13th Annual Silk Road Conference 2017
2017 SILK ROAD PRESENTATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE
Presenters and panelists, along with attendees at the 2017 Silk Road Conference, presented in Chicago on April 28, 2017 may now download their own copy of all the available presentations. The Central Asian productivity research Center also has made available all the presentations from the 2016 Silk Road Conference.
2017 Silk Road Conference presentations 1 of 2
2017 Silk Road Conference presentation 2 of 2
2017 SILK ROAD CONFERENCE—
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER
ALL NATIONS’ REPRESENTATIVES LOOKING TO 2018
CHAMBERS FROM EAST AND WEST MET DURING CAPRC’S 2017 SILK ROAD CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS CHINA’S INIATIVE EFFECTING 60 COUNTRIES
Changing aspects for international business and trade resulting from China’s “Silk Road Initiative” effecting some 60 countries; and meetings between chambers of commerce representing the Silk Road countries and representatives from regional chambers of commerce took place during the 2017 Silk Road Conference scheduled in Chicago on Friday, April 28, 2017.
Private meetings between representatives from business, government, and academia were scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday, April 26 and 27. The Silk Road Conference was held on Friday, April 28, at IIT’s Kent College of Law Auditorium, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago.
Organized by the Central Asian Productivity Research Center, founded in Azerbaijan and Turkey in 1999, the event was co-sponsored by the Global Programs, College of Business, Northern Illinois University and the CME Group, Chicago.
Charles Farra, executive director, international market development for the CME Group; Laura Ortega-Lamela, executive director of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the International Business Council, Blanca Berthier, director, international programs, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, representing business; Margo Markopoulos, director of the Illinois Office of Trade and Investments, and Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador Kadyr Toktogulov opened the conference.
Representing the business community from several Central Asian nations were: Susan Sadigova, director, United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce; Sarah Freze, executive director U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association; Elena Son, executive director for the American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, the U.S.-Kirgizstan Business Council, and the U.S.-Tajikistan Business Council; and Nate Carson, U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce
Representing economic development programs were Gary Camarano, Whiteside County (Illinois) Economic Development department; Kai Kai Tan, Tianjin Economic-Technical Development Area; and Cindy Ni, deputy chief representative, Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board; and Khay Khong, market development Director-Asia, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Christine Barragan, Business Development manager, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Joseph Rurode, director, economic evelopment, Northwest Indiana Forum.
Almost thirty speakers and panelists focused on the rapidly changing region that is described by a former undersecretary of defense as a very important strategic region for the US.
Professor Harry Lepinske, of Western Springs, CAPRC chairman, said, “Most Americans are not aware of the region, let alone its expanding importance. The region is changing rapidly. A cobweb of lines on a map across Central Asia in 1999 today is a cobweb of energy pipelines; Chinese are shipping freight from Southern China to Western Europe by rail in ten days; Europeans are driving to Beijing;, and some 20,000 Americans are working in Azerbaijan.”
April 28, 2017 2017 SILK ROAD CONFERENCE
An opportunity to learn about new Business Opportunities
Illinois Institute of Technology Kent College of Law Auditorium Chicago
565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 
ORGANIZED BY: Central Asian Productivity Research Center
SPONSOR: Global Programs College of Business Northern Illinois University
CO-SPONSORS:
CME Group
Whiteside County Economic Development Department
Silk Way Airlines
Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA)
U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:
American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce
College of Business, Hacettepe University, Ankara
Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey
Illinois SBDC International Trade Center, Chicago
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago
Illinois Science and Technology Park
International Trade Association of Greater Chicago Metro Chicago Exports
Metro Chicago Exports
Port of Indiana
Quality Training Institute, Inc.
The Global Business Advisor Magazine
United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Kazakhstan Business Association
08:00 REGISTRATION/NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Sponsored by Whiteside County EconomicDevelopment Department
EXHIBITS/RESOURCE CENTER OPEN
Sponsored by TEDA
08:45 OPENING REMARKS
Prof. Harry Lepinske, Chairman
Central Asian Productivity Research Center
OFFICIAL WELCOME
Prof. Paul Prabhaker, Associate Vice President Global Programs,
College of Business Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
OFFICIAL ILLINOIS WELCOME
Ms. Margo Markopoulos, Director Office of Trade and Investment
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
09:00 TODAY’S GLOBAL ECONOMY Keynote Speaker
Charles Farra, Executive Director
International Market Development CME Group Chicago
0920: COOPERATION BETWEEN CHICAGO AND KYRGYZSTAN
Ambassador Kadyr Toktogulov
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic (D.C.) to the US and Canada
09:45 25 YEARS OF PROGRESS IN AZERBAIJAN
Sarkhan Ismayilov, Economic Officer
Embassy of Azerbaijan, Washington, D.C.
