CAREC Institute Launches 5th Annual Research Conference Focused on Regional Trade and Connectivity Date

29 May 2025Text:The CAREC Institute (CI), in collaboration with regional and international partners, successfully launched its 5th Annual Research Conference on 29 to 30 May 2025 in Islamabad, themed “CAREC Connectivity: Promoting Trade and Trade Facilitation.” The event brought together over 200 participants, including policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and development partners, to discuss strategies for enhancing regional integration and trade.Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, graced the event as Chief Guest and delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the region’s vast but underutilized potential. He called the conference “timely and essential” amid global climate, geopolitical, and technological shifts. Highlighting that intra-regional trade (excluding China) stands at just 7%, compared to ASEAN’s 22%, he stressed that the gap stems from logistical, regulatory, and institutional constraints—not geography. Quoting economist Paul Collier, he noted, “Geography is not destiny. It is an opportunity—if we choose to seize it.”The opening session featured remarks from CAREC Institute Director Charymuhammet Shallyyev, Syed Shakeel Shah from the Prime Minister’s Office, Syed Aftab Haider, CEO of Pakistan Single Window, Emma Fan, Asian Development Bank Country Director for Pakistan, and Yang Guangyuan, Public Affairs Officer at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan. Mr. Shallyyev emphasized the critical role of connectivity in post-pandemic productivity and recovery, stating: “Connectivity is not merely a facilitator of productivity; it is often its most powerful driver—how efficiently and effectively we connect people, ideas, goods, and capital.”The two-day conference featured eight expert panel discussions that explored critical aspects of regional trade and connectivity. Key topics included enhancing port connectivity and trade facilitation, strengthening the energy investment ecosystem in the region, and connecting South Asia to Central Asia through the TIR (International Road Transports) System. Additionally, discussions addressed advancing digital and transport connectivity within the CAREC region, as well as the opportunities and challenges in linking CAREC with the GCC via intermodal transport. Other important topics included mobilizing private investment in business services to boost intra-CAREC trade, accelerating regional cooperation through digital trade and connectivity, and reimagining regional trade for the next decade, with a focus on the URAAN Pakistan initiative and its potential within CAREC. Distinguished panelists from government, the private sector, academia, and international development organizations shared valuable insights on reducing logistics costs, enhancing infrastructure resilience, improving private sector engagement, and fostering deeper regional cooperation and integration.Six thematic research sessions presented 32 original papers by scholars from Pakistan, China, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan. Topics ranged from digital trade and green logistics to private sector engagement, and inclusive and ethical trade facilitation, offering actionable policy recommendations to strengthen institutional capacity.To mark the CAREC Institute’s 10th anniversary, a high-level networking event was held on Day One of the conference, with the participation of ambassadors from CAREC member countries. The event featured Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh and the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Mukhtar Ahmed, who both delivered welcoming remarks. Their speeches underscored Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation and acknowledged the important role of the CAREC Institute in promoting connectivity and fostering collaboration among member countries.A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the CAREC Institute and the University of Sargodha, marking a significant step in strengthening regional and international collaboration on pressing global agendas. This agreement demonstrated a new milestone in the network’s growth, enhancing the cooperation between member countries and paving the way for further engagement on critical regional issues.The flagship conference reaffirmed the CAREC Institute’s role as a vital knowledge hub for regional cooperation, setting a forward-looking agenda focused on smarter policies, stronger partnerships, and deeper regional integration. In his closing remarks, Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director Two at the CAREC Institute, stated: “As the region advances toward green transition, digital connectivity, economic diversification, and sustainable development, the CAREC Institute is committed to supporting member countries through research, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships.”This year’s conference was successfully organized with support from national, regional, and international partners. Their collective effort helped facilitate diverse regional discussions and foster meaningful dialogue among participants.