On October 14, StrategEast co-hosted a webinar AI Futures Across Regions: Comparing the Trajectories of AI Development in Central Eurasia and Southeast Asia,” organized jointly with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore how AI is reshaping economies, governance systems, and education across two rapidly transforming regions.
At the webinar, StrategEast presented its latest report “The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Central Eurasia: From Jobs to Governance – The AI-Driven Transformation of the Region”. Presentation was conducted by Gunay Hajili, Country Manager for Azerbaijan at StrategEast. She highlighted insights from policymakers, educators, and tech entrepreneurs on how AI is transforming labor markets and governance across Eurasia.
Moderated by ByeongJo Kong, Digital Practice Specialist at ADB, the webinar featured a second keynote presentation. Giulia Marsan, Head of Startups and Inclusion at ERIA’s Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Center (E-DISC), shared ERIA’s research on Southeast Asia’s innovation ecosystems.
The panel discussions explored two key themes. The first, “Regulation: Responsible and Adaptive AI Governance,” focused on aligning local policies with global frameworks such as those of the U.S., EU, and OECD, featuring Firuzjon Sodiqov, Deputy Chair of the AI Council under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, and Ravindra Ngo, CEO and Founder of the Asian Network.
The second theme, “Education: Building the AI Talent Pipeline,” examined ways to integrate AI into national curricula and strengthen vocational and higher education. Speakers included Alexander Yazepchik, Global Education Manager at StrategEast, and Maz Mat Hassan, CEO of Unoya and Chief Hustler at RECQA.COM.
The webinar served as a platform for cross-regional dialogue, offering valuable lessons on AI governance, education, and innovation. It underscored the importance of collaboration between Central and Southeast Asia to harness AI’s transformative potential for sustainable growth and human capital development.
