The Seventh CAREC Think Tank Development Forum
Speakers and Moderators
Shixin Chen
VICE PRESIDENT
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Kabir Jurozoda
DIRECTOR
CAREC INSTITUTE
Wencai Zhang
VICE PRESIDENT
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF CHINA
Zhijun Cheng
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION DEPARTMENT
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
CHINA
Ayumi Konishi
SENIOR ADVISOR TO CEO
MULTILATERAL COOPERATION CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
Thomas Abell
DIRECTOR
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Jingjing Huang
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ONE
CAREC INSTITUTE
Talant Sultanov
CHAIR AND FOUNDER
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
Norbert Funke
DIRECTOR
CCAMTAC
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Artem Levenkov
HEAD OF SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND IFIS
EURASIAN FUND FOR STABILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Roman Mogilevksii
SENIOR ECONOMIST
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Yixin Yao
SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK INSTITUTE
Hsiao Chink (Benzhe) Tang
HEAD
ADB-PRC REGIONAL KNOWLEGDE INITIATIVE
Khalid Umar
CHIEF OF STRATEGIC PLANNING DIVISION
CAREC INSTITUTE
Farrukh Khakimov
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY CENTER
UZBEKISTAN
Albina Muratbekova
SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
EURASIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
KAZAKHSTAN
Asif Javed
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY INSTITUTE
PAKISTAN
Burulcha Sulaimanova
RESEARCHER
OSCE ACADEMY
THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
Xiaojun Feng
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY
CHINA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
BEIJING, CHINA
Ana Pashalishvili
PROGRAMME SPECIALIST
EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL OFFICE
UN WOMEN
Syed Hassan Alsagoff
MANAGER, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COOPERATION & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK
Sherry Tao Kong
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
PEKING UNIVERSITY
BEIJING, CHINA
Syed Shakeel Shah
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
REFORMS AND AUTOMATION
FEDERAL BUREAU OF REVENUES
PAKISTAN
Remon Moes
SENIOR MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ALIBABA
Enkhtulga Ganbat
CROSS-SECTOR COORDINATION SPECIALIST
MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
MONGOLIA
Jieru Ba
SENIOR RESEARCHER
TENCENT RESEARCH GROUP
BEIJING, CHINA
Ghulam Samad
SENIOR RESEARCH SPECIALIST
CAREC INSTITUTE
Naveed Zafar Durrani
SENIOR CONSULTANT
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Shuqi Su
CONSULTANT
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Eli David
CEO
STARTUPBLINK
ISRAEL
Jin Zhang
VICE PRESIDENT
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE ON DEVELOPMENT
BEIJING, CHINA
Zeeshan Salahuddin
DIRECTOR
CENTER FOR REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY
TABADLAB
PAKISTAN
Tuvshintugs Batdelger
DIRECTOR
ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MONGOLIA
Mahir Humbatov
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
ECONOMIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AZERBAIJAN
Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa
SENIOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SPECIALIST
CAREC INSTITUTE
Dzhovid Khuseinov
NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIP SPECIALIST
CAREC INSTITUTE
About the Forum
The CAREC Think Tank Development Forum is organized annually under the auspices of the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN). Every year the Forum brings together leading practitioners from think tanks, multilateral development partners, governments, and the private sector from the CAREC region to brainstorm regional challenges and provide diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to address these challenges through dialogue, experience sharing, and knowledge collaboration.
This year, the seventh edition of the forum will be held under the theme “Embracing Digital Technology for Sustainable Economic Development” and will consist of seven sessions on the role of digital technology in driving sustainable economic growth, the readiness of the CAREC region for digital adoption, the promotion of digital technologies, investments in key digital infrastructure and favorable business environment, the development of e-commerce and digital finance; and discussions of opportunities and challenges for the labor market, digital governance, and the CAREC startup ecosystem. In the closing session, CTTN members will discuss how think tanks, through strategic advocacy, can provide policy makers with the information and guidance they need to develop effective policies that promote economic growth, stability and prosperity.
The forum will discuss, among others, (i) findings of CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) studies; (ii) the role of digital technology in spurring economic development; (iii) digital strategies, governance, and infrastructure; (iv) digital divide and policies for boosting digital skills and competencies; and (v) E-commerce, governance, financial inclusion and FinTech.
