Past Event

Central Asia Private Sector Forum

The Private Sector Forum aims to be a catalyst for creating business opportunities and markets that directly lead to progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Central Asia.

Building on the momentum and outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference and other water-related platforms, the Private Sector Forum aims to be a catalyst for creating business opportunities and markets that directly lead to progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Central Asia.

Government and business leaders will discuss the potential pipelines of private sector and public-private partnership projects that could emerge and succeed in Central Asia. The focus will be on the specific arrangements and agreements that will accelerate deal flow and private capital investment.

Equally, there will be a spotlight on the appropriate levels of monitoring, transparency, and accountability to ensure an adequate balance between economic growth and social and environmental protection. This will be an outcome-focused discussion with practical, implementable, and scalable solutions for all regions.

Progress on existing commitments, including those made under the Water Action Agenda, will be presented to demonstrate how businesses and public-private partnerships bring innovation and technology to water and wastewater management, at all scales and in all contexts.

Ultimately, the Forum aims to unleash the untapped potential of the water sector, with a focus on Central Asia, in ensuring sustainable management and equitable access to water resources for all.

WHEN: June 10, 2024; 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

WHERE: The National Museum of Tajikistan, 11 Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The Forum Agenda:

Time

Session

12:00 – 13:00

Registration.

At the same time participants will be able to enjoy the tour of the museum exhibition dedicated to the Conference

13:00 –13:30

Introductory panel: Setting the Stage for the Forum

Moderator: Neil Dhot, Executive Director, AquaFed

Opening remarks and discussion:

·        Mr. Sulton Rahimzoda, Chairman of the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management, Republic of Tajikistan

·        Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Water GP Director, World Bank

·        Mr. Mark Muller Aguirre, Vice-President, AquaFed

13:30 – 15:30

Session 1:  Enabling deal flow, project pipelines and diverse finance sources

Moderator: Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager, World Bank

Opening presentations:

·        Mr. Charlie Morris, Regional Economic Development Counsellor, Central Asia, British Embassy, Bishkek

·        Mr. Winston Yu, Water Global Practice, Practice Manager, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank

Introduction of the panellists by the Moderator

Panel discussion

·        Mr. Daler Jum’a, Minister, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Republic of Tajikistan

·        Mr. Sameh Wahba, Sustainable Development Department, Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank

·        Mr. Bakhtiyor Faiziev, Regional Head of Infrastructure Investments in CA, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

·        Ms. Ekaterina Dolinina, Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

·        Mr. Dominique Gatel, VP Public Affairs, Veoila Environment

·        Mr. Ryo Ui, Acting General Manager, Remote Sensing Department, ArkEdge Space, Inc.

Interaction with the audience and Q&A

15:30 – 16:00

Coffee-Break and Networking

16:00 – 17:30

Session 2: Understanding private capital - what is it and how can it help the water sector?

Moderator: Neil Dhot, Executive Director, AquaFed

Opening presentation:

Ms. Rochi Khemka, Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, 2030Water Resources Group hosted by the World Bank

Introduction of the panellists by the Moderator

Panel discussion

·        Ms. Yasmin Siddiqi, Director for Agriculture, Food, nature and Rural Development, Asian Development Bank

·        Mr. Pierre Casabonnet, Senior Operations Officer, IFC

·        Charlie Morris, Regional Economic Development Counsellor, Central Asia, British Embassy, Bishkek

·        Mr. Zacharias Ziegelhöfer, Senior Investment Specialist, Water & Urban, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

·        Mr. Alain Carbonel, CEO, Suez

Interaction with the audience and Q&A

17:45-18:00

Wrap-up Session and Closing Remarks – Key Messages from the Forum

Date: June 10, 2024

Time: 05:33 AM - 05:33 AM ET

Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan