WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Caspian Policy Center (CPC) will convene policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and regional experts at the Trans-Caspian Forum 2026, a premier gathering focused on strengthening economic cooperation, regional connectivity, energy security, and technological innovation across the Caspian region and beyond. The forum will feature keynote remarks and discussions from distinguished leaders including Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer of the Caspian Policy Center; Richard E. Hoagland, Chairman of CPC’s Advisory Board; U.S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana; Aryeh Lightstone, Senior Advisor at The Board of Peace; Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan; Ambassador Zavqi Zavqizoda of Tajikistan; and Mark Menezes, President and CEO of the U.S. Energy Association.
As global trade routes, energy markets, and geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, the Trans-Caspian Forum 2026 will serve as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration among public and private sector stakeholders. Discussions will highlight the growing strategic importance of the Caspian region as a bridge connecting Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the broader Indo-Pacific.
Forum panels will examine several critical issues shaping the future of regional cooperation, including Perspectives from the Region: Insights for the Next Phase of Caspian Cooperation, The Middle Corridor: Strengthening Strategic Choice and Building Secure Networks, Digital Sovereignty and Industrial AI: Technology as the Next Growth Vector, and Energy Security: The Caspian Basin in a Changing Global Market. These conversations will explore opportunities to expand trade, strengthen supply chains, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance long-term energy resilience.
“The Caspian region is increasingly at the center of global conversations about connectivity, security, and economic growth,” said Efgan Nifti, CEO of the Caspian Policy Center. “The Trans-Caspian Forum brings together leading voices from government, industry, and academia to identify practical solutions and partnerships that will help unlock the region’s tremendous potential while strengthening ties between the United States and its partners throughout the broader Caspian corridor.”
