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PRESS RELEASES

CONFERENCE

The Caspian Policy Center and the United States Energy Association

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

10:00 &ndash; 12:00 PM EDT

Location TBD (In-Person)

&nbsp;

The Caspian Region has the potential to become an even larger player in global energy markets, as more international firms and policymakers recognized the region&rsquo;s growing potential throughout 2026. Hydrocarbon exploration expands as the countries seek to strengthen East-West connectivity and reach new energy markets. Amidst heightened geopolitical uncertainty, with global impacts on energy security, the Caspian Region is stepping up as a corridor of stability and important destination for investors. More so, the region&rsquo;s potential expansion of its energy role can advance its sovereignty and emergence from the shadow of its large neighbors.

&nbsp;

Coinciding with the region&rsquo;s hopes to become a prominent energy exporter is the growth of local energy demand. Recent summer blackouts highlight vulnerabilities in power generation facing the region, especially as the countries pursue new energy-intensive projects. Governments are therefore aiming to deploy alternative energy sources with strong interest in civil nuclear energy, new uranium supply chains, and the modernization of local grid infrastructure.

&nbsp;

Directed by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) and the United States Energy Association (USEA), this two-panel event will provide a look into the region&rsquo;s overall energy outlook from 2026, in the context of broader geopolitical uncertainty. It will cover the opportunity to increase hydrocarbon exports, nuclear cooperation, and interregional connectivity, as well as the economic trends shaping the entry of foreign businesses. The discussion will also recognize the need to improve local energy security in a changing environment and security context.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

EVENT PROGRAM

&nbsp;

10:00 &ndash; 10:10 AM Opening Remarks

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Efgan Nifti</li>
	<li>Mark Menezes</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:10 &ndash; 11:00 AM Panel Discussion: Infrastructure, Hydrocarbon Security, and Traditional Energy

&nbsp;

Theme: Addressing bottlenecks, foreign business cooperation, pipeline resilience, and trans-Caspian transit capacity

&nbsp;

With hydrocarbon supplies interrupted by geopolitical conflict, the Caspian Region can help bolster global energy security through oil and natural gas production. Large-scale international firms actively engage in the Caspian Region through extraction, refining, infrastructure projects, and new exploration initiatives. Energy-exporting states have also hosted several national investment fora, inviting foreign companies and government officials to engage in policy dialogue and sign business deals.

&nbsp;

This panel will discuss progress in diversifying hydrocarbon supply chains, along with ways to improve regional connectivity through pipeline networks. It will address important areas to expand trans-Caspian transit capacity, with the aim of more seamlessly integrating the Caspian region into Western markets. Now, the goal is to translate resource potential and political will into targeted investment and bankable projects that expand the Caspian&rsquo;s role in global markets and secure stable hydrocarbon supplies for importing countries.

&nbsp;

11:00 &ndash; 11:50AM Panel Discussion: Nuclear Energy, the Hydro-Electric Nexus, and Regional Grid Integration&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Theme: Leveraging large-scale regional hydropower, nuclear energy, and transmission networks for export and domestic energy needs

&nbsp;

In the pursuit of energy security and hydrocarbon export profits, the Caspian region seeks to diversify its energy production by incorporating alternative sources, namely nuclear energy. However, water shortages and recent blackouts have demonstrated limitations to Central Asia&rsquo;s hydro-electric nexus and broader grid network. As such, Caspian countries are looking to diversify, modernize, and expand current grid systems to meet growing domestic electricity demand.

This panel will assess progress in the implementation of alternative energy production into the Caspian region&rsquo;s energy mix. It will address rising interest in nuclear energy and the potential of U.S. regional engagement on this front. It will also analyze the stability of current energy systems that are highly reliant on hydropower and the risks of aging grid infrastructure.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

11:50 &ndash; 11:55AM Closing Remarks

&nbsp;

A Year-End Review of Energy Developments in the Caspian Region

The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable is the first cable ever laid across the Caspian Sea. With the&nbsp;undersea section completed in August and commercial service expected this fall, the cable opens&nbsp; a new high-capacity data route linking Central Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus. It adds&nbsp; route diversity and resilience to a region whose international connectivity has long depended on a&nbsp; narrow set of paths. The project arrives as governments across Central Asia and the South&nbsp; Caucasus pursue ambitious AI and digital infrastructure agendas, and as global demand for subsea&nbsp;capacity reaches unprecedented levels.

