Date and time: May 19, 10:00 a.m. CET | 12:00 p.m. GMT+4
Duration: 60 min
Language: English
Location: Zoom online meeting with live broadcasting to StrategEast Facebook page
The normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has kick-started tourism and a number of significant business arrangements and investments in a remarkably short period of time. But the opportunity is there for so much more beyond the borders of just these two countries. This new relationship has the potential for using the combined economic know-how and innovative mindset to work together by implementing large-scale development projects in the majority of Muslim post-Soviet countries in Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The benefits for both Israel and the UAE, as well as the potential for these countries, could be enormous. StrategEast.Live panel discussion “Abraham Accords as an opportunity for Central Asia and Azerbaijan transformation” participants will discuss the new opportunities in the region.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Anatoly Motkin, President of StrategEast center for a new economy, author of The Jerusalem Post article “Stabilization through digitalization and normalization in Asia”.
The main issues to be discussed:
– What humanitarian projects are the UAE and Israel currently carrying out in the countries of Central Asia? Could joining forces in working on these projects provide significant synergy in helping the region?
– The UAE and Israel are known as countries that have undergone a digital transformation and are actively developing the IT industry. What role could the countries of Central Asia play in the global IT industry chain with their significant young populations?
– Part of the Abraham Accords was the creation of the Abraham Fund, established by the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Israel for the development of the region. What investments in the digital transformation of Central Asia countries could be effective for this new fund?
– In January 2021, the Uzbek authorities announced that the country will invest $ 50 million in the Abraham Fund, established by the United States, the UAE and Israel as part of the Abraham Accords intending to bolster regional trade, enable strategic infrastructure projects and increase energy security. What opportunities does the government of Uzbekistan see in the country’s participation in this regional fund?
Panel Participants:
- Sawsan Hasson, Director of Middle East Economic Relations Department, Middle East Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel;
- Ambassador Michael Lotem, Director of Economic Department, Asia, CIS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel;
- Mansur Mamadjanov, International Operations Manager of the Investment and Export Office at IT Park, Uzbekistan;
- Filip Stoyanovich, Chief of Party, USAID’s Future Growth Initiative (FGI) for Central Asia.
