2025, September 3
Share this articleOn August 29–31, Nazarbayev University hosted the Central Asian Economics Conference, which brought together more than 100 participants — researchers and practitioners whose work is connected with the Central Asian region.
Among them were professors from leading global universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Duke University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Lausanne, and others.
The conference program featured 40 research presentations across 12 sessions, two plenary lectures, and a poster session. Professor Rustam Ibragimov (Imperial College London) introduced new analytical methods for exploring financial market dynamics under conditions of high volatility. Professor Sergey Paltsev (MIT) spoke about integrated approaches to achieving carbon neutrality, emphasizing the need to combine renewable energy sources with low-carbon fuels, nuclear power, carbon capture technologies, and sound policy solutions.
The conference also gathered representatives from Kazakhstan’s leading universities — KIMEP University and Almaty Management University — as well as institutions from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Experts from international organizations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the National Bank of Kazakhstan, also contributed to the discussions.
A key outcome of the conference was the announcement of the launch of work on establishing the Central Asian Economics Association (CAEA) — a new platform designed to coordinate research, attract funding, and foster academic initiatives across the region. The decision was formally presented during a roundtable by representatives of Nazarbayev University, New Uzbekistan University, and the American University of Central Asia.
“This is a great opportunity to approach complex challenges creatively — challenges that face not only our region, but the world at large. We welcome the initiative to create a professional association that will bring fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to the advancement of economics in Central Asia,” said Loretta O’Donnell, Acting Provost and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Nazarbayev University.
