INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE IN CAMCA REGION: Current Trends and Growing Opportunities

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council presented this Fall's team of Rumsfeld Fellows, emerging leaders from the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Central Asia  - which the alumni themselves call the 'CAMCA Region.' 

Fall 2019 Rumsfeld Fellows include:

Ms. Ellaha Shaheen (Afghanistan) Market Access Negotiator at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the World Trade Organization

Mr. Aram Pinajyan (Armenia) Deputy CEO and Chief Risk Officer at HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC

Ms. Rasmina Gurbatova (Azerbaijan) Founder, Owner and Designer of Resm Jewelry 

Ms. Nona Mamulashvili (Georgia) Founder and Chairwoman of the Caucasus Economic Policy Institute

Ms. Rusudan Mamatsashvili (Georgia) First Deputy Head at the National Tourism Administration of Georgia

Ms. Dinara Chaizhunussova (Kazakhstan) Chairman of the Board of Trustees of “Bolashak” Corporate Foundation

Mr. Ruslan Assaubayev (Kazkahstan) Managing Partner and Regional Development Director at Korkem Telecom

Mr. Mirbek Asangariev (Kyrgyzstan) Entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of eco-friendly business Hotel “Bridges” in Bishkek

Mr. Batzaya Batsaikhan (Mongolia) Co-founder and CEO of Unread Media

Ms. Enkhzul Dambajantsan (Mongolia) Chief Operating Officer of the Mongolian Stock Exchange

Mr. Shuhrat Mirzoev (Tajikistan) Managing Partner and Founder of IRSHAD Consulting LLC

Mr. Sardor Mukhamedaliev (Uzbekistan) Chief Business Development Officer of the Swiss-based leading online shopping marketplace ZoomMall

Moderator:  S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at AFPC

Where: Middle East Institute: 1763 N Street NW, 20036

When: Thursday, October 31, 2018 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, 

Scroll down for a few video clips of the presentation.

 Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia

Growth remains broadly stable in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), but it is still well below the long-term potential for the region — and too low if the region is to raise living standards to the level of other emerging economies in Europe and Asia. The challenge is to leverage good domestic policies, increased economic diversification, and stronger international cooperation to generate higher and more inclusive growth that lifts up the prospects of all CCA citizens. This task is complicated by global uncertainties, weaknesses in the banking sectors, and elevated public debt. This event coincides with the launch of the IMF's Departmental Paper: Promoting Inclusive Growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia presented by one of the authors, Mercedes Vera-Martin.

Speakers: 

Juha Kähkönen, Deputy Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF

Mercedes Vera Martin, Deputy Division Chief, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF

Moderator: S. Frederick Starr,Chairman Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council

Where: Middle East Institute: 1319 18th Street NW, 20036

When: Wednesday, June 4, 2019 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm, 

The PowerPoint Presentations from both speakers are available below.

Promoting_Inclusive_Growth_in_the_CCA.pdf

Economic_Outlook_for_the_CCA_Presentation.pdf

Taking Stock Invitation: One Year After Uzbekistan Pledges Reforms

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, alongside of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and IREX are hosting a panel discussion to mark the first anniversary of the new era of cooperation between Washington and Tashkent. One year after Uzbek President Mirziyoyev’s historic May 2018 visit to the United States, a panel of experts will discuss what changes are underway in the strategic Central Asia nation. Topics of discussion include U.S.-Uzbek cooperation, new international activities, and reformation in the economic and media sectors of the country.

Featuring: 

His Excellency Javlon Vakhabov, Uzbek Ambassador to the United States

Lisa Curtis, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for South and Central Asia

Dr. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia -Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program

Navbahor Imamova, Journalist, VOA Uzbek Service

Moderator: Alicia Phillips Mandaville IREX Vice President for Global Programs

Where: IREX, Suite 600, 1275 K St. NW, Washington, DC

When: Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, 

RSVP: Click HERE to register

 CACI Forum with the Rumsfeld Fellows - Spring 2019

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute presents this Spring's team of Rumsfeld Fellows, emerging leaders from the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Central Asia - which the alumni themselves have dubbed the 'CAMCA Region.' 

The region is facing critical questions: are the CAMCA countries globally competitive for investors? What is being done to remove the impediments? 

At this Forum Rumsfeld Fellows will introduce an idea of the Investment Harbor, as a mechanism to facilitate investments, trade and greater regional and global connectivity of the CAMCA countries. 

Spring 2019 Rumsfeld Fellows include:

Mr. Assadullah Zamir (Afghanistan), CEO and Partner of Sabzwar Agribusiness and Food Services and Founder of Abreshum Venture. 

Mr. Fuad Karimov (Azerbaijan), Director of Professional Support Services LLC. 

Mr. Giorgi Arveladze (Georgia), 36, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ubique, a Tbilisi based real estate development firm. 

Ms. Mariam Lashkhi (Georgia), Deputy Chairperson at Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). 

Dr. Almazbek Beishenaliev (Kyrgyzstan), Director of the Regional Institute of Central Asia in Bishkek. 

Ms. Jenny Jenish kyzy (Kyrgyzstan), Chairperson of the Association of Social Entrepreneurs (ASE) of Kyrgyzstan and Founder “New Schools Foundation” and “J-Invest Consulting” firm.

Mr. Olzhas Khudaibergenov (Kazakhstan), Founder and Senior Partner at the Center for Strategic Initiatives LLP (CSI). 

Mr. Nurtas Janibekov (Kazakhstan), Adviser to the Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). 

Ms. Chimguundari Navaan-Yunden (Mongolia), Ambassador-at- Large and Director of the Investment Research Center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Mongolia. 

Ms. Nargis Esufbekova (Tajikistan), Head of Secretariat of the Development Coordination Council (DCC) in Tajikistan 

Ms. Maral Ilyasova (Turkmenistan), appraisement expert at the Appraisal Company “Turkmen Expert” ES. 

Mr. Bokhodir Ayupov (Uzbekistan), Consultant at the Technopark of Software Development and IT. 

Moderator: S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at AFPC

Where: Middle East Institute: 1319 18th Street NW, 20036

When: Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, 

RSVP: Click HERE to register

The Xinjiang Crisis and the Rest of Central Asia: Impacts and Responses

The Uyghurs of Xinjiang constitute one of the oldest Turkic peoples and the first to be urbanized and to develop a written language and rich intellectual life. As such they are, in a historic and cultural sense, part of Central Asia. The forum discussed how the ongoing crisis in Xinjiang affected Uyghurs, the Central Asian countries, and how Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan responded?

Speakers: 

Sean R. Roberts, Associate Professor, George Washington University 

James Clad, Director, Asian Security Program, American Foreign Policy Council

Ilshat Hassan, President, Uyghur American Association

Moderator: S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at AFPC

Where: Middle East Institute: 1319 18th Street NW, 20036

When: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm, 

Scroll Down for the Full Recording