On February 24, 2022, the first online introductory meeting on the Central Asia Regional Expert Level Working Group on Digital Trade was held with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kyrgyz Republic. This working group is coordinated by the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the US Department of Commerce. This is a multilateral group in Central Asia, which will include representatives of the government and the private sector.

During the online meeting, the participants got acquainted with the representatives of CLDP, shared their proposals and voiced issues of interest to promote electronic commerce and digital trade in the country and region.

The goal of the Digital Trade Working Group is to work with stakeholders in the region to develop an open, inclusive, and secure digital infrastructure that will serve as a foundation for regional development and economic growth. The Digital Trade Working Group will seek to fulfill this goal by promoting international best practices, removing digital trade barriers, and fostering the necessary legal and regulatory environment that will allow digital trade to develop and thrive across the region.

Beginning in January 2022, CLDP facilitate a series virtual and in-person roundtables with stakeholder groups in each country in the region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, to identify specific country-level digital trade priorities, challenges, and needs – in preparation for a regional Digital Trade Working Group meeting in Summer 2022.