| Workshop on Regional Strategies Development |
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| Tuesday, 23 December 2008 09:04 |
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During October 10-11, 2005, the EU/UNDP
funded project “Enhancement of Living Standards in Karakalpakstan”
organized a workshop on regional development strategies for the
Republic of Karakalpakstan and Namangan region.
 During October 10-11, 2005, the EU/UNDP
funded project “Enhancement of Living Standards in Karakalpakstan”
organized a workshop on regional development strategies for the
Republic of Karakalpakstan and Namangan region. Representatives from the central and regional ministries of
economy and statistics, national and local consultants from
Karakalpakstan and Namangan joined the two ELS projects staff to review
the strategy draft papers for the regions, six districts and 100
communities. They also shared their views on the methodology for the
first assessment of living standards in the two regions. This is the first time that a Regional Development Strategy for
Karakalpakstan and Namangan is developed. During the past months the
two ELS teams have been experimenting with new methodologies to develop
a truly representative document of regional and local needs and
aspirations. During the workshop the participants helped the two ELS
teams to find answers to questions such as what the regional
development strategy is and for whom it is.  Given the importance of the regions in the national economy, well
articulated regional strategies are essential to ensure that the
national economic policies are successful and regional potential
properly channelled to assist in this. To capture the link between the
regional and national strategies, the representatives from the Ministry
of Economy made a presentation on the national Millennium Development
Goals and their relevance to the Welfare Improvement Strategy Paper[1].The regional strategy, it
was agreed, must be an informative, concise document that suggests
options to policy makers, regional and local Khokimiyats, central
economic authorities, local producers and the international community.
To do this, it is important that it identifies regional priorities and
allocates existing resources efficiently and rationally. Above all, it
is vital that the strategy captures the reality of the regions, invest
on their strengths and correct their weaknesses. In Karakalpakstan, for example the regional
development strategy can address issues related to environmental
degradation and its negative effects on people’s life. At the same
time, it can spur further the recent improvements in agricultural
production and apply the lessons learned to other regions[2].
The strategy can also help regional authorities to utilize the rich
cultural heritage and unique ecological habitats such as the Bada Tugai
forest along the Amu Darya River to promote local tourism and economic
opportunities for the population. In Namangan region, where the share of medium and small
enterprises in gross regional product is among the highest in the
Republic, the strategy can help to address issues related to employment
in a densely populated region[3]. For example, the strategy can be instrumental to promote local investments in fruit preserving, packaging and export. You can view ELS photographs on Karakalpakstan and Namangan by clicking here [1] The Interim Welfare Improvement Strategy paper is available on siteresources. www.worldbank.org/INTPRS1/.../Uzbekistan_I-PRSP_final_r.pdf
[2] Syrdarya (111.8%), Djizzak (111.2%) provinces and
the Republic of Karakalpakstan (112.5%) registered higher growth rates
than the national average (10.1%) in 2004. Data from State Statistics
Committee of Uzbekistan, 2004
[3] Data from 2003 from, National Human Development Report, UNDP, 2005 |
News and Events Workshop on Regional Strategies Development