International Conference on Energy, Transportation and Economic Links in Eurasia: Emerging Partnerships

Programme
16-17 January 2012

Day 1: Monday, January 16, 2012

0945-1015h: Registration & Tea

1015-1045h: Inaugural Session

Welcome Remarks by Dr. Arvind Gupta, DG, IDSA

Key Note Address by Shri Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), MEA

Vote of Thanks by Brig (Retd) Rumel Dahiya, Deputy Director General, IDSA

1045-1100h: High Tea

1100-1230h: Session I: Overview of Developments in Eurasia
Chair: Amb. Kanwal Sibal

Geopolitical Overview of India's Relations with Eurasia
-- Ajay Bisaria, JS (ERS)

India's Energy and Transport Linkages with Central Asia: Challenges and Prospects
-- Meena Singh Roy, Research Fellow, IDSA

Economic Links in Central Asia and the Role of International Organizations
-- Kiyoshi Taniguchi, World Bank, ex-ADB

1230-1330h: Session II: Special Discussion on Afghanistan Support for Transition by Regional Countries.
Chair: Amb. Vivek Katju

Developments in Afghanistan: Russian Perspective
-- Evgeny Khrushchev, Military analyst and contributor for Russia Today TV

'The New Silk Route Initiative’: A View from Afghanistan
-- Sham L Bathija, Senior Economic Advisor to the President of Afghanistan

'Transition' in Afghanistan: Issues of Concern
-- Vishal Chandra, Associate Fellow, IDSA

1330-1430h: Lunch

1430-1700h: Session III: Prospects for Economic Cooperation and Development, Transportation and Energy Networks
Chair: Amb. Rajiv Sikri

Russia's Engagement in Central Asia: Energy, Transportation and Economic Linkages
-- Evgeny Khruschev, Military analyst and contributor for Russia Today TV.

China's Role in Central Asia: Energy and Transportation Linkages
-- Zhao Huasheng, Director, Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies, Fudan University

United States Viewpoint on Central Asian Transportation and Energy Linkages
-- Martha Brill Olcott, Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Carnegie Washington D.C.

Eurasia Border Dynamics: A Perspective from Japan
-- Iwashita Akihiro, Head Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, Japan

EU Engagement in Central Asia
-- Christopher Ross, Directorate General for Energy and Transport, European Commission

India's Economic Linkages in Eurasia
-- Arun Mohanty, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

1930h: Dinner

Day 2: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

1000-1015h: Tea

1015-1300h: Session IV: Partnerships with Central Asia: Opportunities and Challenges
Chair: Amb. K. Raghunath

Kazakhstan in the Asian Economy and Prospects for Cooperation with India
-- Darya Mukhamejanova, Senior Fellow, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies

Economic Linkages within the Perspective of India-Kyrgyzstan Relations
-- Murat Shaiymkulov, State Fund for Economic Development, Bishkek

Hydropower Resources and Transport Facilities of Tajikistan and International Cooperation Prospects
-- Abdunabi Sattorov, Centre for Strategic Research, Dushanbe

India-Turkmenistan: Prospects and Challenges for Cooperation in Transportation, Energy and Economic Linkages: Turkmenistan
(Official from Turkmenistan)

Economic Cooperation between Uzbekistan and India: Perspectives in the Sphere of Transportation and Communication
-- Shukhrat Rakhmanov, Dean of International Law Department, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent.

1300-1345h: Lunch

1345-1545h: Session V: Central Asia's Engagement with Extra-Regional Powers
Chair: Ravi Bhoothalingam

Afghanistan as a Land Bridge between West, South and Central Asia
-- Amin Saikal, AM Director, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University

Iran's Relations with Central Asia: Transport and Energy Linkages
-- Abbas Maleki, Wilhelm Fellow at the Centre for International Studies, MIT

Turkey's Involvement in Central Asia: Energy and Transportation Linkages
-- Mustafa Aydin, Rector, Kadir Khas University

Energy Security of Mongolia's Western Region
-- Tsedendorj Bumkhorol, Institute for Strategic Studies, Ulaanbaatar

Interdependence or New Political Order in Eurasia: A Geopolinomic Narrative
-- Aftab Kazi, Central Asia- Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, John Hopkins University.

1545-1600h: Tea

1600-1800h: Closing Session VI: Panel Discussion on Energy, Transportation and Economic Links in Eurasia: Way Forward
Chair: Shri Ajay Bisaria, JS (ERS)

Dr. Arvind Gupta, DG, IDSA
Vote of Thanks: Dr. Meena Singh Roy

1930h: Dinner