Embracing Digital Technology for Sustainable Economic Development

As a knowledge arm of the CAREC Program, the CAREC Insititute creates knowledge and connects various knowledge producers in the region. The forum’s thematic focus and proposed topics are aligned with the five pillars of CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 (supported by TA6602). Organized annually under the auspices of the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN), the CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) has become the region’s most prominent event. Since its inception in 2016, every year, the forum convenes prominent thought leaders, practitioners, experts, government and business leaders, development partners, and media representatives from the CAREC region and beyond and provides a platform for experience sharing and candid discussions on regional policy challenges to find sustainable solutions for collective benefit. As in previous years, the forum is co-organized with the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI). 

The seventh think tank development forum will occur on 16-17 August 2023 in Urumqi, the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The forum will discuss, among others, (i) findings of CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) studies; (ii) the role of digital technology in spurring economic development; (iii) digital strategies, governance, and infrastructure; (iv) digital divide and policies for boosting digital skills and competencies; and (v) e-commerce, governance, financial inclusion, and financial technology.

Agenda:

TimeProgram
10:00 – 10:40Session I. Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks
Mr. Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute

Opening Remarks
Mr. Shixin Chen, Vice President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines

Opening Address
Mr. Wencai Zhang, Vice President, the Export-Import Bank of China, the PRC

Keynote Address
Mr. Zhijun Cheng, Director-General, International Economic and Financial Cooperation Department, Ministry of Finance, the PRC

Keynote Address
Mr. Weijun Chen, Executive Vice Governor, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR)

Group photo
10:40 – 11:40Session II. Context Setting

Moderator
Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to CEO, Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), Beijing, the PRC

Analyzing the Role of Digital Technology in Spurring Sustainable Economic Growth (20 minutes)
Mr. Thomas Abell, Director, Digital Technology for Development Division, ADB (Virtually)


Digital Strategies, Infrastructure, and Investment – CAREC Region’s Readiness for Digital Adoption (20 minutes)
Mr. Talant Sultanov, Chair and Founder, the Center for Strategic Initiatives, Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic

Open Discussion (20 minutes)
11:40 – 11:55Coffee Break
11:55 – 12:55Session III. CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) Presentations: Country Case Studies


Moderator
Mr. Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CWRC, ADB, Manila, Philippines

Leveraging Digital Technology for Green, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Moderator: Mr. Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CWRC, ADB, Manila, Philippines

Kazakhstan Case Study
Ms. Albina Muratbekova, Senior Research Fellow, Eurasian Research Institute (ERI)

Kyrgyz Republic Case Study
Dr. Burulcha Sulaimanova, Researcher, OSCE Academy

Pakistan Case Study
Mr. Asif Javed, Senior Research Associate, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)

Uzbekistan Case Study
Mr. Farrukh Khakimov, Mr. Farrukh Khakimov, Head of Department on Foreign Policy and Security, Development Strategy Center (DSC)

Open Discussion (25 minutes)
12:55 – 14:00Session IV. Bridging Digital Divide and Boosting Digital Skills


Moderator
Mr. Artem Levenkov, Head of Socioeconomic Analysis and IFIs, Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), Moscow, Russia

Technological Adoption, Inequalities, and Implications for Labor Market (15 minutes)
Dr. Xiaojun Feng, Associate Professor of Sociology, China Agricultural University, Beijing China

Reskilling and Upskilling Women for Bridging Digital Divide in the CAREC Region (15 minutes)
Ms. Ana Pashalishvili, Programme Specialist, Women’s Entrepreneurship Acceleration, Europe & Central Asia Regional Office, UN Women, Istanbul, Türkiye

Bridging the Quality of Education through Digital Technologies using the Flipped Classroom Approach (15 minutes)
Mr. Syed Hassan Alsagoff, Manager, Science, Technology & Innovation Cooperation & Capacity Development Dept, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Open Discussion (25 minutes)
14:00 – 15:00Lunch Break
15:00 – 16:20Session V. RKSI South-South Learning Seminar: Digital Governance and Commerce

Moderator
Mr. Hsiao Chink (Benzhe) Tang Head, ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), Asian Development Bank

The PRC’s E-commerce Success Story: Role of Government and Policy Implications for the CAREC Countries (15 minutes)
TBC
Dr. Sherry Tao Kong, Associate Professor, Peking University, Beijing, China

