The five countries of Central Asia expanded their trade significantly since beginning their transition with exports quadrupling to almost USD70 billion between 2003 and 2008 but without substantial diversification. These countries achieved this by promoting private investment, property rights, trade liberalization, and transport infrastructure in varying degrees. This study focuses on three countries of Central Asia-Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan-and applies the framework used by the World Development Report (WDR 2009). These countries agreed to participate in the study, but the results of this work are also relevant for others in the Central Asia region. The global crisis reduced trade and exports of the three countries in 2009 as it did for the world. The study recommends that Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan anchor their export diversification and growth strategy on three spatial scales.