Save the date for the Trans-Caspian Forum 2026, taking place on June 10, 2026, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Hosted by the Caspian Policy Center, this year’s forum, “Economic Security through Peace and Durable Partnerships,” 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
 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

 

8:30 – 8:55 AM

Registration & Breakfast

 

8:55 – 9:05 AM

Opening Remarks – Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Caspian Policy Center (CPC)

 

9:05 – 9:20 AM

Policy Address – Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of State

 

9:30 – 10:15 AM

Strategic Dialogue - Perspectives from the Region: Insights for the Next Phase of Caspian Cooperation 

Senior leaders from the region discuss their visions for what comes next — from connectivity and energy diversification to critical minerals and digital infrastructure — within a cooperation framework that seeks to maximize joint economic security.

Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Senior Fellow for Caspian Affairs, CPC

• Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan
• Erzhan Kazykhan, Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Negotiations with the United State
• Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Foreign Policy 
• Edil Baisalov, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for International Initiatives  

 

10:15 – 11:15 AM 

Panel I - The Middle Corridor: Strengthening Strategic Choice and Building Secure Networks 

Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Matthew Klimow, Advisory Board Member, CPC

• Jon Askonas, Senior Advisor, Office of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State  

• Taleh Ziyadov, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan 

• Ambassador Zafer Ateş, Director General for Energy, Environment, and Transboundary Waters, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye 

• Nurzhan Marabayev, Chief Executive Officer, Semurg Invest, Kazakhstan 

• Zviad Chkhartishvili, Director, Poti Sea Port Administration, Georgia 

 

11:15 – 11:30 AM 

Policy Speech – Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Senator from Montana Introduction by Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, CPC 

 

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM  

Panel II - Digital Sovereignty and Industrial AI: Technology as the Next Growth Vector 

Moderator: Eric Green, Advisory Board Member, CPC

• Ambassador Zavqi Zavqizoda, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States 

• Aida Badalova, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan 

• Anatoly Motkin, Founder and President, StrategEast 

 

12:00 PM–1:00PM 

Networking Lunch 

 

1:00 – 1:30 PM 

Policy Speech – Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Senator from Montana

Introduction by Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, CPC

 

11:30 AM–12:30 PM

Networking Lunch

 

1:00 – 1:30 PM 

Panel III – Critical Minerals: Capitalizing on the Momentum

Moderator: Dr. Marsha McGraw Olive, Advisory Board Member, CPC

• Allison Iannarino, Managing Director for Asia, Infrastructure, and ICT, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)  
• Ashley Beaty, Head of Global Engagement, Cove Kaz Capital Group  

 

1:30 – 2:15 PM

Panel IV - Energy Security: The Caspian Basin in a Changing Global Market 

Moderator: Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CPC 

• Mark Menezes, President and CEO of U.S. Energy Association (USEA);

• Former U.S. Deputy Secretary for Energy 

• Senior Representative, Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan 

 

2:15 – 2:45 PM

Panel V - Powering the Future: Nuclear Energy in the Caspian Region 

Moderator: Roger Kangas, Senior Fellow for Security Studies, CPC 

• Shawna Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security Assistance Programs, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State  

• Miras Kyrgyzali, Chief Manager, Kazatomprom U.S. Representative Office

 

2:45 – 3:25 PM

Panel VI - Business Investment along the Middle Corridor 

Moderator: Alexander Sokolowski, Advisory Board Member, CPC 

• Jonathan Bar, Managing Director, Apollo Global Management  

• Laura Brank, Partner, BCLP

• Madina Zhunusbekova, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) 

• Luka Kervalishvili, Head of Commerce Department, PACE Group, Georgia 

 

3:25 – 3:30 PM

Closing Remarks – Ambassador (ret.) Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of the Advisory Board, CPC