Role of Private Sector in E-commerce: Learning from Alibaba’s Success Story (15 minutes)
Mr. Remon Moes, Senior Manager Public Affairs, Alibaba

TradeTech for Trade Facilitation and Regional Integration: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) Initiative (15 minutes)
Mr. Syed Shakeel Shah, Director-General, Reforms and Automation, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan

Building Digital Nation through Optimization of Public Services in Mongolia (15 minutes)
Ms. Enkhtulga Ganbat, Specialist of Cross-Sector Coordination, Ministry of Digital Development and Communication, Mongolia

Open Discussion (20 minutes)
16:20 –16:40Coffee Break
16:40 – 17:45Session VI. Financial Inclusion and Digital Finance

Moderator
Dr. Yixin Yao, Senior Research Fellow, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo, Japan

The State of Financial Inclusion in the CAREC Region (20 minutes)
Mr. Khalid Umar, Chief, Strategic Planning Division (SPD), CAREC Institute

Role of WeChat in deepening financial inclusion in China – Policy Lessons for the CAREC Region (20 minutes)
Ms. Jieru Ba, Senior Researcher, Tencent Research Institute, Beijing, China

Open Discussion (25 minutes)
17:45 – 18:00First Day Recap
TimeProgram
10:00 – 11:40Session VII. A Booming CAREC Startup Ecosystem under CAREC Digital Strategy 2030


Moderator
Mr. Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CWRC, ADB, Manila, Philippines

CAREC Digital Strategy Pillars: Strengthening Digital Foundations (30 minutes)
Mr. Naveed Zafar Durrani, Senior Consultant, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Singapore

An Overview of Initiatives under the CAREC Program: Startup Map, CIN, University Startup Challenge, and CAREC Innovation Decoded (20 minutes)
Ms. Shuqi Su, ADB Consultant, China

The Development of the CAREC Startup Ecosystem and its Impact on the Broader Digital Economy (20 minutes)
Mr. Eli David, CEO, StartupBlink, Israel/ADB Consultant (Online)

Open Discussion (30 minutes)
11:40 – 12:00Coffee Break
12:00 – 13:00Session VIII. CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN) Voices

Moderator: Norbert Funke, Director, CCAMTAC, IMF, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Panel Discussion on the Role of Think Tanks amid Geoeconomic Uncertainties (30 minutes)

Panelist I: Dr. Zhang Jin, Vice President, Center for International Knowledge on Development (CKID), Beijing, China
Panelist II: Mr. Zeeshan Salahuddin, Director, Center for Regional and Global Connectivity, Tabadlab, Islamabad, Pakistan
Panelist III: Dr. Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute (ERI), Mongolia
Panelist IV: Mr. Mahir Humbatov, Chairman of the Board, Economic Scientific Research Institute (ESRI), Baku, Azerbaijan


CTTN Progress Report (10 minutes)
TBC

CTTN Blog Launch (20 minutes)
TBC

Suggestions and Feedback on CTTN (30 minutes)
13:00 – 13:50CTTN Progress and Initiatives by the Secretariat

Moderator
Mr. Khalid Umar, Chief, Strategic Planning Division/ Coordinator CTTN, CAREC Institute

CTTN Progress Report
Mr. Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa, Senior Strategic Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute

CTTN Blog Launch
Mr. Dzhovid Khuseinov, Networking and Partnerships Specialist, CAREC Institute

Suggestions and Feedback on CTTN
13:50 – 14:00Closing Reflections and Acknowledgements
Dr. Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute
14:00 – 15:00Lunch Break
15:30 –17:30Networking and Visit to Euro-Asia Commodity and Trade Expo

Recalibrating Growth Dynamics for Inclusive and Sustainable Economies

The Sixth Annual CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) will be organized in a hybrid format (physical and online) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on September 15-16, 2022, under the theme “Recalibrating Growth Dynamics for Inclusive and Sustainable Economies. The Forum is organized in partnership with ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), Economic and Scientific Research Institute (ESRI) of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Azerbaijan, and supported by the ADB.

The CTTDF is annually organized under the auspices of the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN). Every year the Forum brings together leading practitioners from think tanks, multilateral development partners, governments, and the private sector from the CAREC region to brainstorm regional challenges and provide diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to address these challenges through dialogue, experience sharing, and knowledge collaboration.

