2018 CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM CENTRAL ASIA – MONGOLIA – CAUCASUS – AFGHANISTAN FORUM REPORT BAKU, | JUNE 21st-23rd, 2018

2018 CAMCA Forum Participants

Two days of dialogue on the CAMCA region organized by the CAMCA 2018 AT A GLANCE Network, Rumsfeld Foundation and Central Asia-Caucasus Institute THEME: Emerging Regionalism 230+ ATTENDEES SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS: International leaders and professionals from the CAMCA countries, the EU, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan, 75+ SPEAKERS Singapore, Ukraine, the United States and more. FOCUS AREAS: Geopolitics, international trade, geo-economics, education, 22 SESSIONS regional and international security, entrepreneurship, investment opportunities, transport and transit, reforms, government accountability, media and more. 20+ COUNTRIES PREVIOUS FORUMS: Dushanbe, - 2017; Tbilisi, - 2016; REPRESENTED Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - 2015; Astana, Kazakhstan - 2014

ABOUT THE CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM

The Forum is a premier annual convening of rising leaders from the FAST FACTS CAMCA (Central Asia – Mongolia – Caucasus – Afghanistan) region - Established in 2014, there have been 5 as well as top professionals and stakeholders from the broader CAMCA Regional Forums. international community. The Forum was founded and is organized - Attendance for all Forums totals more by the CAMCA Network, the Rumsfeld Foundation and the Central than 730 participants. Asia-Caucasus Institute, with the support of local partners and - sponsors. Attendees have represented more than 25 countries. The Forum’s mission is to serve as a platform to connect top - Over 165 speakers have contributed to professionals across all sectors for region-wide discussions on means Forum conversations. of advancing economic growth and social development in Greater - The Forum location travels each year Central Asia. across the CAMCA region. “THE CAMCA FORUM IS A UNIQUE ASSOCIATION OF 2018 FORUM SESSIONS IMPRESSIVE PROFESSIONALS FROM CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS. THE NETWORK CREATED IS A SIGN OF VITALITY OF KEYNOTE ADDRESSES: THESE TWO REGIONS AND AUGURS WELL FOR THEIR FUTURES.” - Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Novruz Mammadov, AMBASSADOR JOHN HERBST Prime Minister of Azerbaijan DIRECTOR OF THE EURASIA CENTER, - “Regional Prospects: CAMCA in 2030” by Senator ATLANTIC COUNCIL Sodyq Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of “IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, IN A TIME OF POLICY UPHEAVALS IN MANY COUNTRIES, THAT THE CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM PROVIDES A SETTING FOR INFORMED REFLECTION ON WHERE KEYNOTE INTERVIEWS: THE COUNTRIES IN QUESTION HAVE TRAVELED, WHERE THEY ARE - “The Nexus of Security and Development” Amb. GOING, AND HOW INTERESTED OUTSIDERS FROM THE EURO- Paul Wolfowitz, Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise ATLANTIC COMMUNITY CAN MOST PRODUCTIVELY ENGAGE Institute, former President of the World Bank, former WITH THEM.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense JONATHAN ELKIND - “A Regional Economy?” with Kairat Kelimbetov, FELLOW AND SENIOR RESEARCH SCHOLAR, Governor, Astana International Financial Center, CENTER ON GLOBAL ENERGY POLICY, former Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY / SIPA

AMBASSADOR ROUNDTABLE: - Amb. Hafiz Pashayev, Rector, ADA University, former Amb. of Azerbaijan to the U.S. - Amb. Tedo Japaridze, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia, former Amb. of Georgia to the U.S. - Senator Sodyq Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, former Amb. of Uzbekistan to the U.S.

