Russia as a single issue. These relationships matter to the UK in our efforts to foster an open and stable international order and to support UK trade and prosperity, development, climate, defence and security priorities. Current initiatives include: • A dedicated £3m pa development programme in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan focused on improving economic governance and supporting reform. • Promoting peace and security, including community level peace building and action against Gender Based Violence, through a £3.4m Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) programme (this will become the Integrated Security Fund from April 2024). • CSSF funding also supports safe and orderly migration for Central Asian seasonal agricultural workers participating in the UK’s Seasonal Workers Scheme (SWS), preparing them to travel to the UK and reintegrate into their home countries when they return. • Trade and investment: opportunities across the region are growing fast. We are improving the region’s business environment through hands on support and assistance, including with Uzbekistan’s WTO accession. We are supporting British companies to win hundreds of millions of pounds of contracts, particularly in infrastructure, transport and mining. We are also working with UK investors in the region, where the UK regularly features as a top ten investor. • Encouraging progress on climate and biodiversity; a major regional climate programme has just been agreed. This will have: (i) a regional component to support energy/water investments to support green transition delivered by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs); (ii) a national component to support Central Asian countries on emissions reduction; (iii) a component working with communities to support adaptation and resilience. • Supporting progress on poverty reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the UK’s global leadership on these issues. • A new private sector development programme, the UK-Central Asia Green Inclusive Growth Fund, is under design and will launch in 2024. Subject to final approval, the programme is valued at £18 million over five years, and will seek to develop SMEs across the region, providing targeted business advisory services and essential growth finance to support businesses to reduce carbon emission and create jobs. This support will be focused on disadvantaged groups and regions, including women and girls, and remote and rural areas.