Agenda Day One – 16 August, Wednesday
09:30-10:00
Registration, Hilton Hotel, Urumqi
10:00-10:30
Session I – Opening Ceremony
Welcome Remarks by Kabir Jurozoda, Director, Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute
Opening remarks and Keynote address
Opening Remarks by Shixin Chen, Vice President, Asian Development Bank
Opening Address by Wencai Zhang, Vice President, The Export-Import Bank of China, the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
Keynote Address by Zhijun Cheng, Director-General, Ministry of Finance, the PRC
Keynote Address by Governor/Deputy Governor, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the PRC
Group Photo
10:30-11:30
Session II – Context Setting: Digital Economy and Development Nexus
Technology has significantly improved living standards and prosperity. More recently, with its innumerable modern-day manifestations, digital technology has played a crucial role in fostering sustainable economic development by enabling businesses to increase their productivity and efficiency while reducing their environmental footprints. Digital technology has enabled the development of new products and services that address environmental challenges, such as renewable energy, intelligent transportation systems, and sustainable agriculture. Further, the session will take stock of the CAREC region’s readiness for digital adoption by reviewing the progress in formulating dedicated digital strategies, developing crucial infrastructure, and creating an investment-friendly business environment.
Moderator: Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to CEO, the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Beijing
Analyzing the Role of Digital Technology in Spurring Sustainable Economic Growth
Speaker: Thomas Abell, Director, Digital Technology for Development Division, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila
Digital Strategies, Infrastructure, and Investment – CAREC Region’s Readiness for Digital Adoption
Speaker: Talant Sultanov, Chair and Founder, the Center for Strategic Initiatives, BishkekSpeaker: Talant Sultanov, Chair and Founder, the Center for Strategic Initiatives, Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic
Open Discussion
11:30-11:45
Short Break
11:45-12:50
Session III: CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN) Research Grants Program Presentations: Country Case Studies
This session will present four case studies, one from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, on topics how digital technology leverage sustainable development/growth in these countries. This Regional Report is produced under the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN) Research Grants Program (RGP) umbrella, aimed at fostering regional knowledge-sharing cooperation among member think tanks.
Moderator: Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, Central and West Asia Regional Department (CWRD), ADB, Manila, the Philippines
Kazakhstan Case Study
Speaker: Albina Muratbekova, Senior Research Fellow, Eurasian Research Institute, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic Case Study
Speaker: Burulcha Sulaimanova, Researcher, OSCE Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan Case Study
Speaker: Asif Javed, Senior Research Associate, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, Pakistan
Uzbekistan Case Study
Speaker: Farrukh Khakimov, Research Coordinator, Development Strategy Center, Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Open Discussion
12:50-14:00
Session IV: Bridging Digital Divide and Boosting Digital Skills
The rapid pace of technological advancements has brought about new opportunities and challenges for the labor market. While technological adoption has increased productivity and efficiency, it has also widened the already wide-ranging digital divide among countries, regions, gender, income, and age groups, putting additional pressure on governments to design programs for bridging the digital gap, reskilling, and upskilling the workforce, particularly women workers. The implications for the labor market are significant, as many jobs are at risk of automation, and workers will need to acquire new skills to remain relevant in the job market.
Moderator: Artem Levenkov, Head of Socooeconomic Analysis and IFIs, Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development, Moscow, Russia
Technological Adoption, Inequalities, and Implications for Labor Market
Speaker: Xiaojun Feng, Associate Professor of Sociology, China Agricultural University, BeijingXiaojun Feng, Associate Professor of Sociology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, the PRC
Reskilling and Upskilling Women for Bridging Digital Divide in the CAREC Region
Speaker: Ana Pashalishvili, Programme Specialist, Women’s Entrepreneurship Acceleration, Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, United Nations Women (UN Women), Istanbul, Turkiye
Bridging the Quality of Education through Digital Technologies using the Flipped Classroom Approach
Speaker: Syed Hassan Alsagoff, Manager, Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation and Capacity Development Department, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Open Discussion
14:00-15:00
Lunch Break
15:00-16:20
Session V: RKSI South-South Learning Seminar: Digital Governance and Commerce
As businesses adopt digital marketing platforms for selling their products and services, the need for brick-and-mortar spaces diminishes. As more and more companies shift their operations online, it is crucial to establish a robust governance structure to ensure that online transactions are secure, fair, and transparent and that essential regulatory frameworks and policies are in place to protect consumers, build trust in digital commerce, prevent fraud, and promote healthy competition in the online marketplace. China’s success story, led by Alibaba, offers numerous policy lessons for CAREC countries to emulate for promoting E-commerce. Moreover, two success stories from Mongolia and Pakistan on digital trade facilitation and optimizing digital governance reinforce the significance of south-south learning.