PLENARY SESSIONS: - Economies of CAMCA: Innovating for Investment - Models of Regional Coordination CAMCA Network Members - CAMCA’s Changing Periphery: Harbingers of Strategic Change “I BELIEVE THE CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM IS AN IDEAL - Caspian Connections and Beyond PLATFORM FOR DISCUSSING IDEAS THAT WOULD IMPACT THE - Reform Initiatives in the CAMCA Region WHOLE REGION AND FACILITATE ITS INTEGRATION. OUR - Regionalism in CAMCA: Perspectives from the COUNTRIES WOULD BENEFIT FROM TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN Region’s Next Generation SUCH A MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONVERSATION… REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, WHILE SUPPORTING AND BRINGING TOGETHER YOUNG LEADERS, IS THE ONLY WAY TO BREAKOUT SESSIONS: GO FORWARD.” - Finding CAMCA’s Voice in the World - Connecting CAMCA’s Entrepreneurs KAIRAT KELIMBETOV - Digitalization and Good Governance in CAMCA GOVERNOR, ASTANA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER - Empowering Women of CAMCA “I AM ORIGINALLY FROM TAJIKISTAN, WHICH ON ITS OWN IS - The Future of CAMCA’s Energy: Geopolitical A SMALL MARKET TO SCALE A COMPANY, BUT CAMCA ON Implications THE OTHER HAND, IS AN EMERGING MARKET OF MORE THAN 100 - Digital Disruption: What Is It and How Does It MILLION PEOPLE AND AN ADDRESSABLE MARKET WHERE YOU Impact Businesses? CAN GROW AND SCALE YOUR PRODUCTS. THE CAMCA FORUM - CAMCA Media Roundtable IS SIGNIFICANT FOR ME BECAUSE I MEET WITH A LOT OF - Upgrading Policy Analysis Across the CAMCA Region BUSINESS PEOPLE AND COUNTERPARTS AND WE DISCUSS - Best Practices in Education Across CAMCA BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES. IT’S A TREMENDOUS NETWORKING EXPERIENCE.” View the full agenda and speaker bios online. MANUCHEHR KURBONALI CAMCA NETWORK MEMBER

2018 CAMCA Forum Report | p. 2 SPEAKERS & PANELISTS Eldar Abakirov, Deputy Minister of Economy Thomas Firestone, Baker & McKenzie LLP Dr. Jacopo Maria Pepe, German of and Chairman of the U.S.-Kyrgyzstan Council on Foreign Relations Hikmat Abdurahmanov, Association for Business Council Yagub Rahimov, 7Marketz Group, International Business and Technologies of Kamala Gafarova, BP, Azerbaijan* Azerbaijan Uzbekistan* Nemuun Gal, Hobby School, Mongolia* Gulmira Rzayeva, Center for Azamat Akeleev, Promotank LLC, Emil Gasimli, SOCAR, Azerbaijan* Strategic Studies, Azerbaijan* Kyrgyzstan* Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin, Georgetown University Dr. Theresa Sabonis-Helf, National Levan Akhvlediani, Anaklia Development School of Foreign Service War College, National Defense Consortium William R. Gill, U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan University Hiroyki Akita, Nikkei Asian Review, Japan Zafar Hashemi, Embassy of Afghanistan in Sen. Sodyq Safoev, Senate of Oliy Iskander Akylbayev, Kazakhstan Council on the U.S.* Majlis of Uzbekistan International Relations* Sarkhan Hashimov, Microsoft, Azerbaijan* Barry Salaam, Afghanistan’s Manduul Altangerel, Corporate Lawyer, Ambassador John Herbst, Dinu Patriciu Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Mongolia* Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Monitoring and Evaluation Ambassador Nasir Andisha, Deputy Minister Fariz Ismailzade, ADA University Committee* of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Taxes of Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Georgetown Kenneth Angell, Overseas Private Investment Azerbaijan University Corporation Ambassador Tedo Japaridze, Office of the Omaid Sharifi, ArtLords, Afghanistan* Maryna Antonova, President Yushchenko Prime Minister of Georgia Ash Singh, INSEAD Business School Institute Shigeo Katsu, Nazarbayev University Dr. S. Frederick Starr, Central Asia- Dr. Kaush Arha, USAID Ambassador Bilahari Kausikan, Middle East Caucasus Institute Zia Asey, Ministry of Interior Affairs of Institute, National University of Singapore Talant Sultanov, Internet Society Afghanistan* Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of Astana Kyrgyz Chapter, Former Adviser to Azim Azimov, Media Kitchen, Kyrgyzstan* International Finance Center, Kazakhstan the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan* Sanjaasuren Bayaraa, CAREC Institute Yana Krimpe, Best Solutions, Azerbaijan Sarah Tonucci, Rumsfeld Foundation Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Education of Ambassador Daniyar Kurbanov, Center for Gulnura Toralieva, Former Adviser to Azerbaijan International Relations Studies the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Dr. Almazbek Beishenaliev, Department for Manuchehr Kurbonali, Zentist* Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, Central Asia- Education, Culture, and Sports at the Mariam Lashkhi, Georgian Innovation and Caucasus Institute Government Office of the Kyrgyz Republic Technology Agency Dr. Tornike Turmanidze, Tbilisi State Ilan Berman, American Foreign Policy Council Amb Arthur Lenk, Israel Innovation University* Peter Borovykh, Blockchain Solution Architect, for Africa Aziza Umarova, SmartGov www.blockchaindriven.com H.E. Novruz Mammadov, Prime Minister of Consulting, Uzbekistan* Zarina Chekirbaeva, American Chamber of Azerbaijan Emin Veli, Keepface, Azerbaijan* Commerce, Kyrgyzstan* Rear Admiral Raja Menon, Former Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi, Edward Chow, Energy and National Security Assistant Chief of Naval Staff of India Ambassador of Afghanistan to Program, CSIS Jonathan Missner, Stein Mitchell Cipollone Australia, New Zealand and Fiji* Dr. Svante Cornell, Central Asia-Caucasus Beato & Missner LLP Enders Wimbush, StrateVarious Institute Sardor Mukhamedaliyev, "OrientSwiss" CIS Ambassador Paul Wolfowitz, Former Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa, DeFacto Institute, countries President of the World Bank, former and a columnist, radio presenter and host of Elshad Nasirov, SOCAR, Azerbaijan U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense the TV show ‘DeFacto’ Nargiz Nasrullayeva-Muduroglu, Adviser to Nino Zambakhidze, Georgian Farmers Khulan Davaadorj, Natural Essentials LLC, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan Association Mongolia* Rakhim Oshakbayev, Center of Applied Yernar Zharkeshov, Center for Jonathan Elkind, Center on Global Energy Research TALAP in Kazakhstan* Strategic Initiatives, Kazakhstan* Policy, SIPA-Columbia University Sally Painter, Blue Star Strategies Taleh Ziyadov, Baku International Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev, ADA Sea Trade Port University *Indicates CAMCA Network Member

