The Caspian Policy Center is delighted to host the 8th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum, in partnership with the Embassies of the Caspian Region, including the embassies of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. In the last year, cooperation between the United States and countries of the greater Caspian Region has continued to grow. With the energy and security crises emerging from the Russia-Ukraine War, it has become clear just how important it is to nurture strategic engagement between the U.S. and the Caspian Region. The changing global paradigm has demonstrated a need for the United States to reevaluate its partnerships and assist countries in this crossroads region to secure their economic sovereignties through enhanced connectivity and increased trade. The United States and the Caspian region will need to develop and employ decisive and cooperative solutions to protect their national interests and collaborate with a diverse set of international partners. 

 

9:00 am – 9:05 am Opening Remarks 

 

Efgan Nifti, President, Caspian Policy Center

 

9:05 am – 9:45 am U.S. Keynote Remarks 

 

• Amos Hochstein, U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security (Invited)
• Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State (Invited)
• Isobel Coleman, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (Invited)
• Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Global Markets, U.S. Department of Commerce (Invited)

 

9:45 am – 11:00 am Caspian Keynote Addresses 

 

Moderator: Ambassador (Ret.) Richard Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian Policy Center 

 

• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyzstan (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tajikistan (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Türkiye (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkmenistan (Invited)
• Deputy Minister of Transport, Uzbekistan (Invited)

 

11:00 am – 11:15 am Coffee Break

 

Panel 2 – Maximizing Development Impact: Prioritization & Coordination 

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM 

 

The Middle Corridor is a network of routes that cross Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Türkiye, constituting a multimodal transport corridor that combines road, rail, and sea transportation. It represents the shortest path for goods traded from China to Europe, 3,000km less than the northern route through Russia. As part of the EU’s Global Gateway, European and international investors announced in January of this year an intention to commit $10.8 billion to support Middle corridor connectivity between Europe and Central Asia.  The funds will be used in support of a wide range of projects, paralleling World Bank and other related efforts, to tackle hard and soft infrastructure needs.  How are governments and international financial institutions planning to coordinate and prioritize the multi-faceted investments and policies needed to create an efficient, cutting-edge transport corridor?

 

11:15 am – 12:30 pm Panel Discussion 

 

Moderator: Dr. Marsha McGraw Olive, Caspian Policy Center Board Member 

 

• Ambassador Erin McKee, Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 
• Tamar Satterwhite, Senior Attorney, Commercial Law Development Program(CLDP), Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Winnie Wang, Lead Infrastructure Specialist and Program Leader, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank
• Senior Representative, Development Finance Corporation (DFC) (Invited)
• Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union to the USA (Invited)

 

12:30 pm – 01:30 pm Lunch

 

Panel 3 – How to Do Business Better Along the Middle Corridor: 

 

Experts Discuss Needs and Opportunities 

 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM 

 

Though infrastructure gaps and challenges inhibit the Middle Corridor’s potential, some businesses in the region are doing quite well.  Experts from the energy, business, and extractive sectors discuss what works and what can work better in the Caspian region.   What steps can be taken to address institutionalized impediments to doing business in the Caspian region?  What has the creation of the Middle Corridor meant for international business? Are there low-hanging fruits to improve business capabilities?

 

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Panel Discussion 

 

Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Caspian Policy Center Board Member 

 

• Robert Scher, Vice President, BP America
• Mamuka Murjikneli, CEO, Wondernet Investment Group 
• Laura Brank, Partner, Dechert LLP
• Carolyn Lamm, Chairman of the Board, American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (Invited)
• Alice Wong, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer, Cameco (Invited)
• Other senior regional private sector representatives

 

Linking Central Asia, the Caucasus and Western Markets: 

 

Briefing on the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor and Emerging U.S. Opportunities

 

Preliminary Date (May 22, 2024)

The Caspian Policy Center and the Embassies of the Trans-Caspian Region are co-hosting a briefing for Members of Congress and their staffs on the remarkable developments that are drawing the Central Asian and Caucasus (Caspian) countries westward. Challenges emerging from the Russia-Ukraine war have resulted in this region seeking greater connectivity and access to global markets. Strategic minerals, including much of the global supply of Uranium, gas and oil, and an emerging industrial base are at stake. The growth of a Middle Corridor that crosses Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Türkiye, creates a new trade network for the Caspian region and also represents the shorter path than trade through Russia.

 

This briefing will bring senior officials from the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia region along with experts from the energy, business, and extractive sectors to discuss what is happening, what is working, and what other opportunities exist for U.S. investment in the Caspian region and along this new corridor.

 

The United States is working to assist countries in this crossroads region secure their economic sovereignties through enhanced connectivity and increased trade, adopting modern customs systems and digitalization among other improvements. The European and international donors announced in January an intention to commit $10.8 billion additional euros to support Middle Corridor connectivity between Europe and Central Asia, further escalating what is already a rapidly growing political and economic realignment for countries in the region.

 

Speakers include:

• •

Senior Representatives of the Trans-Caspian countries

Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Richard Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian

Policy Center

 

 

To send a RSVP request please contact [email protected] with your name and affiliation. 

 

Please be advised there is high demand and limited seating capacity.  We will respond to your request shortly. 

 

For sponsorship opportunities please contact [email protected]

 

Sponsorship