Ten workshops on trade finance infrastructure development to be organized in Central Asia by UNESCAP, in cooperation with the International Trade Center/UNCTAD/WTO. The workshops are part of larger UNESCAP initiative to build capacity of Central Asian/Caucasian economies and Mongolia in the areas of macroeconomic policy, trade and investment to facilitate their integration at the subregional, regional and global levels and to enable them to respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities emerging from the globalization process. The United Nations Development Account funds this initiative.

In order to enable UNESCAP economies in transition to fully benefit from the globalization process and establish an effective and efficient market economy, there is an unambiguous need to strengthen public institutions capacity to facilitate trade. One important component of a comprehensive trade facilitation strategy involves the development of a trade finance infrastructure to help traders secure credit at internationally competitive rates and mitigate the risks involved in most international trade transactions.

Trade finance infrastructure is defined as "the institutions, laws, regulations and other systems related to the following three activities: (1) provision of capital to firms that are engaging in trade transactions, (2) provision of support services to manage the risk involved in trade transactions, and (3) provision of international payment mechanisms".

The workshops are expected to increase concerned public officials capacity to improve trade finance infrastructure and services in Central Asia/Caucasus/Mongolia, which will support economic growth in the region through increased trade and investment competitiveness.