Caspian Region's Potential Explored at Business Forum in the USA
The Caspian Policy Center hosted the 4th annual Caspian Business Forum in New York, following the first Central Asia - USA Heads of State Summit with the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the USA.
The Caspian Business Forum provided a platform for representatives from governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations to discuss collaboration opportunities among the countries in the region. The event was conducted with the coordination of the embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
In his opening remarks, the CEO of the Caspian Policy Center, Efgan Nifti, emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual support among the Caspian region countries and their partners.
"Strengthening cooperation and solidarity among the countries of the Caspian region and their international allies is becoming increasingly crucial for addressing issues and promoting stability in the region," stated Efgan Nifti.
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State, Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, noted that Caspian natural gas plays and will continue to play a significant role in reducing Europe's energy dependency.
Chairman of the Investment Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ardak Zebeshev, shared that the USA is one of Kazakhstan's priority investment partners. In just the past year, the trade turnover increased by 40%, reaching $3.1 billion, and U.S. investments more than doubled, exceeding $5.1 billion.
The Chairman of the Board of JSC "NC "KAZAKH INVEST," Meirzhan Yussupov, discussed the investment potential of Kazakhstan, state support measures for investors, and delved into the opportunities for the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and other routes, gaining increasing importance in the context of ensuring energy and food security.
Also speaking at the forum were the Secretary General of Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, representatives of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and government officials from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan.
The forum underscored that cooperation between the countries of the Caspian region and their international partners is a key element in addressing contemporary challenges and ensuring stability in the region. Representatives from various sectors of government, business, and non-profit organizations expressed their readiness for further deepening of collaboration and the development of economic ties.