Ambassador Roundtable Ambassador Paul Wolfowitz Interview

2018 CAMCA Forum Report | p. 3 ADDITIONAL FORUM EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS

Breakout luncheon discussions Closing Dinner at the Four Seasons Traditional Azerbaijani performers featuring guest speakers sponsored by the Port of Baku featured at the Closing Dinner

CAMCA Expo of regional businesses and entrepreneurs Omaid Sharifi, CAMCA Network Member and President and Co-Founder of ArtLords, a grass roots, "art for social change" organization in Afghanistan, developed a mural design for Forum attendees to participate in painting.

On the final day of the Forum, participants joined Tour of Baku’s Old City together to complete the mural depicting doves featuring the flags of the CAMCA region. The phrase “Together We Have It All” reflects the CAMCA Network members’ belief in the strength and benefits of further regional cooperation.

Welcoming Reception Hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Baku “Flag Handover Ceremony” to 2019 Forum Host: Uzbekistan rum

2018 CAMCA Forum Report | p. 4 I AM GLAD TO RECONNECT WITH THE FELLOWS FROM 10 CAMCA STATES FOR PRESS & MEDIA ITS 2018 REGIONAL FORUM IN BEAUTIFUL #BAKU IN MY 10TH VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN. ALWAYS REFRESHING AND WELCOMING #CAMCABAKU2018 @ADAUNIVERSITY Review #CAMCAbaku2018 conversations on Twitter and Facebook. -AMBASSADOR WAHID WAISSI, AMBASSADOR OF AFGHANISTAN TO AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI View photo coverage on Flickr. Video session coverage will be available @ZAFARHASHEMI SPOKE ABOUT REGIONALISM AND CONNECTIVITY AND on the CAMCA Regional Forum YouTube Channel. HOW THE YOUNG GENERATION IS LEADING THE PROCESS IN THE #CAMCA REGION. @CAMCAFORUM #CAMCABAKU2018 Review the full agenda and all press mentions online. -OMAID SHARIFI, PRESIDENT, ARTLORDS

TODAY, SOA'S NICK ISRAEL ATTENDED THE KICK-OFF EVENT FOR THE MEDIA CONTACTS @RUMSFELDFOUNDTN 5TH ANNUAL #CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM IN BAKU, Sarah Tonucci, Rumsfeld Foundation [email protected] AZERBAIJAN, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ON IMPORTANT David Soumbadze, Central Asia-Caucasus ISSUES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ASIA CAMCABAKU . # 2018 Institute, [email protected] -SPIRIT OF AMERICA WORLDWIDE

FOUNDERS 2018 ORGANIZING PARTNER

2018 LOCAL SPONSORS

THE 2019 CAMCA REGIONAL FORUM WILL BE HELD NEXT SUMMER IN UZBEKISTAN. CONTACT [email protected] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

Azerbaijani CAMCA Network Members and ADA Rector Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev Kairat Kelimbetov Interview

2018 CAMCA Forum Report | p. 5