CAREC: A Coming Force in Regional Affairs?

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, hosted a discussion entitled “CAREC: A Coming Force in Regional Affairs?” Johannes Linn, Senior Fellow and Executive Director at the Wolfensohn Center for Development at Brookings and Special Advisor to Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC), provided insight on CAREC’s efforts to bring together eight countries and six multilateral institutions to achieve accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction.

By providing an overview of Central Asia’s increasing economic integration with its geographic neighbors, Linn discussed CAREC’s involvement and mission of development through cooperation. Four pillars guide CAREC’s mission: knowledge and capacity building; regional infrastructure networks; trade, investment, and business development; and regional public goods. Linn outlined the successes and challenges of the program and its priorities for future regional economic growth and development.

The discussion was moderated by Grant Smith, Former Ambassador to Tajikistan and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute. The program summary and audio recording are available on the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Web site.