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>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>Bagdat Mussin, Chief Executive Officer, Kazakhtelecom (TBC)</li>
	<li>Romina Bandura, Senior Fellow, Project on Prosperity and Development, CSIS&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Moderated by Dr. Karibayeva Meyer, Program Director for Tech Policy, Caspian Policy Center

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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

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In our first Caspian Conversation, we explore the significance of the Caspian region in U.S. foreign policy, as well as its past and future role as a nexus for global connectivity. In the below video, Caspian Policy Center’s Efgan Nifti, Ambassador (ret.) Robert Cekuta, and Ambassador (ret.) Richard Hoagland, provide an overview of what elements define the Caspian region.



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