The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is becoming an increasingly important platform for Central Asian countries seeking to expand regional connectivity, attract investment and strengthen cooperation in the fields of transport, energy, finance and digitalisation.
In recent years, the SCO’s cooperation with its Central Asian members has increasingly focused on practical economic priorities alongside security issues. Discussions on transport corridors, energy cooperation, financial mechanisms and digital infrastructure have intensified, whilst individual Central Asian countries are simultaneously expanding their economic partnerships with China, Russia, Azerbaijan and other external partners.
This trend reflects a broader transformation in Central Asia’s economic landscape. The region is strengthening its role in Eurasian trade and transit, whilst attracting investment in energy, industry, infrastructure and technology. Against this backdrop, the SCO can provide an additional framework for coordinating cross-border projects and developing economic cooperation among member states.
Against this backdrop, the summit in Bishkek is expected to give further impetus to the SCO’s economic agenda, with a particular focus on transport connectivity, energy cooperation, investment and financial mechanisms.
