"Trans-Caspian East-West Trade and Transit Corridor" Forum on April 28, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

"Trans-Caspian East-West Trade and Transit Corridor,” a transit forum, will be hosted at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

The Central Asia, Caspian, South Caucasus and Black Sea regions together form an important transit corridor between China and Europe as it connects trade, people and economies with its integrated network of infrastructure, special economic zones, harmonized customs, and cross-border procedures along the route. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey combined represent a market of more than 110 million consumers.

The daylong forum at Johns Hopkins SAIS will introduce U.S. business leaders to projects and investments along the modern Silk Road across a variety of multinational industries. The event is organized by the Embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey to the U.S., in partnership with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, World Bank Group, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Council for International Understanding, Boeing Company, U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Azerbaijan, America-Georgia Business Council, U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association, AmCham Kazakhstan, AmCham Georgia, and Turkish-American Business Association/AmCham Turkey.

The panels will feature speakers from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Baku International Sea and Trade Port, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping, Georgian Railway, Kazakhstan Railways, Azerbaijan Railways, Anaklia Development Consortium, Ministry of Customs and Trade of Turkey, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, and Ministry of Finance of Georgia.

Agenda

9:00-10:00 a.m. Welcome by Organizers and Partners
10:00-11:00 a.m. Panel 1: “Trans-South Caucasus Customs and Trade Facilitation: What Needs to Be Done?”
11:00-11:25 a.m. Q&A Session
11:25-11:40 a.m. Break
11:40a.m.-12:40 p.m. Panel 2: “From Sea to Sea: Integrated Regional Transit and Logistics Infrastructure”
12:40- 1:00 p.m. Q&A Session
1:00-2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00-3:00 p.m. Panel 3: “Commercial and Investment Opportunities: Financing, Logistics, and Supply Chain”
3:00-3:25 p.m. Q&A Session 
3:25-4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

Date

9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Thursday, April 28, 2016

Location

Kenney-Herter Auditorium
Johns Hopkins SAIS
1740 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Register

The forum is open to the public and media, with registration. Members of the working press may RSVP through the online registration form.

Media Contacts

April Gifford
Administrative Coordinator
The Central Asia Caucasus Institute
202.663.7723 office
[email protected]  

Stacy A. Anderson
Communications Manager
Johns Hopkins SAIS
202.663.5620 office
202.853.7983 mobile
[email protected] 

About the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute is a leading institution in the U.S. for the study of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Caspian Region. The institute, affiliated with Johns Hopkins SAIS, is part of a joint center with the Silk Road Studies Program at the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm.

For more information, visit silkroadstudies.org or transcaspianforum.org. 

###