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September 24, 2024

The Harvard Club in New York City 

The Caspian Policy Center is proud to host this annual event bringing together the best minds in business, government, and non-profits to discuss new business and energy challenges and opportunities for the Caspian region. The forum will bring together policymakers, business leaders, and members of the academic community at the Harvard Club to discuss the emerging business and energy landscape across the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with a focus on growing regional connectivity and the emerging COP 29 agenda. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the countries of the Caspian region, the partnership between the countries has grown to include cooperation across multiple sectors of en- gagement. In the last several years, there has been significant growth in relations and trade connectivity be- tween the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia and with the world. As the region hosts COP 29, there is similar energy to address regional and global climate concerns. 

International business has proved vital in promoting and facilitating cooperation as new global supply lines are developed across the region. To discuss the current and future of business ties between global stakeholders and the Caspian region, the Caspian Policy Center has invited senior business and government leaders with experience in the region’s unique energy, climate and trade environment to discuss what opportunities exist for the year ahead. 

AGENDA

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Registration and Cocktail Reception 

6:00 – 6:05  – Welcome Remarks

• Efgan Nifti, CEO, Caspian Policy Center

6:05 – 6:35   –  Keynote Remarks

• Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State
• Helaina Matza, Acting Special Coordinator, Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)
• Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General, Organization of Turkic States (OTS

6:35 – 7:15  –    Regional Ministerial Keynote Addresses  

Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Senior Fellow, Caspian Policy Center

• Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan
• Lasha Darsalia, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia
• Zulfiya Suleimenova, Advisor to the President and Special Representative of the President on International Environmental Cooperation, Kazakhstan 
• Berris Ekinci, Deputy Minister of ForeignAffairs, Türkiye

7:15 – 7:35  –  Networking break

7:35 – 8:35      Panel Discussion: Sustainable Connectivity and Investment

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

• Anjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Robert Scher, Head of International Affairs, BP America 
• Senior Representative, Wabtec Corporation 
• Dr. Taleh Ziyadov, Director-General, Baku International Sea Trade Port

• Gabidulla Ospankulov, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

• Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Management Board, Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan 

8:35 – 8:45       Closing Remarks

• Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian Policy Center

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