ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): The fifth annual Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute Research Conference, titled “CAREC Connectivity: Promoting Trade and Trade Facilitation,” concluded on Friday after two days of dynamic discussions and high-level engagements.
The event was co-hosted by the University of Sargodha (UOS) in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Pakistan Single Window (PSW), Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), International Road Transport Union (IRU), Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA), and the ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF).
The conference brought together over 200 participants from a diverse group of national and international stakeholders, including leading economists, researchers, and policymakers from China, Georgia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal graced the event as chief guest and delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the region’s vast but underutilized potential.
He called the conference “timely and essential” amid global climate, geopolitical, and technological shifts.
Highlighting that intra-regional trade (excluding China) stands at just 7%, compared to ASEAN’s 22%, he stressed that the gap stems from logistical, regulatory, and institutional constraints—not geography.
Quoting economist Paul Collier, he noted, “Geography is not destiny. It is an opportunity—if we choose to seize it.”
The opening session featured remarks from CAREC Institute Director Charymuhammet Shallyyev, Syed Shakeel Shah from Prime Minister’s Office, CEO of Pakistan Single Window Syed Aftab Haider, Asian Development Bank Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan, and Public Affairs Officer at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan Yang Guangyuan.
Shallyyev emphasized the critical role of connectivity in post-pandemic productivity and recovery, stating: “Connectivity is not merely a facilitator of productivity; it is often its most powerful driver—how efficiently and effectively we connect people, ideas, goods, and capital.”
The two-day conference featured eight expert panel discussions that explored critical aspects of regional trade and connectivity. The key topics included enhancing port connectivity and trade facilitation, strengthening the energy investment ecosystem in the region, and connecting South Asia to Central Asia through the TIR (International Road Transports) System.
Additionally, discussions addressed advancing digital and transport connectivity within the CAREC region, as well as the opportunities and challenges in linking CAREC with the GCC via intermodal transport.
Other important topics included mobilizing private investment in business services to boost intra-CAREC trade, accelerating regional cooperation through digital trade and connectivity, and reimagining regional trade for the next decade, with a focus on the URAAN Pakistan initiative and its potential within CAREC.
Distinguished panelists from government, the private sector, academia, and international development organizations shared valuable insights on reducing logistics costs, enhancing infrastructure resilience, improving private sector engagement, and fostering deeper regional cooperation and integration.
Meanwhile, six thematic research sessions presented 32 original papers by scholars from Pakistan, China, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkiye, and Kazakhstan. Topics ranged from digital trade and green logistics to private sector engagement, and inclusive and ethical trade facilitation, offering actionable policy recommendations to strengthen institutional capacity.
To mark the CAREC Institute’s 10th anniversary, a high-level networking event was held on first day of the conference, with the participation of ambassadors from CAREC member countries.
The event also featured Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh and the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Mukhtar Ahmed, who both delivered welcoming remarks.
Their speeches underscored Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation and acknowledged the important role of the CAREC Institute in promoting connectivity and fostering collaboration among member countries.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the CAREC Institute and the University of Sargodha, marking a significant step in strengthening regional and international collaboration on pressing global agendas.
This agreement demonstrated a new milestone in the network’s growth, enhancing the cooperation between member countries and paving the way for further engagement on critical regional issues.
The flagship conference reaffirmed the CAREC Institute’s role as a vital knowledge hub for regional cooperation, setting a forward-looking agenda focused on smarter policies, stronger partnerships, and deeper regional integration.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director-II at the CAREC Institute, said “As the region advances toward green transition, digital connectivity, economic diversification, and sustainable development, the CAREC Institute is committed to supporting member countries through research, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships.”
This year’s conference was successfully organized with support from national, regional, and international partners.Their collective effort helped facilitate diverse regional discussions and foster meaningful dialogue among participants.