In its sixth year, the CTTDF’s main discussions will be around the growth, inclusivity and sustainability in the region. The leading regional think tanks and experts will present and deliberate upon, among others, (i) the outcomes of the CTTN regional research project on “COVID-induced inequalities: education, health, digital access, and women’s workforce participation.” (ii) the state of progress on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region; (iii) climate change and green energy in the CAREC region; and (iv) geopolitical uncertainties, COVID-19, and the impact on growth and inclusivity. Lead presentations by well-known institutions and renowned experts on each topic will be complemented by country case studies by leading CAREC think tank representatives. The Forum will be live-streamed on the Zoom platform, and the CI offers free online participation in the Forum for institutions from the CAREC region and beyond.

Established in 2017, the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN) is a network of leading think tanks from the member countries of the CAREC Program. Consistent with the CAREC 2030 objectives to promote policy dialogue among members and development partners and deliver and disseminate quality knowledge services for regional economic cooperation, the (CTTN) brings together leading regional think tanks to promote regional cooperation and integration (RCI) through shared ideas, information, and joint research. To this end, the CTTN administers a research grants program (RGP) to encourage member think tanks to undertake research on pressing regional issues and organize an annual CAREC think tank development forum (CTTDF) to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

Click the link to join. 

Meeting ID: 843 0963 3286
Passcode: 227456

Agenda:

TimeProgram
13:00 – 13:40Session I: Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks
Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute

Opening Remarks
Shixin Chen, Vice President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines

Keynote Address
Samed Bashirli, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Azerbaijan

Group photo
13:40 – 14:45Session II: Context Setting

Moderator: Norbert Funke, Director, CCAMTAC, IMF

An overview of CAREC Economies and how much recalibration is needed for inclusive and sustainable growth
Lead Speaker: Albert F. Park, Chief Economist & Director General, ADB, Manila, Philippines

Open Discussion
Discussant I: Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute
Discussant II: Kamalbek Karymshakov, Vice Rector/Associate Professor, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic
14:45 – 15:00Coffee Break
15:00 – 16:30 Session III: CTTN Regional Research Report

Moderator: Marzia Mongiorgi-Lorenzo, Principal Economist, East Asia Department, ADB

Access to Health, Education, Digital technologies, and Women’s Participation in the Workforce: Case Studies from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.

Speaker I: Emin Mammadov, Senior Researcher/Economist, Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Azerbaijan

Speaker II: Gulnaz Alibekova, Deputy Director, Institute of Economics, Kazakhstan

Speaker III: Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan

Speaker IV: Peter Malvicini, Ph.D., DSc, UNESCO Chair, Anticipatory Governance & Sustainable Policymaking Center for Policy Research and Outreach Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
16:30 – 17:30Lunch Break
17:30 – 18:50Session IV: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Moderator: Khalid Umar, Chief, Strategy and Planning, CAREC Institute, Urumqi

State of Progress on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the CAREC Region
Lead Speaker: Elena Danilova-Cross, Programme Specialist on Poverty and Inequality, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, Turkey

Kyrgyz Republic Case Study
Altaaf Hasham, Management Program Liaison Officer, Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN), Kyrgyz Republic

Tajikistan Case Study
Rustam Babajanov, Deputy Director, Analytical Center “NAVO”, Tajikistan

Turkmenistan Case Study
Charymuhammet Shallyev, Head of Management Department, Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
18:50 –19:15Coffee Break
19:15 – 20:45Session V: Climate Change and Green Energy

Moderator: Ilham Humbatov, Senior Research Fellow, ESRI

Climate Vulnerabilities and the Case for Green Energy in the CAREC Region
Lead Speaker: Farhad Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, Associate Professor; School of Global Studies, Tokai University/ TOKAI Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (TRIES), Japan (Online)

Climate Disaster in Pakistan – a brief overview
Bilal Hayee, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Case Study
Kamran Huseynov, Deputy Director, Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan

PRC Case Study
Zhang Minwen, Deputy Director General, International Economics and Finance Institute (IEFI), Beijing, PRC (Online)

Kazakhstan Case Study
Lidiya Parkhomchik, Chief Expert, Eurasian Studies Program, Institute of the World Economics and Politics (IWEP), Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
20:45 – 21:00First Day Recap
TimeProgram
13:00 – 14:20Session VI: Geopolitical Uncertainties, COVID-19, and the Impact on Growth and Inclusivity

Moderator: Kanako Mabuchi, Head, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Baku, Azerbaijan

Geopolitical Uncertainties, COVID-19, and the Impact on Growth and Inclusivity
Lead Speaker: Hamza Ali Malik, Director, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand

Mongolia Case Study
Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Mongolia

Georgia Case Study
Giorgi Khishtovani, Research Director, PMC Research Center, Georgia

Pakistan Case Study
Zeeshan Salahuddin, Director for Regional Connectivity, Tabadlab, Pakistan

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
14:20 – 14:40Coffee Break
Session VII: Building Alliances for Regional Prosperity

Moderator: Sarah Geraldine Michael, Country Manager, World Bank Group, Azerbaijan
14:40- 16:10Building Alliances for Shared Prosperity
Lead Speaker
Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Discussant I: Dolores Borisovna Tyulebekova, Director, the World Economy Research Center, Economic Research Institute (ERI), Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Discussant II: Eldor Tulyakov, Executive Director, Development Strategy Center (DSC), Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Discussant III: Natig Madatov, Leading Research Fellow at Economic Scientific Research Institute (ESRI), Baku, Azerbaijan

Discussant IV: Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
16:10 – 16:40CTTN Progress Report
Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa, Senior Strategic Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute, Urumqi, the PRC

Participants’ feedback and open discussion
16:40 – 16:50Wrap up and vote of thanks
16:50 – 18:00Lunch Break
18:00 – 21:00Networking and Cultural Tour

Economic Corridors: Pathways to Regional Growth

In view of the significance and potential of economic corridors in promoting trade, growth, and deepening regional integration, the 5th CAREC Think Tanks Development Forum (CTTDF) will be held on 23-24 November 2021 in a virtual mode, under the banner of “Economic Corridors: Pathways to Regional Growth.” It will discuss, among others, the roles of CAREC economic corridors, including the Almaty-Bishkek, Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand, and China-Pakistan economic corridors, and draw on experiences of Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) and South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) economic corridors.

Agenda:

DateProgram
Session I: Opening Ceremony
15:00 – 15:15Welcome Remarks, Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute (5 minutes)
Keynote Address, Eugenue Zhukov, Director General, Central and West Asia Department (CWRD), ADB (5 minutes)
Group Photo (5 minutes)
Session II
15:15 – 17:00 Moderator: Lyaziza G. Sabyrova, Principal Regional Economist, CWRD, ADB

Economic Overview of the CAREC Region: Setting the Context for Economic Corridors (15 minutes)
Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute

Economic Corridors as a Vehicle for Economic Growth (20 minutes)
Evgeny Vinokurov, Deputy Executive Director, Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD) and Chief Economist, Eurasian Development Bank, Moscow, Russia

Overview of CAREC and BRI Corridors
1. Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor (ABEC) (15 minutes)
Xinglan Hu, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRD, ADB

2. Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor (15 minutes)
Bahodir Ganiev, Senior Advisor, Center for Economic Development, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

3. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) (15 minutes)
Khalid Mansoor, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Q&A/Discussion (25 minutes)
Session III
17:10 – 18:10 Spatial Planning and Policy Incentives for Developing ECs: Asian Perspectives

Moderator: Dingding Tang, Academic member, International Finance Forum (IFF), Beijing, the PRC

1. Greater Mekong Sub-Region (15 minutes)
Pawat Tangtrongjita, Managing Director, Socio-Economic Consultants, Pvt, Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand

2. South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) (15 minutes)
Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, India

3. Insights from an Inter-State Economic Corridor Development Program: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in Malaysia (15 minutes)
Suresh Narayanan, Professor, School of Social Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia

Q&A/Discussion (15 minutes)
18:10 – 18:20 Day 1 Wrap-Up, Iskandar Abdullaev, Deputy Director Two, CAREC Institute
DateProgram
Session IV
15:00 – 16:00Exploring Spin-Offs
Moderator: Abid Qayyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, Pakistan

1. Cross-border Transport along CAREC Corridors (20 minutes)
Ian Greenwood, Infrastructure Consultant, Greenwood Associates, Auckland, New Zealand

2. Tourism Potential along CAREC Economic Corridors (20 minutes)
Sanjay Saxena, Managing Director, Total Synergy Consulting Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, India

Q&A/Discussion (20 minutes)
Session V
16:00 – 16:45 Mapping out the Role of Think Tanks in Economic Corridors Development (15 minutes)
Moderator: Tamar Sulukhia Director, ISET Policy Institute, International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Economic Corridors and South-South & Triangular Cooperation (10 minutes)
Denis Nkala, Regional Coordinator and Representative, UNOSSC Asia and the Pacific Office

