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The Caspian Policy Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held the 4th Trans-Caspian Forum in Washington, D.C.

May 23, 2019
By Caspian Policy Center
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WASHINGTON, May 23, 2019 — Today, the Caspian Policy Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held the 4th Trans-Caspian Forum in Washington, D.C. with the support of the embassies of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The policy and business leaders from the U.S. and six trans-Caspian corridor countries came together at the Hall of Flags of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and discussed opportunities and challenges for enhancing mutually beneficial strategic engagement in business, trade, and investment at four dedicated panels.

Gary Litman, Vice President for Global Initiatives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Efgan Nifti, Executive Director of the Caspian Policy Center, kick-started the Forum with the welcome speech and mentioned the importance of a shared platform such as the Trans-Caspian Forum where business leaders, foreign-policy experts, and government officials from the United States and the regional countries can be in a dialogue to explore new directions and identify new opportunities.

Lisa Curtis, Senior Director for Central and South Asia, National Security Council, The White House; Manisha Singh, Acting Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment, U.S. Department of State; H.E. Robert Scher, Head of International Affairs, BP America; Sandra Oudkirk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State; Ian Steff, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, United States and Foreign Commercial Service; Marlena Hurley, Managing Director, Political Risk Insurance and Reinsurance, OPIC; Gary Litman, Vice President for Global Initiatives, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; H.E. Roya Rahmani, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States; H.E. Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States; H.E. David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia to the United States; H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States; H.E. Javlon Vakhabov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States, and many more high-level government and private sector representatives attended the Forum and shared their perspectives on the importance of the Trans-Caspian corridor and its benefits for both the United State and Caspian region.

To watch the full event webcast, please visit this link.

Hasan Soroosh, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan  
Manisha Singh, Acting Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment, U.S. Department of State
From left to right: H.E. David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia to the United States and Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Board of Directors Member, Caspian Policy Center
From left to right: Richard E. Hoagland, Board of Directors Member, Caspian Policy Center; Hasan Soroosh, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan; Sahin Ismayilov, Director of Department of International Relations, Ministry of Transport and High Technologies, Azerbaijan; and Giorgi Chikovani, CEO of Energy Fund, Georgia
Lisa Curtis, Senior Director for Central and South Asia, National Security Council, the White House  
H.E. Robert Scher, Head of International Affairs, BP America
Gary Litman, Vice President, Global Initiatives, US Chamber of Commerce
H.E. Roya Rahmani, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States
Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Board of Directors Member, Caspian Policy Center
Efgan Nifti, Executive Director, Caspian Policy Center
Ian Steff, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing
Alexander Sokolowski, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, USAID
From left to right: Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Robert F. Cekuta, Board of Directors Member, Caspian Policy Center; Hasan Soroosh, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan; Natavan Mammadova, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan; Viktor Kipiani, Executive Partner, Mgaloblishvili Kipiani Dzidziguri (MKD), Georgia
Article by Caspian Policy Center Caspian Policy Center

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