13th Annual Silk Road Conference 2017

13th Annual Silk Road Conference  2017     

    central-asia-map

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      
CAPRC Volunteers 2017ORGANIZED 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
           SRC2017IllinoisChamber

EXHIBITS/RESOURCE CENTER OPEN
                 Sponsored by TEDA
SRC2017Ribbon

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      

SRC2017Auditorium11:00 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
SRC2017Award

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
SRC2017BDG

17:00  One-on-one Meetings

 

 

src2017kyrgyz table

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