VIF News Digest: Iran, West Asia, Eurasia, Central Asian Republics (CAR) and Africa (Vol 1 Issue II)

Nov 1-15, 2017

Central Asian Republics (CARs), South Caucasus and Mongolia

RECCA VII Held at Ashgabat

The Seventh Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII) was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 14-15 November, 2017. The conference brought together as many as 250 representatives, including Ministers of Foreign or Economic Affairs from countries of the region, and heads of regional and international organizations. Indian delegation was led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shri M J Akbar.

High-level participants in the conference stressed on the need for integrating Afghanistan into the regional economy. It was also reiterated that inter-state cooperation was extremely necessary in energy, transport, trade and infrastructure. On this occasion, three new projects were announced as part of the RECCA process; first, for empowering and creating opportunities for women; second, setting up of RECCA Chamber of Commerce: and third, aimed at fostering scientific dialogue in the region. Various multi-lateral connectivity and infrastructure projects were also discussed in the sessions of the conference.

The RECCA was initiated in 2005 in Kabul, aimed at consolidating the efforts of the countries of the region in stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and promoting regional economic integration of South and Central Asia.

Lapis Lazuli Corridor Agreement Signed in Ashgabat

Agreement on the ‘Lapis Lazuli Transport and Trade Corridor’ was signed by the Heads of Delegations from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, in Ashgabat on 15 November 2017, on the sidelines of the RECCA VII conference. This corridor has the potential to offer the shortest route to connect Asia and Europe.

Lapis Lazuli corridor is multi-modal transport network, connecting Aqina (Afghanistan), Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi Caspian Sea Port (Turkmenistan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi, Batumi (Georgia), Kars and Istanbul (Turkey). It is estimated that it will take 7-9 days to travel the distance of about 3280 km from Aqina to the Strait of Bosphoros. The name ‘Lapis Lazuli’ originates from the precious stone from Afghanistan, which was exported to Europe through this route 2000 years ago.

Uzbekistan Hosts High-level Conference on Security

The International Conference on ‘Security and Sustainable Development in Central Asia’, under the aegis of the United Nations, was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 10-11 November 2017. The theme of the conference was “Central Asia: One Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity”. The conference was attended by Foreign Ministers from the CARs, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, along with heads of international organizations, including the UN, EU, OSCE, SCO and the CIS. As many as 500 experts, journalists and members of the diplomatic corps in Uzbekistan took part in the conference. Indian delegation for the conference was led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gen V K Singh.

Participants of the conference exchanged views on topical issues of security and development of the region. Discussions covered specific areas for enhancing cooperation between the CARs in the political, trade-economic, investment, transport-communication, water-energy, environmental and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Role of regional and extra-regional powers and international organizations in implementing regional developmental projects and building capacities was also deliberated upon.

‘Doing Business’ Report

World Bank published its annual Report entitled "Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs" on 31 October 2017. South Caucasian and Central Asian Republics have registered remarkable improvement in their rankings in various spheres.

Georgia secured the 9^th place among world's 190 countries and stood highest in Europe and Central Asia. The country has advanced by seven positions from rank 16th in the last year, and its performance has improved in five indicators. Most notably, it has achieved 4^th rank in the category ‘Starting a business’.

Kazakhstan was ranked 36^th, one point lower than its last year’s ranking. However, the country was rated first among the 190 countries in ‘Protecting Minority Investors’, because of the reforms undertook in last one year.

Uzbekistan took 74^th place, improving its rating by 13 positions compared to 2017. Remarkably, it has entered the top 10 reforming countries to create the most favorable conditions for Doing Business. Improving in six out of 10 indicators, Uzbekistan ranked 11th in terms of ‘Registration of Enterprises’, due to radical reforms in this sphere.

Azerbaijan was ranked 57^th, with 10^th position in ‘Protecting minority investors’. Its neighboring rival Armenia secured the 47^th position.

The Kyrgyz Republic secured 77^th rank, and Tajikistan 123^rd. Turkmenistan was not covered in this report of the World Bank.

Africa

Army Takes Over the Government of Zimbabwe, Places President under House Arrest

Army has taken over the government of Zimbabwe and the president Robert Mugabe is under house arrest as Military deployed tanks to the streets of the capital, Harare. Mugabe a 93 year-old, has led Zimbabwe’s since its independence in 1980. He came up with disastrous policies in recent years that led to hyper-inflation, international sanctions and economic ruin. Few days back when Mugabe accused and fired his Deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, of being disloyal and plotting to seize power. The observers saw the move as a step toward clearing the path for his wife Grace Mugabe, as vice president which would put the first lady in position to become president when her 93-year-old husband retires or dies. To this the head of Zimbabwe's armed forces, General Constantino Chiwenga, warned by saying that he would step in unless Mugabe stopped trying to purge the ruling ZANU-PF party of Mnangagwa supporters. Dozens have been arrested since the vice president was fired on November 5, 2017.

African Union Chairperson’s Visit to Republic of Sudan

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, paid an official visit to the Republic of Sudan from 5th to 7th November, 2017. During the visit the important and stabilizing role of Sudan in the region was discussed. The visit also provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues of interest to the sub-region and Africa as a whole. Emphasis was laid on the issues to address the conflicts affecting the continent in a united and coordinated manner. The significance of the African Union in relation to the ongoing processes within Sudan through its High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), was acknowledged. The issue of illegal migration in the context of the African Union and the horn of Africa initiative on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. In this regard, it was agreed to quickly finalize and sign the host agreement for the establishment of the Khartoum Regional Operational Centre in order to share the information on transnational organized crime. Sudan advocated its commitment to the reform process, as well as to the implementation of Agenda 2063. Emphasis was also laid with particular emphasis on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) and its flagship projects, including the Continental Free Trade Area.

Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo Charges D-8 Nations to Promote Trade and Justice

The Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo said that the Development Eight Nations (D-8 nations) stands for positive global trade relations and is a veritable force for peace, justice and observance of fundamental freedom. He made the appeal at the official opening session of the sixth D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation held in Abuja. In 1977, this group was established to enhance industrial and other economic activities in the context of the global economy. Trade ministers from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey held a three-day high-level meeting to promote trade in the Nigerian capital. Osinbajo noted that peace and justice in the D-8 countries were necessary as social tensions and conflicts exists all over the world. He also focused on economic cooperation by advancing the positions of developing countries in the world economy and focused on diversification which would create new opportunities in trade relations.