Opening statement of CICA SG Ambassador Kairat Sarybay at the Online Meeting of the Board of the CICA Business Council

Good afternoon, and a warm welcome to each of you. I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings to Mr. Raimbek Batalov, Евгении Сергеевне, and Mr. Fatih GÖKYURT. It is a privilege to have you all with us today.

I would also like to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Batalov, Chair of the Board of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken”, for orchestrating this important online meeting of the Board of the CICA Business Council.

Приветствую Евгению Сергеевну Егорову, заместителя Руководителя Дирекции международной деятельности Федеральной корпорации по развитию малого и среднего бизнеса, которая сегодня замещает г-на Павла Серегеевича Кондрашова, Руководителя Дирекции международной деятельности указанной Федеральной корпорации.

Additionally, I wish to extend my greetings to Mr. Fatih GÖKYURT, the Vice President of KOSGEB, who has taken up the role as the representative of Türkiye in the CICA Business Council Board, succeeding Mr. Salih Tuna Şahın. Your expertise and insights will undoubtedly contribute to the enriching discussions ahead.

I would like to apprise all participants of an update regarding the CICA Business Council Board: Mr. Yutana Slipsarnvitch, the Deputy Chair of our Board from Thailand, has stepped down from his position at the Federation of Thai Industries. The CICA Secretariat sent a request to Thailand to identify a suitable replacement.

I would like to seize this moment to provide a concise update on the latest developments within CICA. Last October, the CICA Sixth Summit convened in Astana, marked a momentous occasion in the realm of multilateral diplomacy in Asia. This Summit yielded a series of pivotal decisions and initiatives that hold profound implications for CICA's ongoing growth.

Of paramount significance was the strategic decision encapsulated in the Astana Statement on Transformation by the Heads of State and Government of CICA. This landmark statement initiated a structured, transparent negotiation process for the incremental transformation of CICA into a fully-fledged regional international organization. This visionary endeavour aligns seamlessly with Kazakhstan's strategic objectives, propelling CICA towards a more influential role on the global stage.

The trajectory of CICA's transformation endeavours is geared towards bolstering the organizational and institutional underpinnings of cooperation among Member States. This evolution bestows a unique status upon our dynamic dialogue platform, thereby enhancing the collective influence of Asian nations in global affairs. This pivotal shift positions CICA to assume a more prominent and impactful role on the world stage.

The Summit yielded further accomplishments, including the welcome accession of Kuwait as a Member State. Additionally, CICA extended its embrace to the Eurasian Economic Union as a new partner, while Turkmenistan joined as an observer. These actions bear testament to CICA's growing international credibility as a representative and multilateral security and regional cooperation mechanism.

Among the plethora of documents adopted at the Summit, several key initiatives put forth by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev under the Kazakh Chairmanship will significantly influence the endeavours of all CICA bodies, including the Business Council. These include:

• the CICA Fund was established as an additional voluntary funding mechanism aimed at supporting the implementation of CICA projects – a central focus of the Kazakh Chairmanship. The Fund's operations will be rooted in consensus and alignment with CICA's goals, under the vigilant oversight of all Member States.

• The proposal for the creation of the CICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity, is intended to facilitate the formation of efficient transit-transport corridors across Asia and beyond. This initiative seeks to address challenges in goods transportation and foster sustainable economic growth.

• A call for collaboration between CICA and the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, headquartered in Astana, to address critical food security concerns.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in its resolution adopted in March 2023, welcomed the collaborative initiative involving its subsidiary, the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, and CICA.

I believe extending an invitation to the Islamic Organisation for Food Security and CICA to participate as speakers in the upcoming plenary session of the CICA Business Council marks a promising beginning for fostering such collaboration.

Additionally, I propose considering the inclusion of speakers from prominent institutions such as the Eurasian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. Their valuable insights and extensive experience in financing projects related to renewable energy, green financing, and food security across Asia would significantly enhance the discussions during the CICA Business Council session and may provide ideas for the operational activities of the CICA Fund.

Furthermore, I recommend inviting a representative from UN Women in Kazakhstan to share insights about women's participation in business activities, as this plays a pivotal role in societal development and security.

The Board might consider including the following topic in the agenda for the upcoming Seventh Plenary Session of the Business Council, slated for 2024: "Empowering Women in Small and Medium Enterprises across the CICA Region: Exploring Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathways to Enhanced Participation and Success."

Last but certainly not least, I propose a strategic synergy between the CICA Business Council and the CICA Think Tank Forum. This can be achieved by initiating the following actions through the Senior Officials Committee:

• Commissioning research on the theme "National Approaches and Incentives Implemented by CICA Member States to Foster Small and Medium Enterprises." Subsequently, a seminar in 2024 could be organized, inviting members of the CICA Business Council to participate and deliberate on this subject.

• Undertaking research on the topic "Advancing the Role of Women in Small and Medium Enterprises across the CICA Region." The research would concentrate on identifying the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and exploring opportunities to enhance their participation and achieve success. The outcomes of this research would be presented as a report during the seventh plenary session of the CICA Business Council in 2024.

These research initiatives have the potential to significantly enrich our comprehension of the Asian business landscape. Moreover, they can serve as a robust foundation for the Business Council's recommendations to the CICA governing bodies. These recommendations will be focused on enhancing the support mechanisms of CICA Member States for small and medium enterprises, as well as advocating for the empowerment of women in the entrepreneurial sphere.

Furthermore, this collaborative research effort will also invigorate the inter-sessional activities of both entities: the CICA Business Council and the CICA Think Tank Forum. To this end, a joint seminar could be organized, centered around the theme "National Approaches and Incentives Utilized by the CICA Member States to Foster Small and Medium Enterprises." This initiative would not only enhance the exchange of insights but also reinforce the partnership between these two important bodies.

Once again, I extend my gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and engagement. Let us harness this opportunity to propel our shared goals and further strengthen the foundation of our collaborative initiatives.

Thank you. 

CICA Headquarters, 18 August 2023