A United Nations representative announced the signing of a host-country agreement to establish the United Nations Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan during remarks in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The representative said the center "represents the opening of a new chapter for the region and for our collective journey towards the sustainable development goals" and that it was "mandated by the general assembly," with "terms of reference being finalized and leadership appointments to follow." The center will act as a regional hub to coordinate efforts on issues including climate change, water scarcity, employment, gender inequality and digital exclusion.

The representative said the center "will bring together governments, UN country teams, civil society, academia, the private sector, regional organizations, and financial institutions to develop coordinated country led efforts" and will work with resident coordinators and country teams to accelerate progress on the 2030 agenda in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The remarks emphasized support for Afghanistan "with full respect for human rights, including the rights of women and girls and with a focus on economic self sufficiency, peace, and dignity."

The speech also described the center as a potential contributor to addressing constraints faced by landlocked countries. The representative noted the region's geographic challenges and praised Kazakhstan's hosting role, calling Almaty "a fitting home for these centers" and saying Kazakhstan "renounced its nuclear weapons and became, based on that attitude, a symbol of peace and disarmament."

Operational details, including the finalized terms of reference, leadership appointments and funding arrangements, were not specified in the remarks. The representative said the center will support data-driven policies and spark innovation but did not provide a timeline for when the center will begin full operations.

The announcement comes as the region faces interlinked challenges: the representative warned that climate change is "already draining water supplies, melting glaciers, and fueling natural disasters," and said rising trade tensions and the region's landlocked geography add barriers to trade connectivity and financing. The representative praised recent cooperation by Kazakhstan and said the center could help implement the program of action discussed at the upcoming landlocked developing countries conference in Turkmenistan.

No formal vote or legislative action was reported; the host-country agreement was described as signed during the event, and next steps listed by the speaker were finalizing terms of reference and appointing leadership.