USAID hosts first Central Asia Clean Energy Forum in Almaty

Bishkek, Sept. 1, 2022 / Kabar /. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that its first Central Asia Clean Energy Forum (CACEF) will be held on September 13-15, 2022, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event, themed “Energy Transition and Innovation” will bring together more than 200 representatives from governments of all five countries of the region – Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – as well as regional and global investors, technology companies, utilities, and international organizations. Distinguished speakers from the region, the U.S., India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Austria, and France will present major initiatives the world is taking to meet climate commitments, the role of innovation, technology, and finance to support energy transition, and the opportunities and challenges of market-based regional electricity cooperation and trade that have the greatest implications for the future trajectory of energy system development in Central Asia. Other areas of interest include the establishment of a Central Asia Regional Electricity Market, advancing renewable energy education and diversifying the workforce. As part of the Forum, USAID will also launch the American Innovation Center for Central Asia – a virtual platform to promote the use of global best practices and modern technologies for renewable energy development and integration. Over the past three decades, the U.S. Government has worked with the countries of Central Asia on a range of endeavors related to economic growth, power sector modernization and resilience, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation. USAID has supported the countries’ efforts to improve the performance of electric utilities, promote investment in clean energy, and expand cross-border electricity trade. In 2020, USAID launched its Power Central Asia Activity – a flagship five-year, $40 million project organized around three pillars – energy sector revitalization, clean energy investments, and cross-border trade. With the major changes in both the regional and global energy scene, the Central Asia Clean Energy Forum seeks to bring together policymakers, utility executives, leading technology companies, and international investors to discuss energy strategies, emerging clean energy technologies, and investment.