Role of EU Strategies and Support Programmes in Economic and Business Environment Enhancement

Close EU-Central Asian relations can contribute to the economic development and strengthening of both the EU and Central Asian countries. One of the priorities of cooperation is the promotion of economic development, trade in the region and attraction of the EU investments to the region. The EU endorsed the first strategy for EU relations with Central Asia in 2007, promoting cooperation in the region. In 2019, the EU-Central Asia strategy was renewed. The novel element is cooperation in digital economy, focusing on facilitating access to manageable, open and secure broadband connectivity and digital infrastructure, including through the adoption of necessary regulatory reforms. Opening the market to foreign investors, business and investment-friendly environments would serve as a means of economic diversification and increasing foreign direct investment and competitiveness. The aim is to study the role of the EU development cooperation strategies and support programmes in enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the economic and business environment in the Central Asian region; to evaluate the potential for advancing the EU-Central Asia regional partnership, providing recommendations for an efficient and systematic approach for the EU and Central Asian institutions and business entities to achieve further improvements. The structure of the Thesis is determined by the aim, objectives, and logic of the research. The first Chapter covers a meta-theoretical analysis of economic development and growth concepts applying the monographically descriptive, analytical, and graphical method and a holistic approach to the methodology of the economic and business environment. The chapter specifies sustainable and competitive business environment factors from a viewpoint based on Sustainable Development goals and indicators. The second Chapter discusses results and indicators of transition to market economy, assesses the EU strategies and support programmes, their genesis and impact on sustainable economic and business development in Central Asian region. The third Chapter is devoted to the analysis of the sustainable growth and Central Asian economic and business environment based on the results of empirical research, mostly interviews with experts from the EU and Kazakhstan. The Thesis provides conclusions and recommendation related to the development of the EU-Central Asia partnership for strengthening competitiveness of Central Asian countries as beneficiaries.