First Caspian Economic Forum.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

Avaza in Turkmenistan was dazzled in August this year with the presence of the energy elites of Caspian region when first Caspian Economic Forum was held to promote the broad range of cooperation in diverse fields including trade, economics, transit and transport, energy, humanitarian and close regional integration. Enriched with the traditional Turkmen hospitality, the forum was hosted as a result of the unwavering efforts of the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov after the five nations of the Caspian region signed the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in August 2018 in Kazakhstan. This was a landmark agreement that divides the entire seabed of the Caspian Sea between the Caspian five and making the entire Sea as an international water with its international stature. The five Caspian state-Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan agree on the use of water and exploration to the seabed through this convention.

The primary aim of the forum was meant to implement the projects to promote the investment and cooperation opportunities in the diverse sectors. Large number of delegations from the Caspian region countries were present led by the highest levels of the political and ministerial elite. The Russian delegation was led by the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian delegation have voiced to host the next Caspian Economic Forum in Astrakhan in 2020. Apart from Russian Prime Minister, Vice President of Iran Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan were the highest representatives from the Caspian five.

This important event gathered more than 3,000 diplomats, political elites, representatives of the multinational companies, business groups, journalists, scholars from across the world. Apart from the Conference and dialogue forum, an international Caspian exhibition of innovative technologies and Turkmen Sahra 2019 was also arranged. This was meant to familiarise the particiption about the with the achievements of modern technologies and the automotive industry in Turkmenistan. The glorious role of Turkmenistan and leadership has remained instrumental in

making this positive and concrete initiative for the region's peace and prosperity. In Persian Darya-ye Khezer, in Russian Kaspiyskoye and famously known as Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water rich in abundance of energy resources.

According to an estimate the Caspian...