CAREC Think Tanks Network Stocktaking and Roadmap (10 minutes)
Ziqian Liang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute

Q&A/Discussion (20 minutes)
16:45 – 17:00 Wrapping up and Closing Remarks, Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute

Trading for Shared Prosperity

On 27 and 28 August 2019, the 4th CAREC Think Tanks Development Forum (CTTDF) themed “Trading for Shared Prosperity” was organized by the CAREC Institute in cooperation with ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative and the International Economics and Finance Institute (IEFE), Ministry of Finance, the PRC, in Xi’an. Over  130 participants attended the forum comprising ADB Vice President Mr. Shixin Chen; Deputy Director General Mr. Weihua Liu, Ministry of Finance, the PRC; Shaanxi Province Deputy Governor Mr. Datong Xu; deputy ministers of CAREC counties; other government officials; directors of international organizations; researchers from CAREC countries; and other regional experts. The 4th CTTDF identifies and discusses main challenges to trade within the region, among which are economic implications of the burgeoning trade conflicts among major global trading partners.

Agenda:

DateProgram
08:30 – 09:00 Registration
Session I: Opening Ceremony
09:00 – 09:10Welcome Remarks:
Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute
09:10 – 09:20Opening Remarks:
Shixin Chen, Vice President, ADB
09:20 – 09:30Opening Speech:
Liu Weihua, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Finance, the PRC
09:30 – 09:45Keynote Address:
Xu Datong, Deputy Governor of Shaanxi Province
09:45 – 10:20 Group Photo and Coffee Break
Session II: Showcasing CAREC Institute’s Output
10:20 – 12:30 Moderator:
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, Pakistan

CAREC Regional Integration Index
Dr. Saeed Qadir, Research Associate, China, Law and Development Project, China Center, University of Oxford, UK
Tess Cruz del Rosario, Senior Research Associate, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

Assessing participation of CAREC countries in Global and Regional Value Chains
Yaroslava Babych, Head of Macroeconomic Policy Research Center, ISET Policy Institute, Assistant Professor of Economics, ISET – International School of Economics, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

The Impact of sanitary, phytosanitary, and quality-related standards on the trade flow between CAREC countries and Georgia
Dr. Phatima Mamardashvili, Assistant Professor, Head of the Agricultural Policy Research Center, International School of Economics, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

Opportunities and challenges for Agri-food trade between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan
Dr. Zehra Waheed, Director, Centre for Business and Society, Assistant Professor, Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan

Analysis of cooperation in tourism sector between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan; a study of cross-border Value Chains
Rosa Alieva, Lecturer, Module Leader for Tourism and its Dynamics, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Discussion/Q&A
Session III: Trade on Ancient Silk Road: A Perspective from Xian
12:30 – 01:20 Moderator:
Hao Zhang, Deputy Country Director, ADB Resident Mission, Beijing, the PRC

Exploring Trade Opportunities under BRI
Professor Zongxian Feng, Xian Jiaotong University

Standardizing Transport and Logistics along the Silk Road
Professor Dong Qianli, Director, The Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain/ Executive Director of China Logistics Association, Shaanxi, the PRC

Discussion/Q&A
01:20 – 02:20 Lunch
Session IV: Trading for Shared Prosperity: Challenges and Prospects
02:20 – 03:40 Moderator:
Safdar Parvez, Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Manila, Philippines

US-China Trade War – birth of neo-mercantilism
Masahiro KAWAI, Director-General, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA)/Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, Japan

Impact on Region: Building a Counterfactual
Ye Jiandi, Deputy Director General, International Economics and Finance Institute (IEFI), Beijing, the PRC

Discussion/Q&A
03:40 – 04:00 Coffee Break
04:00 – 05:30Moderator:
Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute

CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030: Key Pillars and Strategic Action Plan
Dorothea Lazaro, Regional Cooperation Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines
Bahodir Ganiev, Senior Advisor, Center for Economic Development, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Discussion/Q&A
06:30 – 07:30 Banquet, Grand Ballroom, 2nd Floor, hosted by CI
DateProgram
08:30 – 09:00 Registration
Session V: New Technologies: Policy Implications for the CAREC Region
08:45 – 10:15 Moderator:
Dr. Siddharth Saxena, Chairman, Central Asia Forum, Cambridge University, UK