10:15 THE BELT AND ROAD: CENTRAL ASIA AND CHINA’S INITIATIVE”
Hon. Hong Lei, Consul General
Consulate General of China Chicago
10:45 TIANJIN: GATEWAY TO A DYNAMIC MARKET”
Jianning Li, Chief Representative,
Tianjin Economic-Technical Development Area, Chicago
11:00 MORNING BREAK SPONSOR: TEDA
11:15 KAZAKHSTAN’S CONTRIBUTION TIO THE NEW SILK ROAD
Hon. Yerkin Akhinzhanov
Embassy of Kazakhstan, Washington, DC.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN
Almas Taigulov KAZNEX INVES-Export and Investment Agency
Ministry of Investments and Development, Embassy of Kazakhstan D.C.
11:45 MACEDONIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, rector
State University of Tetovo
Tetovo, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia
12:10 CENTRAL ASIA’S LOOMING WATER CRISIS
Paul Herche. Chairman Special Water Crisis study committee, CAPRC
12:15 LUNCH: 10th FLOOR DINING ROOM Sponsored by CME Group, Chicago
Each country will host a luncheon table for business discussions
OFFICIAL WELCOME
Charles Farra, Executive Director CME Group
13:15 OVERCOMING CENTRAL ASIAN LOGISTICS OBSTACLES
James Eccleston , US Representative Silk Way Airlines
13:45 CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR – BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Hon. Faisal Niaz Trimizi, Consul General
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago
PAKISTAN’S ENERGY SECTOR
Hon. Amer Tareen, commercial consul
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago
14:15 WHY INVEST IN TURKEY
Mustafa Ilbeyli, Advisor-U.S.
Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey
14:30 RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL IN TURKEY
Prof.Dr. Ozlem Atay Faculty of Political Sciences
Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
14:45 Hon. Kamol Muhtarov, Counselor Trade and Economic Affairs
Embassy of Uzbekistan Washington, D.C.
15:15 UZBEKISTAN: A VIEW FROM AN UZBEK BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
Asad Sharapov, President Euroexport Holding Tashkent, Uzbekistan
15:30 CENTRAL ASIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
CHAMBER SERVICES: HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU ENTER THE MARKET
MODERATOR: Molly Banuelos, Director
SBDC-World Trade Center Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago
PANELISTS:
Susan Sadigova,
Director United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) D.C.
Sarah Frese,
Executive Director U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association
Elena V. Son,
Executive Director American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce
Afternoon refreshments available
16:15 ILLINOIS AND GLOBAL BUSINESS
Ms. Laura Ortega-Lamela, Executive Director International Business
Council and Illinois Chamber of Commerce Chicago, Illinois
16:30 PERSONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCES
Panel discussions focusing on personal experiences
In the Silk Road business community
Thomas J. Hulseman moderator
Managing Director Metro Chicago Exports, Chicago Illinois
Emmett McLoughlin
President Arizona Kazakhstan Development Group Tucson, Arizona
Larry Bajmakovich
Midwest Sales Manager BDG International, Inc. Elgin, Illinois
16:55 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Prof. Dr. Paul Prabhaker, Associate vice president
Global Programs College of Business Northern Illinois University 
17:00 One-on-one Meetings
17:15 DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION
Location: Exhibit Area
Hosted by Silk Way Airlines
April 28, 2017 2017 SILK ROAD CONFERENCE
An opportunity to learn about new Business Opportunities
Illinois Institute of Technology Kent College of Law Auditorium Chicago
565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL
ORGANIZED BY: Central Asian Productivity Research Center
SPONSOR: Global Programs College of Business Northern Illinois University
CO-SPONSORS:
CME Group
Whiteside County Economic Development Department
Silk Way Airlines
Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA)
U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:
American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce
College of Business, Hacettepe University, Ankara
Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey
Illinois SBDC International Trade Center, Chicago
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago
Illinois Science and Technology Park
International Trade Association of Greater Chicago Metro Chicago Exports
Metro Chicago Exports
Port of Indiana
Quality Training Institute, Inc.
