<img alt="" src="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2026/06/16/cpc_london_2026_cover-1.webp" />

The economies of the Caspian Region have shown resilience in a time of uncertainty. Central Asia saw a strong expansion in 2025, the fastest in 14 years according to the World Bank. The Middle Corridor&rsquo;s recent growth has greatly exceeded expectations, expanding connectivity across Eurasia and beyond. Leaders are driving the changes in a fast-changing environment. A new generation of experts brings fresh economic and technical ambition and ideas. Central Asia has plentiful energy reserves and critical minerals. The Armenia/Azerbaijan peace process has opened new possibilities in the South Caucasus. The Iran conflict is hitting economies but is also drawing attention to the Middle Corridor as a &ldquo;Corridor of Choice&rdquo; in an unpredictable world. Regional collaboration is creating a sturdy and reliable alternative network to northern transit routes and sea lanes. Built-in redundancy provides choice and reduces the capacity of outside powers to interfere. To make the most of improving access to global markets, and for the Corridor to realise its full potential, it will be important to strengthen institutional and infrastructural frameworks which nurture innovation, drive success and reward investment. The UK offers deep financial, legal, technical, logistics and supply-chain management, and educational experience, and is well placed to partner Caspian countries in integrating various aspects of connectivity from sustainable infrastructure to energy to digital services. 2026 is the year to persuade businesses and investors through ambitious structural reforms and clear results that the Caspian Region&rsquo;s time has come.

&nbsp;

08:30 &ndash; 09:00&nbsp; &nbsp;

Registration and Coffee &nbsp;

&nbsp;

09:00 &ndash; 09:10 &nbsp;

Opening Remarks &nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>David Moran, Senior UK Adviser, Caspian Policy Centre &nbsp;</li>
	<li>Efgan Nifti, President, Caspian Policy Centre&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

09:15 &ndash; 09:35&nbsp;

Keynote Speaker&nbsp;

Lord Alderdice, UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia&nbsp;

&nbsp;

09:35 &ndash; 10:00&nbsp;

Ambassadorial Panel &nbsp;

&nbsp;

10:00-10:30&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Session 1: Economic Prospects &ndash; Growth and Resilience &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>James Sharp, Caspian Policy Centre Advisory Board Member (Moderator)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
	<li>Nigar Jafarova, Associate Practice Leader for CIS and CE, FrontierView&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Alessio Chiesa, Emerging Markets Economist, Wood &amp; Company</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

10:30-10:45

Coffee break

&nbsp;

10:45-11:15

Session 2: Energy Security and Resilience&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>James Sharp (Moderator)</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Michael Denison, Head of International Advisory at BP&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Nick Coleman, Associate Director (Analysis), PRISM Strategic Intelligence</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

11:15-11:45

Ambassadorial Panel continued&nbsp;

&nbsp;

11:45-12:15

Session 3: Sustainability and Resilience

<ul>
	<li>Dr Eric Rudenshiold, CPC Senior Fellow for Caspian Affairs (Moderator)</li>
	<li>Tea Melikadze, Associate Director, Regional Lead for Infrastructure &ndash; Caucasus, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)</li>
	<li>
	Charles Norman, Territorial Development Consultant
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:15-12:45

&nbsp;

Session 4: Connectivity and Long-Term Resilience

<ul>
	<li>Dr Eric Rudenshiold (Moderator)</li>
	<li>Zhanbolat Kakishev, Chief Products Officer, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)</li>
	<li>Christopher Allum, Regional Head&ndash; Business Origination, Emerging Europe &amp; Central Asia Nexus, UK Export Finance</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

12:50-13:00 &nbsp; &nbsp; Closing Remarks

&nbsp;

13:00-14:00 &nbsp; &nbsp; Lunch

 
<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://caspianpolicy.org/events/register/london-caspian-connectivity-conference-growth-and-resilience">Register</a>

&nbsp;

London Caspian Connectivity Conference: Growth and Resilience

Check out this page to stay up to date on all upcoming events that the Caspian Policy Center is hosting. Don’t forget to RSVP and subscribe if you would like updates whenever we announce our new events.