Evaluating impact of new technologies on transforming trade
Ian Watt, Vice Chair, the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Policy Implications for CAREC Region in terms of taxation, licensing and regulations
Dr. Hong Xue, Director of Beijing Normal University Institute for Internet Policy & Law (IIPL), Co-Director of UNCITRAL-BNU Joint Certificate Program on International E-Commerce Law, Beijing, the PRC

Discussion/Q&A
10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break
Session VI: Embracing E-commerce
10:30 – 12:00 Moderator:
Altaaf Hasham, Management Program Liaison Officer Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Readiness of CAREC Region for embracing E-commerce
Tengfei Wang, Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand

E-commerce: Key takeaways from the PRC’s experience
Victor Tseng, Vice President of Corporate and Investor Relations, Pin Duoduo, Shanghai, the PRC

Discussion/Q&A
Session VII: CAREC Think Tanks Network (CTTN)
12:00 – 01:00 Moderator:
Ziqian Liang , Deputy Director, CAREC Institute

Overview of CTTN Advisory Panel Meeting
Mr. Davaadorj Ganbold, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia/Chair of CTTN Advisory Panel

Strategizing CTTN and the Forum – Progress and Roadmap
Khalid Umar, CAREC Institute

Closing Remarks
Syed Shakeel Shah, Director, CAREC Institute
01:00 – 02:00Lunch
02:00 – 05:00Networking & Visit to Terracotta Army Museum

Exploring Knowledge Solutions for Regional Cooperation and Integration

The CAREC Think Tank Development Forum  is a venue to discuss key policy issues facing CAREC member countries seeking sustainable solutions. This year’s theme is “Exploring Knowledge Solutions for Regional Cooperation and Integration”. The forum is organized by CAREC Institute and supported by ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative.

This year’s forum also marks the official establishment of CAREC Think Tanks Network (CTTN), with formal meetings to establish CTTN’s organizational structure and operating principles. The CTTN is a network of think tanks working in the CAREC region to facilitate sharing of experience and knowledge.

CAREC Institute is an intergovernmental research organization contributing to the CAREC Program through knowledge generation and capacity building. The 5th Ministerial Conference on CAREC, held in 2006, endorsed its establishment. The inaugural ceremony of the CAREC Institute took place on 7 September 2017.

Agenda:
TimeProgram
1430 – 1500 Registration
Session I: Opening of 2nd CAREC Think Tanks Development Forum
1500 – 1510 Welcome Remarks by Mr. Bayaraa Sanjaasuren, Director CAREC Institute
1510 – 1520 Opening Remarks by Mr. Sean O’ Sullivan, Director General, Central and West Asia Department, ADB
1520 – 1540 Group Photo
Session II: State of Economic Cooperation and Integration in the CAREC Region
1540 – 1710CAREC Regional Integration Index: Measuring Extent of Regional Cooperation

Moderator:
Ms. Niny Khor, Coordinator, ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative
Speaker:
Dr. Saeed Qadir, CAREC Institute
Discussant I:
Dr. Hyeon-seung Huh, Associate Dean, School of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Discussant II:
Dr. Fahad Hassan Khan, Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

Q&A Session
1710 – 1730Coffee Break
1730 – 1900 Measuring Participations in Global Value Chain: PRC Case Study

Moderator:
Mr. Nobuya Haraguchi, Industrial Research Officer, UNIDO, Austria
Speaker:
Mr. Mahinthan Mariashingham, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB
Discussant I:
Dr. Fahad Hassan Khan, Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB
Discussant II:
Dr. Quanrun Chen, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing

Q&A Session
1930 – 2030Dinner
TimeProgram
0900 – 0930Registration
Session III: Exploring Avenues for Cooperation in Infrastructure and Trade in the Region
0930 – 1050Sustainable Infrastructure Development and Financing Options in CAREC Region

Speaker:
Mr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean ADB Institute (video presentation)
Discussant I:
Mr. Qiangwu Zhou, Director General, International Economics and Finance Institute, the PRC
Discussant II:
Mr. Shinichi Nakabayashi, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Japan

Q&A Session
1050 – 1140Xinjiang Autonomous Region: At the Crossroads of Regional Economic Cooperation

Moderator:
Mr. Qiangwu Zhou, Director General, International Economics and Finance Institute, the PRC

Heads of respective departments from Xinjiang will make speeches/presentations (ten minutes each)

