The Government’s essential role was limited to providing transport and communications infrastructure services and to facilitating international trade. For example, there is a proposal to convert the city of Almaty into a subregional services hub through development of transport, tourism and financial services (see box 2.1). Such developments could also stimulate modern firms to participate in global value chains because many initiatives on the proposed hubs, such as effective Internet connectivity and courier services, are also prerequisites for value-chain participation.