UPCOMING

In Astana, the Government of Kazakhstan signed an agreement with San Francisco-based Firebird ...

AI’s New Great Game in the Caspian: Firebird Rises in Armenia and Kazakhstan

Insights from the Trans-Caspian Forum 2026

Tungsten and Building the West's Next Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Nikol Pashinyan’s win in recent Armenian parliamentary elections has brought a pivotal question to the table:

Armenia after Pashinyan’s Win: Peace, Pressure, and the Road West

Your quick primer on the latest developments in the Caspian this week...

Headlines from the Caspian: June 23, 2026

Kazakhstan’s recent official announcement of readiness to participate in the framework of the Trump Route ...

Kazakhstan's Interest in TRIPP and the Future of Eurasian Connectivity

The United States convened a new C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue in Astana on June 10

Headlines from the Caspian: June 15, 2026

Washington, DC, June 10 - The Caspian Policy Center (CPC) held its 10th anniversary Trans-Caspian Forum

Caspian Policy Center Hosts 10th Anniversary Trans-Caspian Forum

How To Maximize The Middle Corridor

The Caspian Policy Center published its first report dedicated to critical minerals diplomacy in 2025 ...

Central Asia and the New Critical Minerals Frontier: Progress in Reshaping Global Supply Chains

This report is produced by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) ...

THE MIDDLE CORRIDOR MOMENT: How Central Asia and the South Caucasus Are Rewiring Eurasia

This year marks ten years of CPC bringing the Greater Caspian Region to the center of American policy conversations

Caspian Policy Center to Host 9th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum

Armenia’s June 7 election is not so much a contest between political parties as it is a referendum on the country's very identity

Armenia’s Defining Choice:   Why This Election Matters Beyond the South Caucasus

Record high-level engagement on the main stage and sidelines of Azerbaijan’s premier annual energy forum

The Baku Energy Pivot: Why Azerbaijan Matters More Than Ever to Europe and the United States

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s short trip to Yerevan on Tuesday, May 26

Armenia after Moscow:  Rubio’s Visit and Armenia’s Accelerating Turn West

Kazakhstan’s energy ministry confirmed on June 1 that crude oil output has returned to normal levels

Headlines from the Caspian: June 1, 2026

Russian disinformation in the past capitalized on traditional media outlets, from radio to state-controlled websites

Armenia in the Crosshairs:  Russian Disinformation and the Armenian Elections

CPC hosted the Kyrgyz Republic’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, Edil Baisalov

CPC Ambassadorial Series: Discussion with Edil Baisalov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States

Prime Minister of Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway will now be open

Headlines from the Caspian: May 26, 2026

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country plans to increase freight transported through

Headlines from the Caspian: May 20, 2026

A new trilateral oil and gas production sharing agreement has been signed

Trans-Caspian Venture: How a Trilateral Gas Deal Could Strengthen East-West Connectivity

Full Conferences & Forums

Energy

Panel Discussions

Economy

Event Clips & Promotional Materials

Security

Central Asia

South Caucasus

Environment

Water Security

Guest Contributions

videocasts

Analysis and Reports

Podcasts

Press Releases

Infographics

CPC policy paper: Everything you wanted to know about strategic minerals&hellip;but didn&rsquo;t know to ask.

<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://api.caspianpolicy.org/media/ckeditor_media/2025/02/11/_comprehensive-guide-to-critical-minerals-in-ukraine-the-south-caucasus-and-central-asia.pdf">Read Report</a>

CPC policy paper: Everything you wanted to know about strategic minerals…but didn’t know to ask.

A Guide for Policymakers: How to Meet US Strategic Mineral Needs

London Caspian Connectivity Conference: Growth and Resilience

Related Articles

Tungsten and Building the West's Next Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Central Asia and the New Critical Minerals Frontier: Progress in Reshaping Global Supply Chains

Armenia after Moscow: Rubio’s Visit and Armenia’s Accelerating Turn West

Extracting Good Mining Policy in Kyrgyzstan

Decoupling: Moving Central Asia’s Critical Minerals West

Follow

Contact Us

Get more news and analysis from CPC