DUSHANBE, June 20, Asia-Plus -- The Online Development Communities on the Central Asian Gateway portal represent a new tool for virtual networking and facilitating active interaction among researchers, government officials, international and national experts, businessmen and civil society representatives, all those interested in development of the Central Asian region.

Registering on the portal, a user can choose communities of his interest and get access to new opportunities and services provided by the membership in the communities: Membership in the virtual development communities would allow user to: i) establish and administer his profile and become known regionally and globally; ii) find partners and collaborate with them through establishing dialogue on the online forums and direct interaction; iii) inquire consultations from experts, who are member of the development community, and involve them into the joint projects; iv) enlarge presence in the Internet through submitting publications, links, information on events by the focus of the communities;  v) get free online access to information and analytical publications on interested spheres, know more on national and regional development events; vi) submit resume to the experts’ database and get an opportunity to become involved into national, regional and international projects; vii) find skilled personnel through posting vacancy announcements; viii) learn the members of particular online community in each country and to find necessary information about them; ix) leave comments on online provided materials; x) subscribe for e-newsletters on interested topics and become aware on developments in areas of Your interest

The Central Asian Gateway project aims at facilitating regional development and integration in Central Asia and is being jointly implemented by the Center for Economic Research (Uzbekistan), AKIpress Information Agency (Kyrgyz Republic) and Asia Plus Agency (Tajikistan) with support from the UNDP Regional Center in Bratislava (Slovakia) and UNDP Country Offices in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.