An event titled “London Caspian Connectivity Conference: Growth and Resilience”, organized by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), was held in London, UK.
In attendance were Lord John Alderdice, UK trade envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, and Uzbekistan to the UK, experts, as well as representatives of international organizations, business circles, and financial institutions.
In his opening remarks, Efgan Nifti, CPC President, emphasized that the Caspian region has turned into one of the key items on the global agenda. He particularly stressed the importance of the Middle Corridor amid the existing global challenges, describing the route as Eurasia's most viable pathway for global markets.
“For the Middle Corridor to realize its full potential, we'll need to strengthen the institutional and infrastructural frameworks that nurture innovation, drive success, and reward investment," he added.
Addressing the event, Lord John Alderdice, UK trade envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, highlighted the dynamic development of the Caspian region, as he was full of praise of Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone, stressing its significance for both the West-East and the North-South routes.
"Connectivity isn't just structures, economics, or bandwidth — it's about the relationships that develop between people, businesses, countries, and communities," he said.
"The possibilities here are enormous — this region is geopolitically significant, economically significant, resource-rich. All it needs is for its people to keep developing — and they've been doing that at extraordinary speed," the envoy added.
Subsequently, the event featured a panel session titled Economic Prospects – Growth and Resilience, featuring remarks by Azerbaijani Turkish, Georgian, and Uzbek ambassadors to the UK, namely Elin Suleymanov, Osman Koray Ertaş, Ilia Darchiashvili, and Ravshan Usmanov.
In his remarks, Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, said that amid the changes in global supply chains, the availability of alternative routes is no longer an issue, as the countries need to explore the purposeful diversification of transit and connectivity opportunities. According to him, the Middle Corridor offers a unique and reliable pathway in this regard.
He also touched upon the over 30 years of exemplary partnership among Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Georgia, as well as the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The diplomat further highlighted initiatives implemented together with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, stressing the importance of the C6 format.
The event continued with panel discussions, highlighting economic opportunities, energy security, sustainability, and connectivity.