Lika Merabishvili, StrategEast Regional Director for the Caucasus, participated as an expert speaker at the C5+O.N.E. (Opening Networks Through English) Regional Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
As part of the conference, Ms. Merabishvili joined the panel discussion “Turning Regional Potential into Global Opportunity: Advancing U.S.–Central Asia Economic Cooperation.”
In her remarks, Ms. Merabishvili highlighted regional cooperation, digital transformation, and the growth of the digital economy as key drivers of competitiveness and sustainable economic development.
She emphasized that stronger cross-border collaboration can help Central Asian countries expand market opportunities, strengthen innovation ecosystems, develop digital skills, and enable local companies and startups to connect more effectively with international markets and global technology networks.
Ms. Merabishvili also underscored the importance of creating stronger connections between regional economies and international technology ecosystems, noting that cooperation across borders can help transform the region’s growing digital potential into tangible economic opportunities.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and implemented by the American Councils for International Education, the C5+O.N.E. program brings together professionals from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The initiative aims to strengthen professional skills, foster regional cooperation, and deepen economic ties between Central Asia and the United States.
