The First Session of the RETHINK Institute’s Energy Trade and Development Forum hosted at the Willard Intercontinental in Washington D.C, directed their dialogue to the Central Asian region and its efforts taken to capitalize upon the Silk Road Initiative.
The panel consisted of Vladimir Fedorenko, from the RETHINK Institute, Steve Fagin, Director at the Office of South Asian Regional Affairs for the U.S Department of State, along with Vice President Rana Tezcan Acikgoz of TUSKON, as well as the Chairman of the Silk Road Business Association Rashid Chulagov from Azerbaijan, and Nurlanbek Matyev, former Deputy Commissioner of the Tax Administration Department of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
All panelists emphasized the importance of developing the Silk Road Initiative along with strengthening the North-South trade link in order to increase economic development in the region.
Panelist, Steve Fagin highlighted the Kasa 1000 project, which involves the cooperation of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to provide 1300 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan from Kyrgyzstan, which will allow economic development to blossom in the region. Another major project included in the discussion was the TAPI Pipeline that links Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and would be another big game changer in the terms of economic prosperity in the Central Asian Region.
“Turkey wants to use its geopolitical position effectively…from Turkey’s perspective it is important to strengthen its position as a link between European and Central Asian Markets…”—Rana Tezcan (TUSKON) commented, emphasizing the role of Turkey to be the catalyst to fulfill the role of a world trade bridge. The Vice President also discussed the special events that TUSKCON organizes for businesswoman, to quote, “in order to empower the real potential that women have.”
Source: Turkic American Convention