Development and Reform Commission: Building Silk Road Economic Belt and Sharing the fruits of Development
Customs: The Belt and Road Initiative: Seizing the opportunity for building core of the Silk Road Economic Belt
The People’s Bank of China: Reflections on Promoting Monetary Cooperation with Central Asian Countries
Transport Department: Promoting regional cooperation in Central Asia through building transport infrastructure
Department of Commerce: Promoting regional economic development and achieving regional prosperity in Central Asia through trade
1140 – 1200Coffee Break
1200 – 1330Harmonizing Trade Policy in CAREC Region

Moderator:
Mr. Safdar Parvez, Director, Central and West Asia Department, ADB
Speaker:
Dr. Kaushalendara Arha, Former Diplomat, Speaking on behalf of S. Frederick Starr, Chairman of the Central Asia -Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program – American Foreign Policy Council.
Discussant I:
Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, Director General, National Institute of Management, Islamabad Pakistan Islamabad
Discussant II:
Dr. Eric Livny, President, ISET Policy Institute, Tbilisi Georgia

Q&A Session
1330 – 1430 Lunch
Session IV: Think Tanks – Institutional Development and Way Forward
1430 – 1500Establishing CAREC Think Tanks Network (CTTN)

Moderator:
Syed Shakeel Shah, Joint Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan
1500– 1620Global Best Practices in Think Tanks: Institutional Management and Financial Sustainability

Moderator:
Mr. Hui Weng Tat, Dean Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Speaker:
Mr. J. Berkshire Miller, Founding Director, Council on International Policy, and Senior Visiting Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs Tokyo, Japan
Discussant I:
Mr. REN Haiping, Deputy Head of Strategic Research, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE)
Discussant II:
Mr. Kashif Noon, CAREC Institute

Q&A Session
1620 – 1700Coffee Break
1700 – 1820Think Tanks Development: Key Challenges and Opportunities

Moderator:
Dr. Shamil Aleskerov, Former Secretary General, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
Speaker:
Dr. Eric Livny, President, ISET Policy Institute, Tbilisi Georgia
Discussant I:
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Sulehrie, Executive Director, SDPI Pakistan
Discussant II:
Mr. Altaaf Hasham, AKDN, Kyrgyz Republic

Q&A Session
1820 – 1850Urumqi Declaration of 2nd CAREC Think Tanks Development Forum

Moderator:
Dr. Shamil Aleskerov, Former Secretary General, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
1850 – 1900Closing Remarks by Mr. Bayaraa Sanjaasuren Director CAREC Institute
1930 – 2030 Dinner and Wrap-Up
Videos:

Central Asia Think Tanks Development Forum

Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of National Economy, Timur Zhaxylykov, and ADB Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department’s Deputy Chief Economist Juzhong Zhuang opened the 2-day program in Astana, along with Nazarbayev University’s President Shigeo Katsu, and CAREC Institute’s  Director Kubat Umurzakov. Over 80 government officials and think tank representatives from 10 CAREC countries, ADB, CAREC Institute, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, United Nations Development Program, World Bank discussed ways to promote economic cooperation in Central Asia, and a proposal to establish a network of think tanks.

Agenda:
TimeProgram
0830 – 0900Registration
Session 1: Opening Ceremony
Moderator: Mr. Ziqian Liang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute
0900 – 0920Welcome Remarks

  • Mr. Timur Zhaxylykov, Vice Minister of National Economy, Government of Republic of Kazakhstan

  • Mr. Juzhong Zhuang, Deputy Chief Economist and Deputy Director General, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

  • Mr. Shigeo Katsu, President, Nazarbayev University

  • Mr. Kubat Umurzakov, Director, CAREC Institute

0920 – 0935Keynote Address
Problems and ways of improving the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s economy in the context of the world economy’s post-industrial development
Mr. Arystan Yessentugelov, Professor, Honorary President, Economic Research Institute, Ministry of National Economy, Government of Kazakhstan
0935 – 0945Photo Session
0945 – 1010Press conference/Coffee break
1010 – 1115Session 2: Economic Outlook of Central Asia

Moderator: Mr. Ben Slay, Senior Advisor, Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, UNDP

Asian Development Outlook 2016: Asia’s Potential Growth
Mr. Juzhong Zhuang, Deputy Chief Economist and Deputy Director General, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

The PRC’s Economic Outlook
Mr. Qiangwu Zhou, Deputy Director General, Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center, Beijing Office, Ministry of Finance, the PRC

