The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute (hereinafter referred to as “CAREC Institute”) held its Fourth Annual Research Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from August 29 to 30, 2024. This year’s conference, centered around the theme “Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC Region,” attracted significant attention. The conference was jointly organized by KIMEP University’s College of Social Sciences, the China & Central Asia Studies Center, and the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the PRC Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund. Notably, this marked the first time the conference was held in person. More than 70 experts and scholars from research institutions, government departments, development partners, and industry organizations participated in the event. Dr. Liu Bingcai, a Research Fellow at the Green BRI Research Center of the International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF) at the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE), and Daria Gerasimenko, an Assistant Researcher in the International Cooperation Department of IIGF, CUFE, were invited to attend and participate in the forum discussions.
The conference featured six thematic parallel sessions, with presentations covering key topics such as energy transitions, green initiatives, trade connectivity, and inclusive development, followed by in-depth panel discussions. The second day highlighted the institute’s flagship knowledge products, offering vital policy recommendations for CAREC member countries. In addition, Professor Zhang Xiaotong from the China and Central Asia Studies Center at KIMEP University delivered a lecture titled “The Geography of Prosperity in the CAREC Region.”
Mr. Kabir Jurazoda, Director of the CAREC Institute; Mr. Damian Riviez, Vice President for Academic Affairs at KIMEP University; Mr. Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration Economist at the Islamic Development Bank; and Dr. Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, delivered the opening remarks. They underscored that the 11 CAREC member countries play a crucial role in promoting regional peace, development, and global economic stability. They also encouraged scholars to provide diverse, inclusive, and sustainable research to advance CAREC’s development.
At the “Green Innovation, Climate, and Environment” parallel forum, Dr. Liu Bingcai presented a research titled “Evaluation of the Co-benefits and Trade-offs of Solar+ Projects and Their Prospects for Application in the CAREC Region.” He highlighted that Solar+ projects could play a crucial role in achieving renewable energy targets and sustainable development goals. Dr. Liu emphasized the potential benefits of implementing these projects in CAREC countries, noting that they could boost agricultural and livestock production, enhance the supply of local agricultural products, and create more opportunities for meeting both economic and environmental objectives. The parallel forum also covered related topics such as the sustainable energy transition in Central Asia, the impact of foreign investment on economic growth in the region with a focus on digitalization, the role of artificial intelligence in the green transformation, and technology transfer.
The CAREC Institute is committed to offering knowledge support and think tank services for economic cooperation and integration, as well as policy design and implementation across CAREC countries. The success of this annual research conference will significantly advance research in areas such as environmental resources, technological innovation, and economic development within the CAREC region. Furthermore, it establishes a strong foundation for future collaboration between IIGF, CUFE and the CAREC Institute.
IIGF will continue to enhance its collaboration with the CAREC Institute through ongoing seminars and capacity-building initiatives, fostering the exchange of knowledge and experiences in transition finance, green finance, and sustainable practices. Both organizations will work together to identify practical solutions and applications for achieving “net-zero emissions” targets, advancing sustainable development in the region.