December 12, 2024, 2:30 p.m. –4:00 p.m. (EST)
As the United States and Central Asia celebrate over three decades of diplomatic engagement, the focus of discussions has evolved from primarily geopolitical and security concerns to a stronger emphasis on trade and investment. This shift reflects the growing appreciation for American brands and their increasing influence in the region.
This event aims to explore the expanding commercial ties between the United States and Central Asia, underscoring their critical role in strengthening bilateral relations. It will highlight how trade and investment serve as a foundation for broader partnerships and mutually beneficial opportunities. The program will address the challenges and opportunities businesses face in the region and consider the future of economic engagement, paving the way for deeper collaboration and shared success.
Keynote Remarks
Carolyn Lamm, Partner, White & Case LLP, is Chair of International Arbitration of the Americas. Lead Counsel in international arbitrations in ICSID, ICC, and other related litigation in US courts for foreign states, foreign state-owned companies, and foreign corporate entities. She is an arbitrator on the ICSID List, first nominated by the United States and then by the Government of Uzbekistan. She has served as arbitrator in proceedings of the ICSID, ICC, SAIC, ICDR, AAA, etc. She is Distinguished Faculty Co-Chair, White & Case LLM International Arbitration at the University of Miami School of Law. She is Past President of the American Bar Association, the DC Bar, and the American Bar Endowment, and is a member of the Advisory Council and previously Governing Board of the ICCA, the Council of the American Law Institute (elected 1999; Emeritus). She serves as Counselor on the Advisory Committee for the Restatement 4th of Foreign Relations, and the Advisory Committee for the Restatement of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration. She is a frequent lecturer and author in the field of international arbitration. She is Chairman of the Board of the American-Uzbekistan US Chamber of Commerce. She has also been a Member of the Board of Trustees, University of Miami (2020–2023), and honorary Professor at Tashkent State University School of Law.
Speakers
J. P. Natkin has worked in Russia, the CIS, and the Eurasia region for over three decades. He started his career in Washington on Capitol Hill before transitioning to international business, including stints in industry, consulting, and investment banking. As a banker covering the EMEA and Eurasia region, J. P. was voted one of the top professionals in the Thomson Reuters Extel survey of institutional investors and frequently placed in the top three of these polls. Before leaving to launch Macro-Advisory Ltd., J. P. served as CEO of Otkritie Inc. and as Global Head of Sales for parent company Otkritie Capital, where he launched the US broker-dealer for Russia’s largest private bank and initiated research coverage to North American investors. He previously served as Managing Director, Head of Client Services, and Head of Emerging Markets for Crédit Agricole Cheuvreux; Managing Director and Co-Head of International business for Uralsib; Head of the Institutional Client Group at Troika Dialog; Director for Global Emerging Markets for ING Barings; and Vice President at Renaissance Capital. Prior to moving to the investment banking industry, J. P. led the natural resource practice for Central Europe Trust in London, where he advised multinational firms on market entry and corporate finance strategy throughout the CEEMEA region. J. P. also lived and worked in Russia in the early 1990s, where he led the first post-Soviet foreign investment in new oilfield development for EuroSov Petroleum and its parent firm Vanguard Petroleum, an Australian resource venture capital boutique. J. P. Natkin received a B.A. in Political Science from Boston University and did his graduate work in Strategic Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Elena V. Son is the Executive Director of the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC), the US-Kyrgyzstan Business Council (USKGZBC), the US-Tajikistan Business Council (USTJBC), and the US-Afghanistan Business Initiative (USABI). In her role, Ms. Son is a driving force behind fundraising initiatives, actively engaging with the board of directors and leading efforts to expand membership across all councils. Her strategic vision focuses on building strong, sustainable partnerships with large US corporations, governments in the US and Central Asia, and international financial institutions. Her work emphasizes trade and investment opportunities, market access, and creating a competitive and favorable business climate in the region.
Matt Edwards has served as Director of the Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration since 2012. His office is responsible for assisting US companies and industries in reducing market barriers and promoting American exports in Eurasia. He has participated in numerous US delegations to the region and traveled regularly to Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to assess business conditions and the concerns of US companies in those markets. He previously served as an attaché in the Commercial Section of the American Embassy in Moscow, where he served as acting deputy section chief. A native of Pittsburgh, Mr. Edwards earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and a BA from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Moderator
Sebastien Peyrouse is Director of the Central Asia Program and Research Professor, IERES, The George Washington University. His main areas of expertise are political systems in Central Asia, economic and social issues, Islam and religious minorities, and Central Asia’s geopolitical positioning toward China, India, and South Asia.
