<h1><img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2024/03/11/8th-tcf-middle-corridor.png" /></h1>

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

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, T&uuml;rkiye, 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.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

9:00 am &ndash; 9:05 am Opening Remarks&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Efgan Nifti,&nbsp;President, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

9:05 am &ndash; 9:45 am U.S. Keynote Remarks&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Amos Hochstein, U.S. Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security (Invited)</li>
	<li>Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State (Invited)</li>
	<li>Isobel Coleman, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (Invited)</li>
	<li>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)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

9:45 am &ndash; 11:00 am Caspian Keynote&nbsp;Addresses&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moderator: Ambassador (Ret.) Richard Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian Policy Center&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyzstan (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tajikistan (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, T&uuml;rkiye (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkmenistan (Invited)</li>
	<li>Deputy Minister of Transport, Uzbekistan (Invited)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

11:00 am &ndash; 11:15 am Coffee Break

&nbsp;

Panel 2 &ndash; Maximizing Development Impact: Prioritization &amp; Coordination&nbsp;

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Middle Corridor is a network of routes that cross Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and T&uuml;rkiye, 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&rsquo;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.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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?

&nbsp;

11:15 am &ndash; 12:30 pm Panel Discussion&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moderator: Dr. Marsha McGraw Olive, Caspian Policy Center Board Member&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Ambassador Erin McKee, Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Tamar Satterwhite, Senior Attorney,&nbsp;Commercial Law Development Program(CLDP), Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce</li>
	<li>Winnie Wang, Lead Infrastructure Specialist and Program Leader, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank</li>
	<li>Senior Representative, Development Finance Corporation (DFC) (Invited)</li>
	<li>Ambassador Jovita Neliup&scaron;ienė, Ambassador of the European Union to the USA (Invited)</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:30&nbsp;pm &ndash; 01:30 pm Lunch

&nbsp;

Panel 3 &ndash; How to Do Business Better Along the Middle Corridor:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Experts Discuss Needs and Opportunities&nbsp;

&nbsp;

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Though infrastructure gaps and challenges inhibit the Middle Corridor&rsquo;s potential, some businesses in the region are doing quite well.&nbsp; Experts from the energy, business, and extractive sectors discuss what works and what can work better in the Caspian region. &nbsp; What steps can be taken to address institutionalized impediments to doing business in the Caspian region?&nbsp; What has the creation of the Middle Corridor meant for international business? Are there low-hanging fruits to improve business capabilities?

&nbsp;

1:30 pm &ndash; 2:30 pm Panel Discussion&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Caspian Policy Center Board Member&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Robert Scher, Vice President, BP America</li>
	<li>Mamuka Murjikneli, CEO, Wondernet Investment Group&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Laura Brank, Partner, Dechert LLP</li>
	<li>Carolyn Lamm, Chairman of the Board, American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (Invited)</li>
	<li>Alice Wong, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer, Cameco (Invited)</li>
	<li>Other senior regional private sector representatives</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Linking Central Asia, the Caucasus and Western Markets:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Briefing on the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor and Emerging U.S. Opportunities

&nbsp;

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 T&uuml;rkiye, creates a new trade network for the Caspian region and also represents the shorter path than trade through Russia.

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

Speakers include:

&bull; &bull;

Senior Representatives of the Trans-Caspian countries

Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Richard Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian

Policy Center

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To send a RSVP request please contact <a href="mailto:rsvp@caspianpolicy.org">rsvp@caspianpolicy.org</a> with your name and affiliation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Please be advised there is high demand and limited seating capacity.&nbsp; We will respond to your request shortly.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

For sponsorship opportunities please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jfreund@caspianpolicy.org">jfreund@caspianpolicy.org</a>

&nbsp;

<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2024/04/18/sponsorship.pdf">Sponsorship</a>

&nbsp;

The 8th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum: How to Maximize the Middle Corridor

Black Sea Security Conference

Caspian Policy Center (CPC) is an independent, nonprofit research think tank based in Washington D.C. Economic, political, energy and security issues of the Caspian region constitute the central research focus of the Center. The Caspian region, at the crossroads of the East and the West, is increasingly becoming a crucial area of global interest with its rich natural resources, geopolitical rivalry and economic development. Established in 2016, the Center aims at becoming a primary research and debate platform in the Caspian region with relevant publications, events, projects and media productions to nurture a comprehensive understanding of the intertwined affairs of the Caspian region. With an inclusive, scholarly and innovative approach, the Caspian Policy Center presents a platform where diverse voices from academia, business and policy world from both the region and the nation&rsquo;s capital interact to produce distinct ideas and insights to the outstanding issues of the region.

Changing Tides in the Caspian Region

Dear Readers,

Welcome to this edition of Caspian Affairs!

To say that we live in unprecedented times is often just an empty cliché, but I think it is justified as we look back over the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic sweeping around the world and the related global supply-chain problems, the accelerating consequences of climate change, 
the growth of authoritarianism in a number of countries, the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and the triumph of the Taliban &ndash; all of this, and more, made 2021 a year that historians will study closely for years to come.

