Workshop on “Broadband and ICT development for improved communications in Central Asia" was held in the International Business Center on June 21-22, 2007, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The workshop is organized jointly by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) , Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan through ICT Policy Project in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan through Communication and Information Agency of Uzbekistan and IT Association of Uzbekistan.

This workshop will be financed by the contribution of the Government of Japan to UNESCAP. The principle objective of the workshop is to promote and support the cooperation among Central Asian countries in broadband and ICT development. The workshop particularly aims to achieve the following specific outcomes:

• increase of awareness and knowledge on broadband and ICT issues;
• serve as a discussion forum on issues of broadband and ICT development in Central Asia;
• facilitation of cooperation among Central Asian countries in ICT development;
• formulation of the strategy to enhance regional cooperation on ICT development involving all stakeholders in Central Asia

Based on the presentations and discussions in the framework of the workshop on Broadband and ICT Development for Improved Communications in Central Asia, “Tashkent Statement” was elaborated and accepted in order to formulate follow-up actions on further development of broadband, ICT and regional cooperation.