The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), which has been implemented in Kazakhstan since 2023, will continue and expand to the regional level. The agreement was reached between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Green Technologies and Investment Projects Center (IGTIC), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) during ECO EXPO CENTRAL ASIA 2026, held in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.

The national green acceleration program GCIP, implemented jointly by IGTIC and UNIDO with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is approaching the completion of its current phase in Kazakhstan in 2026. Kazakhstan became the first and, to date, the only country in Central Asia to successfully implement the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme at the national level.

Over the past three years, the program has fostered a strong ecosystem of climate and environmental entrepreneurs. Across three acceleration cycles, nearly 100 startups successfully completed the program, with 40% of them led by women entrepreneurs. The combined revenue of participating startups has exceeded USD 2 million.

The program’s participants have also demonstrated strong international competitiveness. Kazakhstani startups have consistently achieved top rankings at the global Cleantech Days competitions held in Istanbul and Vienna, representing the country among the world’s most promising green innovation projects.

Building on these achievements, the next phase of GCIP will focus on expanding the initiative across Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

UNIDO representatives Daria Shumilova and Georgia Iordanescu confirmed their commitment to jointly advancing the regional initiative. The parties emphasized the importance of strengthening the climate innovation ecosystem, supporting green startups, and expanding international cooperation in the field of clean technologies.

As part of the next stage, a new national GCIP intake in Kazakhstan is planned for 2027. In parallel, cooperation with regional partners will continue to further develop the Central Asian Green Acceleration Program. The first regional acceleration initiative was successfully launched during RES 2026 EXPO in Astana and received support from the Heads of State of Central Asian countries, as reflected in the Summit’s final declaration.

The continuation and regional expansion of GCIP marks an important step toward fostering innovation-driven economic growth, strengthening regional cooperation, and accelerating the deployment of climate technologies that contribute to sustainable development across Central Asia.