The economies of the Caspian Region have shown resilience in a time of uncertainty. Central Asia saw a strong expansion in 2025, the fastest in 14 years according to the World Bank. The Middle Corridor’s recent growth has greatly exceeded expectations, expanding connectivity across Eurasia and beyond. Leaders are driving the changes in a fast-changing environment. A new generation of experts brings fresh economic and technical ambition and ideas. Central Asia has plentiful energy reserves and critical minerals. The Armenia/Azerbaijan peace process has opened new possibilities in the South Caucasus. The Iran conflict is hitting economies but is also drawing attention to the Middle Corridor as a “Corridor of Choice” in an unpredictable world. Regional collaboration is creating a sturdy and reliable alternative network to northern transit routes and sea lanes. Built-in redundancy provides choice and reduces the capacity of outside powers to interfere. To make the most of improving access to global markets, and for the Corridor to realise its full potential, it will be important to strengthen institutional and infrastructural frameworks which nurture innovation, drive success and reward investment. The UK offers deep financial, legal, technical, logistics and supply-chain management, and educational experience, and is well placed to partner Caspian countries in integrating various aspects of connectivity from sustainable infrastructure to energy to digital services. 2026 is the year to persuade businesses and investors through ambitious structural reforms and clear results that the Caspian Region’s time has come.

 

08:30 – 09:00   

Registration and Coffee  

 

09:00 – 09:10  

Opening Remarks  

• David Moran, Senior UK Adviser, Caspian Policy Centre  
• Efgan Nifti, President, Caspian Policy Centre 

 

09:15 – 09:35 

Keynote Speaker 

Lord Alderdice, UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia 

 

09:35 – 10:00 

Ambassadorial Panel  

 

10:00-10:30 

Session 1: Economic Prospects – Growth and Resilience          

• HE Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK
• HE Ilia Darchiashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the UK
• HE Osman Koray Ertaş, Ambassador of Türkiye to the UK
• HE Ravshan Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK

 

Session 1 – Economic Prospects – Growth and Resilience
Moderator: James Sharp, CPC Advisory Board Member 
 

• Nigar Jafarova, Associate Practice Leader for CIS & CEE, FrontierView
• Alessio Chiesa, Emerging Markets Economist, Wood & Compan

 

10:30 -10:45

Coffee Break          

 

10:45 – 11:15

Session 2 – Energy Security and Resilience
Moderator: James Sharp, CPC Advisory Member

• Michael Denison, Head of Advisory, bp
• Nick Coleman, Associate Director (Analysis), Prism Strategic Intelligence

 

11:15 – 11:45
Embassy Panel

• Hayk Sargsyan, Deputy Head of Mission of Armenia to the UK
• Dana Kurmasheva, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Kazakhstan to the UK
• Kumiushai Suiumbaeva, Chargé d’affaires of Kyrgyzstan to the UK

 

11:45 – 12:15 
Session 3 – Sustainability and Resilience\
Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, CPC Research Director & Senior Fellow

• Tea Melikadze, Associate Director, Regional Lea for Infrastructure – Caucasus, EBRD
• Charles Norman, Territorial Development Consultan

 

12:15 – 12:45
Session 4 – Connectivity and Long-Term Resilience
Moderator: Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, CPC Research Director & Senior Fellow

• Zhanbolat Kakishev, Chief Products Officer, AIFC (Virtual)
• Wai Htoon, Senior Business Development Director, Office of Infrastructure & Critical Minerals, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) (Virtual)
• Chris Allum, UK Export Finance Regional Head – Business Origination,  Emerging Europe & Central Asia Nexus

 

12:50 – 13:00 Closing Remarks

Lunch
 

Registration is now closed.
Due to limited capacity, we are no longer accepting new registrations for this event.