&nbsp;

The Caspian Policy Center is delighted to host the companies behind the cable, together with U.S.&nbsp;government and industry experts, to discuss how the project was built and what it means for the&nbsp;region. The panel will examine the engineering and logistical challenges of the first Caspian&nbsp;crossing, the role of trusted infrastructure in attracting hyperscalers and data center investment,&nbsp;and the opportunities for U.S. partnership in the region&rsquo;s growing digital economy 
 
&nbsp;

9:00-9:30 am | Breakfast&nbsp;

&nbsp;

9:30-9:35 am | Opening Remarks&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

9:35-10:00 am | Diplomatic Perspectives &nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>H.E. Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States&nbsp;</li>
	<li>H.E. Magzhan Ilyassov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:00-11:00 am |&nbsp;Moderated Discussion and Q&amp;A&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Justin Fair, Director&nbsp;for Bilateral and Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of&nbsp;Cyberspace&nbsp;and Digital Policy, United States Department of State&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ean Hundley, Director, ICT and Infrastructure Policy, Office of Foreign Policy, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ana Nakashidze, Chief Executive Officer, AzerTelecom International</li>
	<li>Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, CSIS&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Moderated by Dr. Akbota Karibayeva Meyer, Research Fellow, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Wired Across the Caspian: The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable  and the Future of Digital Connectivity

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/10/07/c6-cover.png" />

Undergoing a period of profound transformation,&nbsp;Central Asian states are embracing a C6 Trans-Caspian rethink.&nbsp;Avaza&nbsp;Summit will be the first formal consultative summit since Azerbaijan joined the format as a full participant in November 2025.&nbsp;This change signals a new phase of regional cohesion and strategic integration. Together with major energy, transit, and connectivity initiatives expanding the Middle Corridor, these developments are accelerating progress toward greater regional stability, sovereignty, and connectivity, as well as deeper global engagement.

&nbsp;

The Caspian Policy Center is proud to host leading experts from the region and covering the region to unpack recent developments and discuss&nbsp;outcomes of the historic&nbsp;Avaza&nbsp;Summit, as well as&nbsp;what concrete steps key outside actors such as the United States can take to help deepen further engagement with the region. This expert panel will explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration between the Caspian region and the United States, examine prospects for greater regional cooperation, and assess the broader implications of these evolving dynamics for the region&rsquo;s future. &nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

9:00 &ndash; 9:15 AM EDT 
&nbsp;

Opening Remarks

<ul>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

9:15 &ndash; 10:30 AM EDT&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moderated Discussion and Q&amp;A

Moderated by Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Senior Fellow, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism (AIR Center), Azerbaijan</li>
	<li>Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KAZISS)</li>
	<li>Zuhra Halimova, Senior Advisor, CAPS Unlock, Tajikistan</li>
	<li>Javlon Vakhabov, Managing Director, International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), Uzbekistan</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Avaza and Beyond: The Future of C6 Regional Cooperation

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/09/25/webinar-a-capital-east.png" />

As Central Asia and the South Caucasus deepen their integration into global markets, governments and businesses across the Caspian region are seeking new sources of investment to support economic diversification and private-sector growth. The UK is an important partner, offering investment, financial services and business expertise, while London&rsquo;s position as a leading global financial centre provides access to international capital through equity listings, bonds and other financing instruments. Recent developments highlight this potential: in May 2026, the National Investment Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan (UzNIF) completed Uzbekistan&rsquo;s first international equity offering on the London Stock Exchange, while other companies from the region are exploring similar opportunities.

&nbsp;

This webinar will bring together financial and regional experts to examine how governments and companies across the Caspian region can make greater use of London&rsquo;s capital markets. The discussion will consider pathways to raising equity and debt finance, what international investors look for and the governance, transparency and regulatory requirements involved. It will also explore how stronger financial and commercial links with the UK can support the region&rsquo;s growth, diversification, and integration into global markets. 
 