Kazakhstan’s Macroeconomic Outlook 2016
Ms. Aktoty Aitzhanova, CEO, National Analytical Center of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Commentator One:
Mr. Fariz Mammadov, Leading Research Fellow, Institute for Scientific Research on Economic Reforms, Azerbaijan

Commentator Two:
Ms. Janna Fattakhova, Senior Research Coordinator, Center for Economic Research, Uzbekistan
1115 – 1135 Open Discussion
1135 – 1240Session 3: Infrastructure as driver of Cross-Border Connectivity

Moderator: Mr. Arjun Goswami, Technical Advisor, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

CAREC Program: Improving infrastructure connectivity to promote construction of economic corridors and economic cooperation and integration
Mr. Kenzhenhan Abuov, ADB Consultant

Meeting the Infrastructure Need for a Shared Prosperity: Key Challenges and Policy Implications at Country and Regional Levels
Mr. Guntur Sugiyarto, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

Needs and Benefits of Infrastructure Investments in CAREC Region: 2016-2030- An Overview
Mr. Yergali Dosmagambet, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute

Commentator One:
Mr. Azamat Dikambaev, Director, National Institute of Strategic Studies, Kyrgyz Republic

Commentator Two:
Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, Joint Director, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Government of Pakistan

1240 – 1300 Open Discussion
1300 – 1430 Lunch Break
1430 – 1530Session 4: Improving Competitiveness

Moderator: Mr. Frances Ato Brown, Country Manager for Republic of Kazakhstan, the World Bank

Kazakhstan Economy: Retrospective, Current situation, Anti-crisis policy
Ms. Aigul Kosherbayeva, Director for the Center of Regional Development And Competition Research, Economic Research Institute, Ministry of National Economy, Government of Kazakhstan

Financing for Infrastructure and The Way to Increase Rate of Return
Mr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean, ADBI

Rural Infrastructure and Inclusive Growth
Mr. Guanghua Wan, Director of Research, ADBI

Commentator One:
Mr. Tamim Asey, Research Fellow/Economic Adviser, Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies

Commentator Two:
Mr. Berdimyrat Bashimov, Head, Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Economy and Development, Government of Turkmenistan
1530 – 1550Open Discussion
1550 – 1600Coffee Break
1600 – 1650Session 5: Operational Plan and Collective Actions

Moderator: Ms. Anjum Assad Amin, Additional Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan

ADB’s Proposed RCI Operational Plan and Promoting Collective Action in CAREC
Mr. Arjun Goswami, Technical Advisor, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

Working together for development of Central Asia
Mr. Kubat Umurzakov, Director, CAREC Institute

Commentator One:
Ms. Chona R. Echavez, Director, Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, Afghanistan

Commentator Two:
Ms. Odonchimeg Ikhbayar, Deputy Director, Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center, Mongolia
1650 – 1710 Open Discussion
1710 – 1715Closing Remark
Mr. Kubat Umurzakov, Director, CAREC Institute
1715 – 1745Back to Hotel
1830 – 2030 Dinner by CAREC Institute and Government of Republic of Kazakhstan
TimeProgram
0900 – 0930Registration
0930 – 1020Session 6: Role of Think Tank Network

Moderator: Mr. Kashif Noon, Unit Head, CAREC Institute

Networking Asian Think Tanks for KS and CD: The Case of Asian Think Tanks Network (ATTN)
Mr. Dongxiang Li, Advisor, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB

The Proposal on the Establishment of Central Asia Think Tank Network
Mr. Ziqian Liang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute

Commentator One:
Mr. Qiangwu Zhou, Deputy Director General, Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center, Beijing Office, Ministry of Finance, the PRC

Commentator Two:
Mr. Azamat Dikambaev, Director, National Institute of Strategic Studies, Kyrgyz Republic
1020 – 1040Open Discussion
1040 – 1100 Coffee Break
1100 – 1115Session 7: Closing Ceremony

Moderator: Ms. Anjum Assad Amin, Additional Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, and Privatization, Pakistan

Speakers:

  • Ms. Anjum Assad Amin, Additional Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics, and Privatization, Pakistan

  • Ms. Aigul Kosherbayeva, Director for the Center of Regional Development And Competition Research, Economic Research Institute, Ministry of National Economy, Government of Kazakhstan

  • Kubat Umurzakov, Director, CAREC Institute

1300 – 1430Lunch Break
1430 – 1800Cultural Events

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