On March 15, Anatoly Motkin, President of StrategEast, took the stage at the panel: “Central Asian Markets and Investment Landscape: US and International Business Community Perspective”, a part of the B5+1 conference held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The panel discussion delved into investment prospects and operational insights in Central Asia, spanning sectors such as transportation, e-commerce, tourism, agribusiness, and renewable energy.
Distinguished speakers shared valuable experiences, shedding light on the region’s economic integration and growth catalysts. Notably, the dialogue emphasized the pivotal role of IT and fintech sectors in fostering regional cooperation and driving digital transformation. The session also underscored the importance of strategic policies and collaborative partnerships to propel economic advancement across the region.
The ongoing transformation in Central Asia stands to benefit significantly from embracing technology and adopting a balanced “coopetition” approach, blending competition with cooperation among B5 countries.
The session was moderated by Dr. Marsha McGraw Olive with distinguished speakers: Ms. Jennifer Miel, US Kazakhstan Business Council; Dr. Olga Skorokhodova, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, Emerging Markets, Google; Ms. Elena Son, Executive Director, the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC), The US-Kyrgyzstan Business Council (USKGZBC), The US-Tajikistan Business Council (USTJBC), The US-Afghanistan Business Initiative (USABI); Mr. Rafal Trepka, General Manager, Central Asia, Mastercard; Ms. Isabella Bellera Landa, White & Case LLP, Senior Associate, International Arbitration Practice, and Commercial Litigation groups.
The conference served as a platform for fostering greater understanding and collaboration between the US and international business communities, facilitating constructive discussions on advancing economic cooperation and investment opportunities in Central Asia.
Business 5+1 (B5+1) is the public-private business dialogue platform between the five Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and the United States. B5+1 aims to bring together the leading voices of business from each of the Central Asian states and facilitating an open discussion on the primary factors standing in their way of building business and investment connections with each other, with the United States, and with the global economy.