Moderator: Hsiao Chink (Benzhe) Tang, Head of ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), ADB
China’s E-commerce Success Story: Role of Government and Policy Implications for the CAREC Countries
Speaker: Sherry Tao Kong, Associate Professor, Beijing University, Beijing, the PRC
Role of Private Sector in E-Commerce: Learning from Alibaba’s Success Story
Speaker: Remon Moes, Senior Manager Public Affairs, Alibaba
TradeTech for Trade Facilitation and Regional Integration: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) Initiative
Speaker: Syed Shakeel Shah, Director-General, Reforms and Automation, Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan
Building Digital Nation through Optimization of Public Services in Mongolia
Speaker: Enkhtulga Ganbat, Specialist of Cross-Sector Coordination, Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, Mongolia
Open Discussion
16:20-16:40
Short Break
16:40-17:45
Session VI: Financial Inclusion and Digital Finance
Financial inclusion refers to the provision of affordable and accessible financial services to people who are traditionally excluded from the formal financial system. Digital finance, on the other hand, refers to using technology to provide financial services. Digital finance has the potential to significantly increase financial inclusion by reducing the cost and increasing the accessibility of financial services. Mobile money, for example, allows people to conduct financial transactions using their mobile phones without needing a bank account. This has been particularly beneficial in developing countries, where many people lack access to traditional banking services. Overall, digital finance has the potential to transform the financial landscape and improve the lives of millions of people. CAREC member states (Excl. the PRC) are lagging when it comes to providing services and infrastructure critical to increasing financial inclusion, for example, access to the Internet, transport linkages, and government facilitation. On the other hand, China has taken giant leaps in harnessing technology to deepen financial inclusion, presenting numerous policy lessons to CAREC countries.
Moderator: Yixin Yao, Senior Research Fellow, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo
The State of Financial Inclusion in the CAREC Region
Speaker: Khalid Umar, Chief of Strategic Planning Division, CAREC Institute
Role of WeChat in deepening financial inclusion in China – Policy Lessons for the CAREC Region
Speaker: Jieru Ba, Senior Researcher, Tencent Research Institute, Beijing
Open Discussion
17:45-18:00
First Day Recap
Recap by
Ghulam Samad, Senior Research Specialist, CAREC Institute
Agenda Day Two – 17 August, Thursday
10:00 – 11:40
Session VII: A Booming CAREC Startup Ecosystem under CAREC Digital Strategy 2030
The CAREC 2030 Digital Strategy reveals a blueprint of how digital tools and applications empower the economy and the quality of life in the CAREC region. Among the five pillars, Digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and ICT competitiveness lays the foundation for a startup ecosystem community capable of applying digital technologies and tools to make a change. An outlook of the CAREC 2030 Digital Strategy will provide a background of the methodology and framework of the digital transformation expected by 2030 in the CAREC region, specifically, the type of startup ecosystem needed to upgrade the digital economy effectively. A series of initiatives have been carried out to build an interactive and collaborative startup ecosystem with all the innovation stakeholders.
