September in the Intercontinental Hotel in the framework of the eponymous EU programme. The Central Asia Invest gathers together projects partners, beneficiaries, the EU representatives and Government Officials from the different Central Asian countries. The event offers a platform for all programme stakeholders to develop further their initiatives and share experience on private sector development in Central Asia.

Ambassador Norbert Jousten, the Head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, commented in anticipation of the Central Asia Invest: " Small and medium-sized enterprises will always play a vital role in the sustainable development of the national economy and efforts have to be made so that SMEs can harness their full potential. Through the Central Asia Invest programme, the EU encourages and supports the growth and expansion of small and medium-sized business in the region through different initiatives, such as reinforcing competencies of business associations."

Workshops will be organized during the meeting. Project partners will present their case studies. The OECD is going to presenting its Central-Asia initiative, including the part which is contributed through the Central Asia Invest EU programme. The Export Helpdesk - the online service to facilitate market access to the EU – will be also presented to participants of the networking meeting (http://exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/index_en.html).

Launched in 2007, Central Asia Invest (CAI) is a regional programme providing grants to projects promoting the development of the private sector, especially of small and medium-sized enterprises, in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

For further information, please contact For further information, please contact Mr Alexandre Darras, Project Manager in the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, at alexandre.darras@eeas.europa.eu or Ms Karla Jamankulova, Press and Information Officer, the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan at (7172) 97-11-48, karlygash.jamankulova@eeas.europa.eu