 
&nbsp;

Moderated Discussion and Q&amp;A

&nbsp;

Moderated by James Sharp, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Centre

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Chris McGahan, Senior Manager for Europe and Central Asia, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)</li>
	<li>Marius Dan, Chief Executive Officer &ndash; Central Asia, Templeton Global Investments</li>
	<li>Farid Akhundov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Baku Stock Exchange</li>
	<li>Nick Kaufmann, Managing Director, Head of Equity Capital Markets &amp; Syndicate, Wood &amp; Company</li>
</ul>

Accessing Global Capital: Opportunities for the Caspian Region in London

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/09/11/forum-b-new-york.png" />

Marking its tenth anniversary, the Caspian Policy Center is pleased to host its annual Business Forum at the Harvard Club in New York bringing together a select group of senior government and business leaders to discuss the rapidly evolving economic, energy, and geopolitical landscape of the Trans-Caspian region. Held as the global community convenes for the United Nations General Assembly, this year&rsquo;s CPC Business Forum will focus on practical challenges, emerging opportunities, and concrete next steps for strengthening regional connectivity, investment, and commercial cooperation.

&nbsp;

As the region marks the one-year anniversary of the Joint Declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan, new opportunities are emerging to expand the Middle Corridor, including the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). These developments have the potential to further strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate trade, and accelerate investment as countries across the Trans-Caspian region and beyond deepen their commercial ties along this strategic corridor linking Asia and Europe.

&nbsp;

International business has played a vital role in promoting and facilitating cooperation as new supply chains and transportation networks seek to capitalize on the region&rsquo;s emergent Middle Corridor. Given the increased international interest and engagement in the broader region, the Caspian Policy Center is convening an evening discussion with government and business leaders engaged in the region&rsquo;s energy, financial, infrastructure, and connectivity sectors.

&nbsp;

The discussion will focus on&nbsp;practical issues and next steps: what is needed to translate the region&rsquo;s growing strategic importance into investment, infrastructure, and commercial opportunities; where remaining obstacles can be addressed; and how governments and the private sector can continue to deepen their efforts to advance the Trans-Caspian region&rsquo;s next phase of growth.

&nbsp;

EVENT PROGRAM

&nbsp;

6:00 &ndash; 6:25 PM Registration and Welcome Reception&nbsp;

&nbsp;

6:25 &ndash; 6:35 PM Welcome Remarks &ndash; Efgan Nifti, CEO, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

6:35 &ndash; 6:45 PM Policy Speech &ndash; Peter Andreoli, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (TBC)

&nbsp;

6:45 &ndash; 6:55 PM Policy Speech &ndash; Mark Cameron, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

7:00 &ndash; 7:45 PM Panel Discussion: &ldquo;Investing in the Middle Corridor: What does the new&nbsp;

TRIPP Corridor mean for the region?

&nbsp;

The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) can reshape connectivity between the South Caucasus and Central Asia, creating new opportunities along the broader Middle Corridor and beyond. But transforming the concept into a functioning commercial passage will require more than political agreement. Governments and businesses must address infrastructure, border procedures, customs, financing, security, and regulatory coordination, as well as integrating into the existing broader Middle Corridor.

&nbsp;

This discussion will examine the practical challenges and opportunities along the proposed TRIPP corridor, including how the route can connect with existing transportation and trade networks, attract private investment, and strengthen east-west connectivity. Government and business leaders will consider what needs to happen next to move from political vision to commercially viable infrastructure and what role the United States and other international partners can play in supporting its development.

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan</li>
	<li>Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia</li>
	<li>Erzhan Kazykhan, Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Negotiations with the United States</li>
	<li>Bakyt Sydykov, Minister of Economy and Commerce, Kyrgyz Republic</li>
	<li>Berris Ekinci, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of T&uuml;rkiye</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

7:45 &ndash; 8:00 PM Congressional Address&nbsp;

Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh, U.S. Congressman from Arizona

&nbsp;

8:00 &ndash; 8:50 PM Panel Discussion: &ldquo;Next Generation Business Along the Middle&nbsp;

Corridor: Energy, Connectivity, and Critical Minerals&rdquo;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Trans-Caspian region is entering a new phase in which its strategic importance extends well beyond traditional oil and gas. Energy remains fundamental, but the region&#39;s future growth will increasingly depend on critical minerals, diversified supply chains and infrastructure, as well as new forms of energy production and connectivity.