Moderator: Roman Mogilevskii, Senior Economist, CRWC, ADB, Manila, the Philippines
CAREC Digital Strategy Pillars: Strengthening Digital Foundations
Speaker: Naveed Zafar Durrani, Senior Consultant, ADB, Singapore
An Overview of Initiatives under the CAREC Program: Startup Map, CIN, University Startup Challenge, and CAREC Innovation Decoded
Speaker: Shuqi Su, ADB Consultant, the PRC
The Development of the CAREC Startup Ecosystem and its Impact on the Broader Digital Economy
Speaker: Eli David, CEO, StartupBlink, Israel / ADB Consultant (Online)
Open Discussion
11:40 – 12:00
Short Break
12:00 – 13:00
Session VII: Building Alliances for Regional Prosperity
Unabating Geoeconomic uncertainties present unpredictable economic risks and challenges that arise from geopolitical factors such as political instability, trade disputes, and sanctions. The interplay of these factors can lead to changes in currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and investment flows, among other things. Countries and businesses must navigate these uncertainties to maintain stability and competitiveness in the global economy. Think tanks are important institutions that can help countries navigate the uncertainties of the global economy and geopolitical landscape. Through research, analysis, and dialogue, think tanks can provide policymakers and stakeholders with the information and recommendations they need to develop effective policies that promote economic growth, stability, and prosperity.
Panel Discussion on the Role of Think Tanks amid Geoeconomic Uncertainties
Moderator: Norbert Funke, Director, CCAMTAC, International Monetary Fund, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Panelist I: Jin Zhang, Vice President, Center for International Knowledge on Development (CIKD), Beijing, the PRC
Panelist II: Zeeshan Salahuddin, Director, Center for Regional and Global Connectivity, Tabadlab, Islamabad, Pakistan
Panelist III: Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Panelist IV: Mahir Humbatov, Chairman of the Board, Economic Scientific Research Institute (ESRI), Baku, Azerbaijan
Open Discussion
13:00 – 13:50
CAREC Think Tank Network Progress and Initiatives by the CTTN Secretariat
Moderator: Khalid Umar, Coordinator, CAREC Think Tank Network
CAREC Think Tank Network Progress Report
Speaker: Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa, Senior Strategic Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute
CTTN Blog Launch
Speaker: Dzhovid Khuseinov, Networking and Partnerships Specialist, CAREC Institute
Suggestions and Feedback on the Network
13:50 – 14:00
Closing Reflections and Acknowledgements
Moderator: Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director One, CAREC Institute
14:00 – 15:00
Lunch @ U Café – First Floor
15:30 – 17:30
Networking and Visit to Euro-Asia Commodity and Trade Expo
Partners
China-Euroasia Expo Secretariat
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Finance Department
About CAREC Think Tank Network
Established in 2017, the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN) is a network of leading think tanks from the member countries of the CAREC Program. Consistent with the CAREC 2030 objectives to promote policy dialogue among members and development partners and deliver and disseminate quality knowledge services for regional economic cooperation, the (CTTN) brings together leading regional think tanks to promote regional cooperation and integration (RCI) through shared ideas, information, and joint research. To this end, the CTTN administers a research grants program (RGP) to encourage member think tanks to undertake research on pressing regional issues and organize an annual CAREC think tank development forum (CTTDF) to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
Today the Network includes many prominent think tanks, universities and research institutions from 11 CAREC member countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
Past Forums
The CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) is organized annually under the auspices of the CTTN. The forum has become an attractive platform for think tanks, academia, private sector and governments from the CAREC region and beyond to exchange views and knowledge on evolving regional and global policy challenges.
The First Forum: “Promoting Economic Cooperation for an Integrated Central Asia”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
20-21 JUNE 2016
The CAREC Institute hosted the first CAREC Think Tank Development Forum in June 2016 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with the theme of “Promoting Economic Cooperation for an Integrated Central Asia.” The Forum was successfully organized in partnership with Graduate School of Public Policy of Nazarbayev University and with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Kazakhstan. The Forum focused on three main themes: i) economic prospects of Central Asia, ii) necessities, opportunities and challenges of strengthening connectivity of infrastructures in Central Asian region, and iii) building a knowledge sharing network among CAREC member countries.
The Second Forum: “Exploring Knowledge Solutions for Regional Cooperation and Integration.”, Urumqi, PRC
SEPTEMBER 2017
The second Forum was held in Urumqi, PRC, in September 2017 with the theme of “Exploring Knowledge Solutions for Regional Cooperation and Integration.” The 2nd Forum was organized in partnership with ADB and ADB-Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) and discussed the topics on regional economic cooperation and integration, avenues for cooperation in infrastructure and trade, and institutional developments of think tanks in the region. During the Forum, the participants adopted the “Urumqi Declaration” – a founding document to officially establish the CAREC Think Tanks Network. For the 2nd Forum report, please visit here.
