ShHT evolyutsiyasi doirasida Janubiy Osiyo omili vaqt o’tishi bilan katta ahamiyat kasb etadi. Agar ilgari Markaziy Osiyo SHHT faoliyati doirasida asosiy geografik tarkibiy qism bo’lgan bo’lsa, u erda Rossiya ham, Xitoy ham mintaqaviy hamkorlikni rivojlantirish uchun tegishli muhitni yaratgan kuchlarning oqilona muvozanati mavjudligini ta’minlagan. Hozirgi vaqtda, 2000-yillarning oxiri va 2010-yillarning o’rtalaridan boshlab, SHHT faoliyati doirasida Janubiy Osiyo omili ShHT faoliyati kontekstida asosiy elementlardan biri sifatida kuchaytirilmoqda. Xitoy-Hindiston strategik raqobatining kuchayishi tashkilotga yangi turtki berdi va SHHT uchun muhim mintaqaviy diplomatik platforma sifatida yangi istiqbollarni ochib berdi. ShHTni endi mintaqaviy xavfsizlik uchun mas’ul tashkilot deb hisoblash mumkin emas, uning faoliyati allaqachon ikki mintaqaga tarqalib, makro mintaqaviy xavfsizlik arxitekturasini yaratmoqda.
Relevance. In Central Asia, growing economic and infrastructural challenges require urgent solutions and a shift from resource-dependent economies. Although each Central Asian country is following its own independent path, regional integration processes are crucial for enhancing competitiveness at both individual and regional levels. Research Objective. The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the competitiveness of Central Asian economies, identifying both their weaknesses and opportunities for sustainable development in the region. Data and Methods. The study relies on both secondary qualitative and quantitative data, drawing on international research on competitiveness and methodological provisions developed by the World Economic Forum. Identical indicators from the World Bank database are analyzed for an indirect assessment of the global competitiveness of Central Asian economies. Results. The study’s findings reveal varying levels of competitiveness among the economies in question. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, in particular, have shown progress in this sphere due to the availability of natural resources, economic reforms, investments in infrastructure, and the development of human capital. Conclusions. In order to improve the quality of life for their citizens, Central Asian countries need to enhance their competitiveness, which can be accomplished by implementing measures such as diversifying economies, strengthening institutions, and attracting investment in innovative projects.