Also in 2021, the Caspian Policy Center completed its fifth year in Washington, DC, and is grateful for its important partners in government, private business, and academia around 
the world. Despite the severe disruptions caused by the pandemic, the CPC and its partners moved forward with important projects like the Trans-Caspian Forum and the Caspian 
Security Conference, as well as many other virtual meetings and discussions. We completed two important visits to the Caspian region while maintaining all necessary health precautions, and we continued to publish and distribute, both on our website, www.caspianpolicy.org, and by email to our members and subscribers, important articles and reports about political, security, economic, and energy news in the greater Caspian region. And based on ideas from our friends around the world, we have continued to make policy recommendations that we believe will make our world a better place.

An important development of the digital age is the emergence of the &ldquo;hive mind&rdquo; that allows people from all over the world to exchange accurate information &ndash; it&rsquo;s important to emphasize accurate &ndash; and to recommend solutions to problems that might not occur to traditional groups of elites in the worlds of government and private-business. This is the democratization of global cooperation, and we believe that the Caspian Policy Center is playing an important role in this process. If ideas have occurred to you that it seems governments and businesses haven&rsquo;t considered, we invite you to contact us at info@caspianpolicy.org so that our experts can consider your suggestions and pass them along to the appropriate recipients, either through our articles and reports, during our various events, or in private conversations. Working together, we can all make our difficult world a better place for the generations to come.

Again, we are grateful for your interest in &ndash; and support for &ndash; the Caspian Policy Center. We look forward to another successful year of collaboration.

Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland

Editor-in-Chief 
Caspian Affairs Magazine

30 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Welcome to Caspian Affairs, an international publication of the Caspian Policy Center in Washington, DC.

Needless to say, momentous events have recently occurred, not only in the Caspian region but throughout the entire world.

Although vaccines are becoming available, COVID-19 continues to rage around the globe, claiming many lives and deeply impacting national economies. The recent war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for Nagorno-Karabakh focused international attention on the region and reminded the world of the danger of&nbsp;the prolonged conflicts on the territory of the former Soviet Union. In the United States, the events&nbsp;folowing the November 2020 presidential election have been without precedent, including a mass attack&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. And yet, our fragile democracy has withstood the test, and Joseph Biden is now the 46th president of the United States.

We begin this edition of Caspian Affairs with six policy recommendations for the new Biden administration for the Caspian Region. We urge greater U.S. attention to this strategic crossroad between&nbsp;Asia and Europe because the issues in the region are so vital for peace and prosperity far beyond the region itself. Two issues are of special importance. Energy &ndash; the traditional hydrocarbons so abundant in the Caspian region as well as the emerging alternates of solar and wind power &ndash; enriches the region but engenders international competition. Extremists and terrorists persist in the region, especially as the decades-long competition for power in Afghanistan remains unsettled, with external players continuing to meddle in Afghan affairs. Because of the economic and political importance of the region, the countriesthere continue to protect their sovereignty and independence, even as they balance their relations with&nbsp;Russia, China, Europe, and the United States.

It&rsquo;s a complex region in a complicated world! We hope that Caspian Affairs will give you deeper insight into this strategic part of the world. As always, we welcome your questions and comments. Please contact us at info@caspianpolicy.org&nbsp;.

Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland

Editor-in-Chief 
Caspian Affairs Magazine

U.S. Engagement With the Caspian Region

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first edition of Caspian Affairs in 2020. Traditionally, this is the time when media pundits make prognostications for the year ahead. But, as all well know, they almost always miss the big stories, simply because no one can see clearly into the future.

What we can do, however, is look at recent significant trends that will be worth following closely in 2020. Here are a few, but I&rsquo;m sure you have others that I haven&rsquo;t mentioned here.

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE. China&rsquo;s BRI is a policy that has morphed and developed over the years since it was first announced in the Fall of 2013. For the Caspian Sea region, its strong focus is on transportation links and trade facilities &ndash; roads, railroads, and ports. So far in the region, Kazakhstan has benefited the most from China&rsquo;s BRI, and that&rsquo;s likely to continue &ndash; and grow &ndash; simply because of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s immense size and relatively advanced state of development. Yes, the U.S. government has recently launched its Blue Dot Network policy in the region in response to China&rsquo;s BRI &ndash; a laudable initiative but with miniscule funding compared to China. What to watch in the BRI? Inevitably, hard power follows soft power. That&rsquo;s simply global realpolitik and something we should keep an eye on.

U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS. Iran is an essential country in the region &ndash; it&rsquo;s one of five Caspian Sea littoral states and seeks strong economic and political relations with all the countries in the region. Each of the eight countries, to one degree or another, works to balance its relations among Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States. Should the Washington-Tehran conflict heat up this year, no one can predict what will happen &ndash; except that the Caspian Sea countries will most certainly be affected.

UZBEKISTAN. Three years into Shavkat Mirzizoyev&rsquo;s presidency, his economic, political, and diplomatic reforms continue to benefit Uzbekistan and the entire Central Asian region. Although in recent months it has taken a bit of the back burner, his perceived longer-term goal of creating a block of nations among the five is to be lauded and encouraged. Ultimately, it would enhance the political power of the region and improve the livelihoods of the population.

