Askar Sydykov: EQuIP tools could be especially useful for business associations

IBC Executive Director Askar Sydykov, took part in the Enhancing the Quality of Industrial Policy (EQuIP) Introductory Training Course “Industrial Performance Diagnostics” in Bangkok, Thailand on November 5-9.

The EQuIP project helps policymakers in developing countries formulate evidence-based strategies for inclusive and sustainable industrial development. The aim is to strengthen the ability of lower income countries to manage their own future and to enable them to improve their strategy-setting, policy formulation and their engagement with development partners.

UNIDO and GIZ have joined forces to develop the EQuIP toolbox, an integrated methodological and capacity-building package for industrial diagnosis.

“EQuIP tools could be especially useful for the business association in terms of using databases, analyzing outcomes, benchmarking with other comparable countries and finding out possible flaws in formulas and charts, as well as presenting those findings in a user-friendly format and translating them into adequate policy decisions in close cooperation with governmental agencies,” Sydykov said.

UNIDO’s INDSTAT database turned out to be very helpful in analyzing performance of Kyrgyzstan’s industry sub-sectors, especially in identifying those with “jobless growth” as a result of comparing key figures of Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in Value Added and Employment generation.

“Another noteworthy factor is that EQuIP methodology, as we have learned, is focused on capacity building of local experts and policy shapers, their technical guidance and support, rather than producing and imposing ready one-size-fits-all decisions. This is important because our local stakeholders are the ones who can produce as realistic, effective and tailored to local peculiarities policy decisions as possible,” IBC Executive Director added.

Upon completion of the training, the participants also did preliminary consultations with GIZ and UNIDO representatives about possible opportunities to arrange EQuIP capacity building trainings for local experts in the Kyrgyz Republic and support developing policy initiatives further.