Agricultural Trade Developments and Potentials in Central Asia and the South Caucasus

In cooperation with the Samarkand Agricultural Institute, Uzbekistan, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IAMO organizes a conference entitled 'Regional and International Cooperation in Central Asia and South Caucasus: Recent Developments in Agricultural Trade'.

The event will take place from 2 to 4 November 2016 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The organizers expect more than 200 guests who will discuss the developments and impact of agricultural trade in the nations of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Agricultural trade in Central Asian and the Caucasus (CCA) countries is highly dependent on regional markets, and particularly on Russia. Close trade relations within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are mainly explained by historical ties, common borders and languages. However, substantial changes have occurred in trade policies but also trade structures of the CCA countries in recent years.

Expansion of the Eurasian Economic Union, accession of several countries to the WTO and trade tensions between Russia and the western countries play an important role in determining the directions of agricultural trade in the region. The trade-offs emerging from these developments and the implications for the CCA economies are not yet fully understood because evidence is limited.

The aim of the three-day conference is boosting the knowledge and research exchange between regional and international experts and policy makers and strengthening the research activities in the Central Asian and Caucasian regions. Four plenary sessions, 22 parallel sessions and about 40 poster presentations will take place.

Their focus topics are 'Agricultural Trade and Policies', 'Supply Chain, Infrastructure and Production Restructuring' as well as 'Food Security and Rural Development'. Internationally renowned scientists from highly regarded institutes will be among the plenary speakers. Expected among them are expert Will Martin from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), USA, and Eugenia Serova from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Moscow, Russia. You find the detailed program and further information on the conference website: www.samarkand.iamo.de.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), Kazakhstan, and the Coordinating Committee for Science and Technology Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan support the conference.

About IAMO

The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) analyses economic, social and political processes of change in the agricultural and food sector, and in rural areas. The geographic focus covers the enlarging EU, transition regions of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, as well as Central and Eastern Asia. IAMO works to enhance the understanding of institutional, structural and technological changes. Moreover, IAMO studies the resulting impacts on the agricultural and food sector as well as the living conditions of rural populations. The outcomes of our work are used to derive and analyze strategies and options for enterprises, agricultural markets and politics. Since its founding in 1994, IAMO has been part of the Leibniz Association, a German community of independent research institutes.

Media contact

Daniela Schimming
Public Relations
Tel.: +49 345 2928-330
Fax: +49 345 2928-499
presse@iamo.de

www.iamo.de/en