&nbsp;

This discussion will examine how governments and businesses can translate the region&#39;s growing resource and technological potential into investment and economic growth. Panelists will explore opportunities in energy and critical minerals, and the role of international investment in building the next generation of the Trans-Caspian economy. The focus will be practical: where are the most promising opportunities, what obstacles remain, and what concrete steps can governments and businesses take now?

&nbsp;

Moderator: Mark Menezes, President and CEO of U.S. Energy Association (USEA); Former U.S. Deputy Secretary for Energy&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Panel Keynote: Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of T&uuml;rkiye

<ul>
	<li>Kimberly Harrington, Head of U.S. International Affairs, bp America&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Claire Kaiser, Head of Strategy and Senior Managing Director, Eurasia, at McLarty Associates</li>
	<li>Jamshid Ehsani, Head of Global Principal Structured Finance, Apollo Global Management</li>
	<li>Marat Birimzhan, Head of the Representative Office in the United States, Kazakh Invest</li>
	<li>Eldor Aripov, First Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Uzbekistan</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

8:50 &ndash; 9:00 PM Closing Remarks and Awards Ceremony

7th Caspian Business Forum: Connectivity, Finance, and Energy along the Middle Corridor

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/08/05/cover-d-full-bleed.png" /> 
The recent&nbsp;C6 Summit in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, marked another milestone in the evolution of regional cooperation among the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Building on years of expanding political dialogue and economic engagement, the summit demonstrated the growing willingness of regional leaders to translate shared interests into practical initiatives that strengthen connectivity, economic development, and regional resilience.

The Caspian Policy Center (CPC) is pleased to convene the Ambassadors of Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states for a timely discussion examining the significance of the summit and its implications for the region&#39;s future. The discussion will highlight how sustained dialogue among the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan is increasingly moving beyond MOUs to engaging in concrete initiatives that promote peace, prosperity, and economic integration across the Trans-Caspian region.

&nbsp;

10:00-10:05 am | Opening Remarks

<ul>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:10-11:00 am |&nbsp;Moderated Discussion and Q&amp;A&nbsp;

Moderated by Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Senior Fellow for Caspian Affairs, Caspian Policy Center

<ul>
	<li>H.E. Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States</li>
	<li>H.E. Magzhan Ilyassov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States</li>
	<li>H.E. Edil Baisalov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States</li>
	<li>H.E. Zavqi Zavqizoda, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States (Invited)</li>
	<li>H.E. Esen Aydogdyyev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United States (Invited)</li>
	<li>H.E. Furqat Sidiqov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States</li>
</ul>

From Dialogue to Delivery:  The Cholpon-Ata Summit and Next Steps for Trans-Caspian Cooperation

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/06/16/cpc_london_2026_cover-1.webp" />

The economies of the Caspian Region have shown resilience in a time of uncertainty. Central Asia saw a strong expansion in 2025, the fastest in 14 years according to the World Bank. The Middle Corridor&rsquo;s recent growth has greatly exceeded expectations, expanding connectivity across Eurasia and beyond. Leaders are driving the changes in a fast-changing environment. A new generation of experts brings fresh economic and technical ambition and ideas. Central Asia has plentiful energy reserves and critical minerals. The Armenia/Azerbaijan peace process has opened new possibilities in the South Caucasus. The Iran conflict is hitting economies but is also drawing attention to the Middle Corridor as a &ldquo;Corridor of Choice&rdquo; in an unpredictable world. Regional collaboration is creating a sturdy and reliable alternative network to northern transit routes and sea lanes. Built-in redundancy provides choice and reduces the capacity of outside powers to interfere. To make the most of improving access to global markets, and for the Corridor to realise its full potential, it will be important to strengthen institutional and infrastructural frameworks which nurture innovation, drive success and reward investment. The UK offers deep financial, legal, technical, logistics and supply-chain management, and educational experience, and is well placed to partner Caspian countries in integrating various aspects of connectivity from sustainable infrastructure to energy to digital services. 2026 is the year to persuade businesses and investors through ambitious structural reforms and clear results that the Caspian Region&rsquo;s time has come.

