Greater Caspian Region as a key energy & logistics hub – focus of JCC flagship conference

Name: Greater Caspian Region as a key energy %26 logistics hub - focus of JCC flagship conference
Start: 2022-10-11
End: 2022-10-11
Location: Credit Suisse Forum St. Peter

The Trans-Caspian Trade and Transit Corridor is a key block of European and Asian connectivity. Comprised of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey to the west, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan to the east of the Caspian Sea, the corridor serves as an essential overland route linking the European Union, China, India, and the Middle East. Countries are looking to expand options for transporting goods from Asia to Europe as well as new sources of energy and supply chain possibilities. In 2018, the legal status of the Caspian Sea was close to being resolved. At the time this was seen as an alternative westward corridor that could help Caspian States diversify the countries to which they export. While the corridor has not yet reached its full potential, the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine offer a new incentive for regional states to achieve this goal.

These considerations formed the backdrop of JCC’s flagship event of the year, the Greater Caspian Forum, “The Greater Caspian Region – A Corridor for Energy, Logistics and Trade Flows between Asia and Europe”. The conference organized in partnership with the Greater Caspian Association of Geneva took place on October 11, 2022 at Credit Suisse Forum St. Peter, Zurich. At the conference moderated by Dorit Sallis, Managing Director, JCC, an outstanding panel of speakers examined various aspects of the Greater Caspian Region as a source of traditional and renewable energy, multi-modal logistical linkages and trade flows between Europe and Asia.

Marcel Pawlicek, President, JCC opened with a welcome statement. Philippe Welti, President, Economic Chamber Switzerland-Iran; Former Swiss Ambassador to India and to Iran set the scene in his “Introduction to the Greater Caspian Region – A Historical, Economic and Geographic Overview.” Logistics Connectivity of the Greater Caspian Region was discussed by Babar Badat, Former President, FIATA -International Federation fo Freight Forwarders Associations and Chairman, Transhold (Pvt) Ltd. Ambassador Matthew Bryza, Former White House and Senior State Department Official for Europe and Eurasia gave an insightful analysis in his statement on “Developing the Trans-Caspian Corridor for Energy, Logistics and Trade”.

Following the coffee break speakers showcased specific projects that littoral Caspian Seas states of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are planning or implementing within the framework of the so-called Middle Corridor. “The Trans-Caucasus Transport Corridor (CTC): Azerbaijan and Georgia, a Key Axis of the Middle Corridor” was examined by Eugene Seah, Chief Operations Officer, Baku International Sea Trade Port.

A project that can alleviate regional logistics bottlenecks was discussed by Dr. Andreas Baumgartner, Managing Director – StIR StrategyImpactReputation FZE in his presentation on “The Khorgos Black Sea Corridor: Reshaping Trans-Caucasus Logistics”. The presentation culminated with an examination of “Future Trends and New Business Opportunities in the Greater Caspian Region” by Murat Seitnepesov, Chairman, Integral Group; President, Greater Caspian Region Association.

A special highlight was the presentation by Professor Dr. Paul Vogt, EurAsia Heart Foundation; Head of Cardiac Surgery, Zurich University Hospital : “On the Way to Achieve SDG – Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in the Greater Caspian Region – Current Status and Need for Improvement”. Prof. Dr. Vogt explained his foundation’s work, offering cardiac surgery to children in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and beyond. He stressed the necessity of expanding its efforts to meet a growing need in developing countries all over the world. If you wish to support the EurAsia Heart Foundation, please do so at the following link: https://eurasiaheart.ch/

After the networking reception featuring wines from Azerbaijan and Georgia, speakers and guests enjoyed a traditional Zurich dinner at the Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten, a typical Zurich guildhouse on the banks of the Limmat River. Here they drank a wine titled “Freedom Blend” a wine produced by the Moldovan Purcari Vineyards mixing Moldovan, Georgian and Ukrainian grapes. A fitting symbol of partnership to achieve joint goals in the Greater Caspian Region and to a peaceful future in Europe and globally.