On 18 March 2021, HORASIS: the Global Visions Community held its second Extraordinary Meeting, co-chaired by Murat Seitnepesov, Chairman of Caspian Week, which was also a Strategic Partner of the event. We had three sessions on three issues shaping the world: the rise of Central Asia, preventing the next pandemic (GSPDX) and amplifying trust.
In our first session, The Rise of Central Asia (watch here), we explored the legal, economic and political developments under way in selected Central Asian countries, and their implications for investment attractiveness. As pointed out by Stiphan Beher (former Adviser to the President of Kyrgyzstan), "instability of the countries as well as their governance" is probably the key factor limiting the potential of the region, so governments should do their best to provide transparency and secure civil rights. Kyrgyzstan is moving towards more transparency, but it is not the only country moving through reforms. Uzbekistan, for example, has just liberalised its foreign exchange market and carried out sweeping tax reforms, as explained by Roza Gazizova (Managing Director, Sogdiana Advisory, Uzbekistan). Mr. Beher points out that much of the attention is on medicine, but agriculture in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan should also be kept in mind.
Mrs. Gazizova says Uzbekistan is incredibly attractive for natural resources and human capital. Electronic, financial, agricultural and manufacturing are key investment priorities.
Matthew Bryza, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, USA, pointed out that Central Asia and Afghanistan are now interconnected. Beyond energy, there are large investment projects in finance and electronics, as well as on the digital Silk Road, which will connect big data centres in South East Europe with Central Asia by sea and land cables.
International organisations in the region are playing their part too. The AIFC, based in Kazakhstan, works to transform the private sector and attract investors. James Martin showed how Kazakhstan is attracting investment by connecting the economic zones it has already set up: it is about collaboration, not competition.
We then moved on to a very relevant topic, the Global System for Preparedness for Disease X (watch here).
The idea is to find a way to identify the next unknown disease before the risks become dramatic. The task is multifaceted, covering technological, political and operational aspects. Every panellist we hosted showed real interest in the project and eagerness to see it come true.
Murat Seitnepesov (Chairman, Caspian Week, Switzerland) noted that there is no system for detecting emerging threats and preventing new pathogens at an early stage. Without early detection there is no preparedness, and preparedness could save lives and money.
José Ramón Calvo (President, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research, Spain) raised a key question: how can people detect a virus or microorganism that has not appeared yet? The answer is to look for early signs through a global initiative involving international and regional organisations and private businesses. The aim is a global system that brings fragmented knowledge together, using digital technologies, data science and mathematics.
Ernesto Kahan (Academic Director, Galilee International Management Institute, Israel) added that the Global System for Preparedness for Disease X should sit within a wider set of measures to prevent pandemics. But once something is identified, the work is not over; the investigation starts. The results can reveal "the candidates for an unknown pathogen, which is a potential Disease X".
Matthew Burrows (Atlantic Council, Director, Foresight, Strategy and Risks Initiative) said we are missing a key element on the governance side. "What we need are states that would back it, and also civil society and movements to push the idea, otherwise it would be problematic." The initiative will need fundraising support to accelerate the project. It therefore requires an international coalition to bring thoughts and knowledge together, to be coordinated later by the International Centre for Preparedness for Disease X.
After this discussion, we moved to the closing plenary, Call to Action: Amplifying Trust (watch here).
Frank-Jürgen Richter (Chairman, Horasis, Switzerland) summed up: "Debates during the meeting has shown how we might overcome the disruption by developing unity, inspiration and creativity. And ultimately how we can amplify trust."
Lynn C. Fritz (Proprietor, Lynmar Estate, USA) suggested that the private sector should pave the way. Entrepreneurs must find a new approach to outside parties. It is up to business leaders to rebuild trust at every level. Understanding, sympathy and win-win propositions will help build trust and mutual ties.
Murat Seitnepesov (Chairman, Caspian Week, Switzerland) agreed that trust remains the key element and will help improve the state of the world. However, he insisted that although Covid-19 disrupted our lifestyles and businesses, we did not lose trust in each other. What we probably lost was trust in institutions, international organisations and governments, because of poor coordination and their failure to act in time. "If the institutions regain the trust back, it will be easier to do the same at the business and private level." Successfully tackling the consequences of Covid-19 can help bring back trust in organisations.
Vinod Sekhar (Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, Petra Group, Malaysia) went one step further: "We as businessmen have the opportunity to not only regain trust that is lost, but also to change the nature which we used to know." People need to think about how their actions can help rebalance inequality, not just profit.
Mrs. Fritz added along the same lines: the reactions and relations between some countries during the pandemic were driven by fear, a matter of survival. Now we are starting to see more cooperation.
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