&nbsp;

08:30 &ndash; 09:00&nbsp; &nbsp;

Registration and Coffee &nbsp;

&nbsp;

09:00 &ndash; 09:10 &nbsp;

Opening Remarks &nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>David Moran, Senior UK Adviser, Caspian Policy Centre &nbsp;</li>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, President, Caspian Policy Centre&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

09:15 &ndash; 09:35&nbsp;

Keynote Speaker&nbsp;

Lord Alderdice, UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia&nbsp;

&nbsp;

09:35 &ndash; 10:00&nbsp;

Ambassadorial Panel &nbsp;

&nbsp;

10:00-10:30&nbsp;

Session 1: Economic Prospects &ndash; Growth and Resilience &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>HE Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK</li>
	<li>HE Ilia Darchiashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the UK</li>
	<li>HE Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of T&uuml;rkiye to the UK</li>
	<li>HE Ravshan Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Session 1 &ndash; Economic Prospects &ndash; Growth and Resilience 
Moderator: James Sharp, CPC Advisory Board Member&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Nigar Jafarova, Associate Practice Leader for CIS &amp; CEE, FrontierView</li>
	<li>Alessio Chiesa, Emerging Markets Economist, Wood &amp; Compan</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:30 -10:45

Coffee Break&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

10:45 &ndash; 11:15 

Session 2 &ndash; Energy Security and Resilience 
Moderator: James Sharp, CPC Advisory Member

<ul>
	<li>Michael Denison, Head of Advisory, bp</li>
	<li>Nick Coleman, Associate Director (Analysis), Prism Strategic Intelligence</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

11:15 &ndash; 11:45 
Embassy Panel

<ul>
	<li>Hayk Sargsyan, Deputy Head of Mission of Armenia to the UK</li>
	<li>Dana Kurmasheva, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Kazakhstan to the UK</li>
	<li>Kumiushai Suiumbaeva, Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;affaires of Kyrgyzstan to the UK</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

11:45 &ndash; 12:15&nbsp; 
Session 3 &ndash; Sustainability and Resilience\ 
Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, CPC Research Director &amp; Senior Fellow

<ul>
	<li>Tea Melikadze, Associate Director, Regional Lea for Infrastructure &ndash; Caucasus, EBRD</li>
	<li>Charles Norman, Territorial Development Consultan</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:15 &ndash; 12:45 
Session 4 &ndash; Connectivity and Long-Term Resilience 
Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, CPC Research Director &amp; Senior Fellow

<ul>
	<li>Zhanbolat Kakishev, Chief Products Officer, AIFC (Virtual)</li>
	<li>Wai Htoon, Senior Business Development Director, Office of Infrastructure &amp;&nbsp;Critical Minerals, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation&nbsp;(DFC) (Virtual)</li>
	<li>Chris Allum, UK Export Finance Regional Head &ndash; Business Origination,&nbsp; Emerging Europe &amp; Central Asia Nexus</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:50 &ndash; 13:00 Closing Remarks

Lunch 
&nbsp;

<h3>Registration is now closed. 
Due to limited capacity, we are no longer accepting new registrations for this event.</h3>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

London Caspian Connectivity Conference: Growth and Resilience

<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/05/18/tcf-2026-web.gif" />

Save the date for the&nbsp;Trans-Caspian Forum 2026, taking place on&nbsp;June 10, 2026, at the&nbsp;National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Hosted by the Caspian Policy Center, this year&rsquo;s forum,&nbsp;&ldquo;Economic Security through Peace and Durable Partnerships,&rdquo;&nbsp;will convene senior U.S. and regional government officials, leading experts, and private sector executives to explore the evolving strategic relationship between the United States and the Greater Caspian region 
&nbsp;

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

&nbsp;

8:30 &ndash; 8:55 AM

Registration &amp; Breakfast

&nbsp;

8:55 &ndash; 9:05 AM

Opening Remarks &ndash; Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Caspian Policy Center (CPC)

&nbsp;

9:05 &ndash; 9:20 AM

Policy&nbsp;Address&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Aryeh Lightstone,&nbsp;Senior Advisor, The Board of Peace&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

9:30 &ndash; 10:15 AM

Strategic Dialogue - Perspectives from the Region: Insights for the Next Phase of Caspian Cooperation&nbsp;

Senior leaders from the region discuss their visions for what comes next &mdash; from connectivity and energy diversification to critical minerals and digital infrastructure &mdash; within a cooperation framework that seeks to maximize joint economic security.

Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Senior Fellow for Caspian Affairs, CPC

<ul>
	<li>Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan</li>
	<li>Erzhan Kazykhan, Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Negotiations with the United State</li>
	<li>Javlon&nbsp;Vakhabov,&nbsp;Deputy Advisor&nbsp;to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Foreign Policy&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Edil Baisalov, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for International Initiatives &nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:15 &ndash; 11:15 AM&nbsp;

Panel I - The Middle Corridor: Strengthening Strategic Choice and Building Secure Networks&nbsp;

Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Matthew Klimow, Advisory Board Member, CPC

<ul>
	<li>
	Vinay Chawla, Director, Office of the Special Envoy for Peace Missions, U.S. Department of State&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Taleh&nbsp;Ziyadov,&nbsp;Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Ambassador Zafer&nbsp;Ateş,&nbsp;Director General for Energy, Environment, and Transboundary Waters,&nbsp;Ministry of Foreign Affairs&nbsp;of&nbsp;T&uuml;rkiye&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Nurzhan&nbsp;Marabayev,&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer,&nbsp;Semurg&nbsp;Invest, Kazakhstan&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Zviad&nbsp;Chkhartishvili,&nbsp;Director, Poti Sea Port Administration, Georgia&nbsp;
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

11:15 &ndash; 11:30 AM&nbsp;

Policy Speech &ndash; Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Senator from Montana&nbsp;Introduction by Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, CPC&nbsp;

&nbsp;

11:30 AM &ndash; 12:00 PM &nbsp;

Panel II - Digital Sovereignty and Industrial AI: Technology as the Next Growth Vector&nbsp;

Moderator: Eric Green, Advisory Board Member, CPC

<ul>
	<li>
	Ambassador&nbsp;Zavqi&nbsp;Zavqizoda, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Aida&nbsp;Badalova,&nbsp;Advisor to the Minister,&nbsp;Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Anatoly&nbsp;Motkin, Founder and President,&nbsp;StrategEast&nbsp;
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:00 PM&ndash;1:00PM&nbsp;

<cite>Networking Lunch&nbsp;</cite>

&nbsp;

1:00 &ndash; 1:30 PM

Panel III &ndash; Critical Minerals: Capitalizing on the Momentum

Moderator: Dr. Marsha McGraw Olive, Advisory Board Member, CPC

<ul>
	<li>Ashley Beaty,&nbsp;Head of Global Engagement, Cove&nbsp;Kaz&nbsp;Capital&nbsp;Group&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

1:35&nbsp;&ndash; 2:35&nbsp;PM

Panel IV - Energy Security: The Caspian Basin in a Changing Global Market&nbsp;

Moderator:&nbsp;Efgan&nbsp;Nifti,&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CPC&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	Mark Menezes,&nbsp;President&nbsp;and CEO of U.S. Energy Association (USEA);
	</li>
	<li>
	Orkhan Zeynalov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan &nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Shawna Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security Assistance Programs, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Miras Kyrgyzali, Chief Manager, Kazatomprom U.S. Representative Office&nbsp;
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

2:45 &ndash; 3:25 PM

Panel V&nbsp;- Business Investment along the Middle Corridor&nbsp;

Moderator: Alexander Sokolowski,&nbsp;Advisory Board Member, CPC&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	Jonathan Bar, Managing Director, Apollo Global Management &nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Laura Brank, Partner, BCLP 
	</li>
	<li>
	Madina Zhunusbekova, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li>
	Luka Kervalishvili, Head of Commerce Department, PACE Group, Georgia&nbsp;
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

3:25 &ndash; 3:30 PM

Closing Remarks &ndash; Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Advisory Board, CPC

&nbsp;

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