The five former Soviet states of central Asia could double their incomes in the next decade by overcoming long-standing political suspicions and embracing regional economic co-operation, according to a UN report published on Tuesday.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan must dismantle trade and investment barriers, improve transport links, co-ordinate water and energy policies and encourage cross-border co-operation, says the United Nations Development Programme.