The Global Business Advisor Magazine
United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Kazakhstan Business Association
08:00 REGISTRATION/NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Sponsored by Whiteside County EconomicDevelopment Department
EXHIBITS/RESOURCE CENTER OPEN
Sponsored by TEDA
08:45 OPENING REMARKS
Prof. Harry Lepinske, Chairman
Central Asian Productivity Research Center
OFFICIAL WELCOME
Prof. Paul Prabhaker, Associate Vice President Global Programs,
College of Business Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
OFFICIAL ILLINOIS WELCOME
Ms. Margo Markopoulos, Director Office of Trade and Investment
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
09:00 TODAY’S GLOBAL ECONOMY Keynote Speaker
Charles Farra, Executive Director
International Market Development CME Group Chicago
0920: COOPERATION BETWEEN CHICAGO AND KYRGYZSTAN
Ambassador Kadyr Toktogulov
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic (D.C.) to the US and Canada
09:45 25 YEARS OF PROGRESS IN AZERBAIJAN
Sarkhan Ismayilov, Economic Officer
Embassy of Azerbaijan, Washington, D.C.
10:15 THE BELT AND ROAD: CENTRAL ASIA AND CHINA’S INITIATIVE”
Hon. Hong Lei, Consul General
Consulate General of China Chicago
10:45 TIANJIN: GATEWAY TO A DYNAMIC MARKET”
Jianning Li, Chief Representative,
Tianjin Economic-Technical Development Area, Chicago
11:00 MORNING BREAK SPONSOR: TEDA
11:15 KAZAKHSTAN’S CONTRIBUTION TIO THE NEW SILK ROAD
Hon. Yerkin Akhinzhanov
Embassy of Kazakhstan, Washington, DC.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN
Almas Taigulov KAZNEX INVES-Export and Investment Agency
Ministry of Investments and Development, Embassy of Kazakhstan D.C.
11:45 MACEDONIA AND CENTRAL ASIA
Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, rector
State University of Tetovo
Tetovo, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia
12:10 CENTRAL ASIA’S LOOMING WATER CRISIS
Paul Herche. Chairman Special Water Crisis study committee, CAPRC
12:15 LUNCH: 10th FLOOR DINING ROOM Sponsored by CME Group, Chicago
Each country will host a luncheon table for business discussions
OFFICIAL WELCOME
Charles Farra, Executive Director CME Group
13:15 OVERCOMING CENTRAL ASIAN LOGISTICS OBSTACLES
James Eccleston , US Representative Silk Way Airlines
13:45 CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR – BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Hon. Faisal Niaz Trimizi, Consul General
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago
PAKISTAN’S ENERGY SECTOR
Hon. Amer Tareen, commercial consul
Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago
14:15 WHY INVEST IN TURKEY
Mustafa Ilbeyli, Advisor-U.S.
Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey
14:30 RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL IN TURKEY
Prof.Dr. Ozlem Atay Faculty of Political Sciences
Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
14:45 Hon. Kamol Muhtarov, Counselor Trade and Economic Affairs
Embassy of Uzbekistan Washington, D.C.
15:15 UZBEKISTAN: A VIEW FROM AN UZBEK BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
Asad Sharapov, President Euroexport Holding Tashkent, Uzbekistan
15:30 CENTRAL ASIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
CHAMBER SERVICES: HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU ENTER THE MARKET
MODERATOR: Molly Banuelos, Director
SBDC-World Trade Center Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago
PANELISTS:
Susan Sadigova,
Director United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) D.C.
Sarah Frese,
Executive Director U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association
Elena V. Son,
Executive Director American Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce
Afternoon refreshments available
16:15 ILLINOIS AND GLOBAL BUSINESS
Ms. Laura Ortega-Lamela, Executive Director International Business
Council and Illinois Chamber of Commerce Chicago, Illinois
16:30 PERSONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCES
Panel discussions focusing on personal experiences
In the Silk Road business community
Thomas J. Hulseman moderator
Managing Director Metro Chicago Exports, Chicago Illinois
Emmett McLoughlin
President Arizona Kazakhstan Development Group Tucson, Arizona
Larry Bajmakovich
Midwest Sales Manager BDG International, Inc. Elgin, Illinois
16:55 CONCLUDING REMARKS
Prof. Dr. Paul Prabhaker, Associate vice president
Global Programs College of Business Northern Illinois University
17:00 One-on-one Meetings
17:15 DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION
Location: Exhibit Area
Hosted by Silk Way Airlines
REGISTRATION/INFORMATION:
CAPRC
5220 Ellington Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558
[email protected]
Ph:708-246-555
REGISTRATION FEE: Member: US$25; Non-member: $45