The Eighth Central Asia Trade Forum: New Horizons in Trade and Investment

The event was organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development's Competitiveness, Trade, and Jobs Activity in Central Asia, in partnership with the Ministry for Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The forum brought together over 1,600 government and business leaders from 25 countries in Central and South Asia, Europe, and the United States. The theme of the forum, "New Horizons in Trade and Investment," reflected the region's increasing openness to regional and international trade. The event featured a record-breaking number of deals, with over $56 million in letters of intent to facilitate future trade in Central Asia. The private sector was well-represented, with 75 percent of participants coming from this sector, including 32 U.S. companies. The forum included a range of sessions and panels, including policy discussions on the investment climate, WTO accession, finance, and finance and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. The event also featured a roundtable on enforcing intellectual property rights, as well as sessions on tourism, intra-regional trade, and export promotion tools. Additionally, the forum included a concurrent exhibition showcasing over 100 businesses from various sectors, including transport, tourism, information technology, equipment manufacturing, and horticulture. The forum was attended by high-profile U.S. officials, including Chris Edwards, USAID Central Asia's Mission Director, and Alan Meltzer, Charge de'Affairs at the U.S. Embassy to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan government officials also attended, including Nodir Otajonov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who noted that cooperation in trade should be the locomotive for economic development in Central Asia. The forum was sponsored by a range of partners, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan, Agrobiz Kazakhstan, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The event received positive feedback from partners, with many praising the organization and networking opportunities provided. The Eighth Central Asia Trade Forum was a significant event in the region, bringing together government and business leaders to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The event highlighted the importance of cooperation in trade and investment in Central Asia and the potential for the region to become a major player in international trade.