I&rsquo;m sure you have other ideas for those who watch this region closely. We&rsquo;d be delighted to hear your suggestions. We always welcome topics for follow-up. Please contact us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@caspianpolicy.org">info@caspianpolicy.org</a>.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland

Caspian Affairs Editor-in-Chief

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary “Contract Of The Century”

Dear Readers, Welcome to Caspian Affairs! We at the Caspian Policy Center hope that this publication will help acquaint you with the political, security, infrastructure, economic, and trade and commerce issues and opportunities of the countries of the Caspian Sea region &ndash; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These eight independent countries, once the center of the Silk Road immortalized by Marco Polo and others, are the land bridge between China and Europe and today are prime real estate for Beijing&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, Russia considers them as part of its &ldquo;privileged sphere of influence,&rdquo; and Iran hovers directly to the south. Despite the major international competition in the region, each of these former Soviet republics, independent now for only 27 years, seeks to balance its relations with Moscow, Beijing, Washington, and Brussels. This is a region on the move and poised for greater success, in large part because of the worldclass oil and natural-gas deposits in a number of the countries and, especially, in the Caspian Sea itself. It has the potential to supply significant amounts of hydrocarbons directly to Europe, as has already been proven by the successful Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan natural-gas pipeline. But the Caspian Sea region is not just about natural resources; even more, it&rsquo;s about human resources, boasting a highly-educated population and skilled work force. The Muslim countries in the region are moderate, secular, and forward looking. Especially promising is that these countries are beginning to explore forming their own regional organization to gain greater prominence on the world stage. We at Caspian Affairs would value your feedback. Please contact us at ca@caspianpolicy.org. To learn more about the region and to see weekly news updates, please visit www.caspianpolicy.org. Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland Editor-in-Chief Caspian Affairs Magazine

Capital In The Caspian

Dear Readers, Welcome to the second issue of Caspian Affairs! We at the Caspian Policy Center hope that this publication will help acquaint you with the political, security, infrastructure, economic, and trade and commerce issues and opportunities of the countries of the Caspian Sea region &ndash; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These eight independent countries, once the center of the Silk Road immortalized by Marco Polo and others, are the land bridge between China and Europe and today are prime real estate for Beijing&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, Russia considers them as part of its &ldquo;privileged sphere of influence,&rdquo; and Iran hovers directly to the south. Despite the major international competition in the region, each of these former Soviet republics, independent now for only 27 years, seeks to balance its relations with Moscow, Beijing, Washington, and Brussels. This is a region on the move and poised for greater success, in large part because of the world-class oil and natural-gas deposits in a number of the countries and, especially, in the Caspian Sea itself. It has the potential to supply significant amounts of hydrocarbons directly to Europe, as has already been proven by the successful Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan natural-gas pipeline. But the Caspian Sea region is not just about natural resources; even more, it&rsquo;s about human resources, boasting a highly-educated population and skilled work force. The Muslim countries in the region are moderate, secular, and forward-looking. Especially promising is that these countries are beginning to explore forming their own regional organization to gain greater prominence on the world stage. We at Caspian Affairs would value your feedback. Please contact us at ca@caspianpolicy.org. To learn more about the region and to see weekly news updates, please visit www.caspianpolicy.org. Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland Editor-in-Chief Caspian Affairs Magazine

Caspian Connectivity: The New Silk Road

Dear Readers, Welcome to Caspian Affairs! We at the Caspian Policy Center hope that this publication will help acquaint you with the political, security, infrastructure, economic, and trade and commerce issues and opportunities of the countries of the Caspian Sea region &ndash; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These eight independent countries, once the center of the Silk Road immortalized by Marco Polo and others are the land bridge between China and Europe and today are prime real estate for Beijing&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, Russia considers them as part of its &ldquo;privileged sphere of influence,&rdquo; and Iran hovers directly to the south. Despite the major international competition in the region, each of these former Soviet republics, independent now for only 27 years, seeks to balance its relations with Moscow, Beijing, Washington, and Brussels. This is a region on the move and poised for greater success, in large part because of the world-class oil and natural-gas deposits in a number of the countries and, especially, in the Caspian Sea itself. It has the potential to supply significant amounts of hydrocarbons directly to Europe, as has already been proven by the successful Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan natural-gas pipeline. But the Caspian Sea region is not just about natural resources; even more, it&rsquo;s about human resources, boasting a highly-educated population and skilled workforce. The Muslim countries in the region are moderate, secular, and forward-looking. Especially promising is that these countries are beginning to explore forming their own regional organization to gain greater prominence on the world stage. We at Caspian Affairs would value your feedback. Please contact us at ca@caspianpolicy.org. To learn more about the region and to see weekly news updates, please visit www.caspianpolicy.org. Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland Editor-in-Chief Caspian Affairs Magazine

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The 8th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum: How to Maximize the Middle Corridor

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