2017 Trans-Caspian Forum: East West Trade & Transit Corridor

See tentative program. 
Background: The Trans-Caspian East-West Trade and Transit Corridor brings together the Central Asia, Caspian and Black Sea strategic regions to form a viable trade and transit corridor between Europe and East & South-East Asia. Connecting trade, people and economies, the modern trans-Caspian corridor has extensive and integrated network of infrastructure, special economic zones, harmonized customs, cross-border procedures and more along this route.

The United States played an important role in the development of this corridor and its cooperation with our countries has evolved into resilient strategic partnerships. Joint initiatives and projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Southern Gas Corridor have greatly contributed to the increased business between the region and the United States. Moreover, currently underway regional infrastructure projects such as С5+1 Transport Corridor Development, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the multiple Port developments valued over $50 billion have been providing additional business opportunities including increased trade, investments and development of strategic infrastructure for facilitating commercially viable transit that the United States and its companies can benefit from.

Today, ambitious regional infrastructure projects will ensure swift and efficient shipments of all types of goods. These projects will connect Asian and European transport networks, significantly shorten delivery time and save transportation costs for delivering goods from Asian to European markets. Expanding regional transport grids along the Trans-Caspian corridor opens new opportunities for transcontinental shipments, and innovative services. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan form a market of around 150 million consumers. These countries are willing to offer customized and integrated solutions to companies with highly sophisticated supply chains.

Project description: Forum is a practical manifestation of joint willingness of the Trans-Caspian countries to make this corridor a viable option for East-West trade and transit shipments. Regional governments will introduce infrastructure, business, investment, trade and transit opportunities to business leaders, policy-makers and expert community across a variety of multinational industries. The Forum presents a suitable platform for public and private senior executives from regional countries and businesses.

The diplomatic missions of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan will hold the “2nd Trans-Caspian East-West Trade and Transit Corridor” forum in Washington D.C onJune 26-27, 2017. The Forum will take place at the George Washington University followed up by a policy discussion at the US Congress and round-table at the World Bank.

On the first day, June 26, the Forum will be co-hosted by the Central Asia Program at George Washington University and the Caspian Policy Center and it will be open to the wider public including academic, think tank, policy, business community, government officials and policy-makers from six organizing countries along with the United States.

On June 27, the morning session will be held at the United States Congress and will be open to the public, specifically to Congressional staff along with academic, think tank, policy, business community, government officials and policy-makers.

On the second half of June 27, an event will be organized at the World Bank for businesses, think tanks and government officials to discuss practical issues of cooperation along the Trans-Caspian corridor.

More details are available on the event’s website and registration now available.