The Third Forum: “Building Knowledge Corridors along the Silk Road”, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
17-18 JULY 2018
Realizing its role as a knowledge arm of the CAREC 2030, the CAREC Institute partnered with the National Institute of Strategic Studies (NISS) of the Kyrgyz Republic to organize the 3rd Forum in Bishkek in July 2018 with a thematic focus on building knowledge corridors along the Silk Road. Over 100 participants deliberated on the concept of knowledge corridors as an interconnected web of thoughts and ideas of knowledge enablers (government), knowledge articulators (sector experts), knowledge generators (research entities), and knowledge transformers (business sector) to translate knowledge into tangible gains and advance regionalism for shared prosperity. For the 3rd Forum report, please visit here.
The Fourth Forum: “Trading for Shared Prosperity”, Xi’an, PRC
27-28 AUGUST 2019
The fourth Forum was organized in cooperation with ADB, Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) and International Economics and Finance Institute (IEFE) of the Ministry of Finance of the PRC on 27-28 August 2019 with a theme of “Trading for Shared Prosperity” in one of the ancient cities and starting points of the Silk Road, Xian, Shaanxi Province, the PRC. The Forum brought together around 130 participants from think tanks, academia, private sector, and governments to deliberate on trade expansion from increased market access, greater diversification, and stronger institutions for trade under the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda (CITA) 2030 in the context of heightened US-PRC trade tensions and expansion of disruptive technologies. For the 4th Forum report, please visit here.
The Fifth Forum: “Economic Corridors: Pathways to Regional Growth”, virtual
23-24 NOVEMBER 2021
The fifth Forum was organized on 23-24 November 2021 under the theme of “Economic Corridors: Pathways to Regional Growth” in collaboration with the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME). Over 150 representatives of member governments, think tanks, universities, development partners, international organizations, and individual consultants attended the forum. The forum speakers presented their perspectives and experiences exploring the economic case for developing the economic corridors, stocktaking of progress made on CAREC and BRI corridors and learning from the best practices in comparable regions such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region, South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, and sub-national level corridors in Malaysia. The forum concluded that economic corridors are important tools for creating new economies by connecting factors of production through an integrated infrastructure linking cities and countries. For the CAREC region, the development of economic corridors offers immense opportunities for growth and development. For the fifth Forum report, please visit here.
The Sixth Forum: “Recalibrating Growth Dynamics for Inclusive and Sustainable Economies”, Baku, Azerbaijan
15-16 SEPTEMBER 2022
The sixth Forum was organized under the theme of “Recalibrating Growth Dynamics for Inclusive and Sustainable Economies” in Baku, Azerbaijan, in partnership with the ADB-PRC RKSI, the Economic Scientific Research Institute (ESRI), the Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) and with support of ADB. The Forum deliberated on i) the overview of CAREC economies and how much recalibration is needed for inclusive and sustainable growth; ii) CTTN regional research report on “Access to health, education, digital technologies and women’s participation in the workforce” were presented bringing case studies from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan; iii) State of progress on UN SDGs in the CAREC region taking stock of the progress on 17 goals, the bottlenecks, and policy prescription for achieving the set targets under SDGs; and iv) Climate vulnerabilities and the case for green energy in the CAREC region. In conclusion, v) Proposals for building alliances for shared prosperity were discussed by building the case for inclusive growth for non-governmental actors, private sector, civil society, and academia in shared prosperity. For the sixth Forum report, please visit here.
The Seventh Forum: “Embracing Digital Technology for Sustainable Economic Development”, Urumqi, the PRC
16-17 AUGUST 2023
The Seventh CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF) was organized on August 16-17, 2023, in Urumqi, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in partnership with China-Eurasia Expo Secretariat, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Finance Department, ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) and with the support of the Asian Development Bank. The forum was held under the theme “Embracing Digital Technology for Sustainable Economic Development” and discussed the role of digital technology in driving sustainable economic growth, the readiness of the CAREC region for digital adoption, the promotion of digital technologies, investments in key digital infrastructure and favorable business environment, the development of e-commerce and digital finance; and discussions of opportunities and challenges for the labor market, digital governance, and the CAREC startup ecosystem.