Conference & Forum

Digital Economy 4th CAREC Institute Annual Research Conference

29 Aug 2024 - 30 Aug 2024 Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is proud to support the 4th Annual Research Conference of the CAREC Institute (CI), themed “Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC Region.” This conference, co-organized by the College of Social Sciences and the China & Central Asia Studies Center at KIMEP University, along with the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), will take place on August 29-30, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive development in the CAREC region.

The primary objective of the conference is to connect research and policymaking, fostering regional development by systematically documenting policy-oriented research and creating narratives specific to the CAREC region. The event will showcase research findings, discuss their policy implications, and culminate in the publication of selected research in CI’s Annual Book and relevant journals.

By addressing regional developmental challenges, proposing innovative policy recommendations, and enhancing regional research cooperation, the conference aims to improve policy relevance and impact across the CAREC region. Comprehensive materials, including session details, speaker biographies, and presentation summaries, will be provided to all participants.

We look forward to your participation in this important event.

Agenda

TimeSession
9.15–10.00Registration/CI Video to be screened
10.00–11.00OPENING SESSION

Opening Remarks
Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute (CI)
Damian Riviez, Vice President of Academic Affairs, KIMEP University
Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration& Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

Keynote address
Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Group Photo
11.00–11.30Coffee break
11.30–13.00Parallel Session I: Energy/Renewable Energy/Sustainable Energy
Hall #1, 2nd floor

Moderator
Vladislav Zavadskiy, Senior Energy Expert, CI

Speakers:
  • Burulcha Sulaimanova, Dina Azhgaliyeva, Hans Holzhacker “House insulation: needs and willingness in Central Asia”
  • Qiong Zhang, Dina Azhgaliyeva “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks: Total Cost of Ownership Analysis for the People’s Republic of China”
  • Ubaid ur Rehman Zia, Mahnoor Arshad, Zainab Babar “Sustainable Energy Transition in South Asia: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities through Regional Collaboration”
  • Hu Sheng, “PhotoSynthetic Refining: heavy oil slurry bed hydro-splitting full conversion technology”
  • Ramil Shakirov, “Electrical Digital Twin: Enabling Safety & Sustainability for today & future”, Schneider Electric

Discussant:
Ramil Shakirov, Head of the Training Center, Schneider Electric
Parallel Session II: Green Initiatives/Climate and Environment

Moderator
Asif Razzaq, Senior Research Specialist, CI

Speakers:
  • Falendra Kumar “Unlocking Innovative Governance Practices and Public-Private Financing for Achieving Sustainable Green Energy Transition in the CAREC Region: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications”
  • Hua Wang, Yingqing Lai, Yixin Yao “How Factors Affect Carbon Emission Price: Case Study of Beijing Carbon Emission Market”
  • Iskandar Abdullaev, Shakhboz Akhmedov “Water Security in Central Asia – Adaptation Strategies for Climate Resilience”
  • Ding Chen, “Dynamic connectedness between FDI, economic activity, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries: The mediating role of institutional quality”
  • Naseem Faraz, Ghulam Samad “Climate Debt and Sustainability: Implication for CAREC Region”
  • Anton Merkulov, “Smart integration of renewable power generation as a key factor of green initiatives implementation”, Siemens Kazakhstan

Discussant:
Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB
Parallel Session III: Trade/Connectivity/CorridorsTrade/Connectivity/Corridors

Moderator
Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI

Speakers:
  • Yinghao He, Yueshu Zhao “The Economic Shadow of CBAM: Assessing Trade Impacts on Central Asia and the South Caucasus
  • Farrukh Khakimov “Digital Readiness of Central Asian States for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: A Study on Digital Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity”
  • Qaisar Abbas “Digital Trade, Economic Corridors Development: Need for Innovative Strategies”
  • Ali Raza Hanjra “Enhancing Port Competitiveness and Regional Trade in Pakistan along the CAREC Corridor: Role of the Government Support”

Discussant:
Xiaotong Zhang, Academic Director at China and Central Asia Studies Center (CCASC)
13.00–14.00Lunch
14:00–15.30Parallel Session IV: Inequality and Inclusivity

Moderator
Ilhom Abdulloev, Chief of Capacity Building Division, CI

Speakers:
  • Kuat Akizhanov “Addressing Socio-Economic Inequality in the CAREC Region: Why Non-Orthodox Approach Is Needed”
  • Kaliyeva Saule, Elvira Buitek “Competencies and Skills Essential for Green Jobs”
  • Emmanuel Umoru Haruna, Vincent Tawiah “Does Income Inequality endanger Green growth? Evidence from selected countries in Asia and the Global South”
  • Adeel Kadri “Breaking Chains: Informal Employment in CAREC and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap”
  • Madina Junussova, Saniya Soltybaeva, Bakhytzhan Kurmanov “Urban Economic Resilience in Central Asian Cities”


Discussant:
Alma Kudebayeva, KIMEP University
Parallel Session V: ADB-PRC RKSI
Evidence from the CAREC Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring Database

Moderator
Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB

Speakers:

  • Kijin Kim “The Impact of COVID-19 Mobility Restrictions on Trade Facilitation at Borders in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region”
  • Dorothea Ramizo “Impact of Non-Tariff Measures and Border Crossing Time and Costs on Trade in Perishable Goods in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region”
  • Kamalbek Karymshakov “Trade Facilitation, Infrastructure, and International Trade in Central Asian Countries”
  • Ghulam Samad “Geographical Proximity and Trade Impacts in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program Region”

Discussant:
Max Ee, CPMM consultant
Parallel Session VI: Innovation/innovative solutions

Moderator
Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CI

Speakers:
  • Abylaikhan Soltanayev “Living Labs as Catalysts for Sustainable Energy Transition in Central Asia”
  • Kinza Malik “Modelling the Effect of FDI on Economic Growth in Central Asia: The Role of Digitalization”
  • Asif Razzaq “Does Artificial Intelligence Improve Green Transformation? Mechanism Analysis of China’s A-share Listed Companies and Implications for CAREC Ladder Countries”
  • Merdan Yazyyev “Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on energy efficiency, renewables, and digitalization”
  • Liu Bingcai “Evaluation of the Co-benefits and Trade-offs of Solar+ Projects and Their Prospects for Application in the CAREC Region”
  • Michiko Enomoto “Fostering Innovation and Development in Central Asia”

Discussant:
Nurgali Rakhmanov, President “Digital Society” NGO, S/GPP Policy Expert
15.30–16.00Coffee break
16.00–17.30Panel Session: Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC region

  • Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  • Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration & Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
  • Nadeem Naqvi, Professor of Economics, KIMEP University
    Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, AMRO+
  • Jang Ping Thia, Lead Economist and Manager of Economics Department
    Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
TimeSession
10.00–10.10Special Session
Introduction of the CAREC Institute Knowledge Products
  • Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CI
  • Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI
10.10–10.30CI’s Book Launch “PROSPECTS FOR INCLUSIVE GREEN GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CAREC REGION”
  • Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI
  • Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI
10.30–11.00CI and UNESCAP Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation Report Launch
  • Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  • Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI

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