6th CAREC Energy Investment Forum
28-29 November 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia
Speakers
NISHA PILLAI – MODERATOR
Former BBC World Anchor
Nisha Pillai is a conference host and motivational speaker who moderates lively panel discussions and stimulates audience engagement.
As a former BBC news presenter with over twenty years experience, Nisha anchored rolling news for BBC World News and conducted award-winning investigations for Panorama and the Money Programme.
Speaker: Minister (or Deputy Minister), Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
PRIYANTHA WIJAYATUNGA – SPEAKER
Head of the Energy Sector Group, ADB
Dr Priyantha D.C. Wijayatunga is currently the Senior Director for ADB’s Energy Sector Office.
Priyantha has over 30 years of professional experience including 14 years in ADB. He was the Director, South Asia Energy Division prior to assuming the current position in August 2021. Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He has extensively contributed in the areas of energy policy and regulation, energy planning and clean energy development.
MARTIN SOMMERSETH JAER – SPEAKER
Finance Specialist (Energy), ADB
Martin Sommerseth Jaer is a finance and economics professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in financing renewable energy projects in emerging markets. Based in Manila, he leads the financing of energy projects in Central and West Asia for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where he also manages Partial Credit Guarantee (PCG) operations in the region. As the head of the CAREC Energy program, he advocates for energy sector reform and collaboration across CAREC’s 11 countries. Martin has a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Oslo. His expertise extends to project finance, credit, and macro-economic research, he is a committed advocate for the green energy transition.
AHMED BADR – SPEAKER
Director, Project Development and Support, IRENA
Ahmed Badr, Director of IRENA’s Project Facilitation and Support division, brings over 30 years of international banking and finance experience to the agency. Since joining in April 2020, he leads the division’s growth, fostering collaborations with development banks and overseeing key initiatives like the Climate Investment Platform and the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform. With a background including senior roles in global financial institutions, Mr. Badr is a certified infrastructure project manager with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Infrastructure Economics from Universite de Nantes, France.
CHAHINE BOUTOILA – SPEAKER
Development Director for Central Asia, VEOLIA
Chahine is dedicated to the Caucasus and Central Asian utility markets. Leading project teams, he focuses on water and sanitation access and local energy loops. Under his guidance, a 30-year PPP contract for Tashkent city’s district heating systems was initiated, signed, and started in 2022. Prior to Uzbekistan, Chahine held executive roles in Armenia, overseeing water and sanitation services and construction projects. A Circular Economy Specialist, he holds a global executive MBA and a Master’s degree in urban engineering from University Gustave Eiffel of Great Paris. Born on December 6, 1983, in Paris, Chahine is fluent in French, English, Russian, and Romanian
MAIA MELIKIDZE – SPEAKER
Executive Director, Georgian Renewable Energy Development Association
RAMZIYA MUBORAKSHOEV – SPEAKER
Deputy General Director, Pamir Energy JSC
Mrs. Ramziya Muborakshoeva is a Regional Head for Resource Mobilization and Strategic Partnerships for renewable energy projects in Asia at the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s Industrial Promotion Services (IPS). In this capacity, she leads the development, strengthening, and maintenance of strategic partnerships in the Asia region to profile IPS to contribute to the rural electrification of the region with green energy through blended financing. Mrs. Muborakshoeva is also a Deputy CEO at Pamir Energy (IPS subsidiary) – a utility company that is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in the GBAO region of Tajikistan.
FITRATULLO NABIEV – SPEAKER
Head of Analytical Division, Ministry of Energy
NASIBA BAIMATOVA – SPEAKER
Associate Professor, Head, “Ecology of Biosphere” Laboratory Chemical Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Prof. Baimatova, a distinguished figure in analytical chemistry and environmental science, has earned accolades such as the “Best University Lecturer 2021” award and a prestigious personal grant from CRDF Global. Recognized as the “Best Young Scientist” at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in 2018, she received State Scientific Scholarships in 2017 and 2021. Her expertise extends to consultancy for the UNITAR project and lecturing in the U.S. Department of State-funded project “Actions to improve air quality” (2022). Prof. Baimatova, an Air Quality expert, contributed to TechCamp’s “Cleaner Air for Central Asia” in 2022. As the head of the “Ecology of Biosphere” laboratory, she leads research in environmental sciences, notably in the fight against air pollution, showcasing her commitment to a healthier planet.
SERIK S. ZHARKIBAYEV – SPEAKER
Energy Specialist (ADB)
SVINUNG ANDRÉ KVALØ – SPEAKER
Director, Norwegian EV Association
Sveinung André Kvalø is an economist with extensive knowledge about environmental transport, sustainable urban development and climate policies. He has worked with national climate policies and international climate negotiations and is one of the leading EV policy experts in Norway.
KAMRAN HUSEYNOV – SPEAKER
Deputy Director, Renewable Energy State Agency
MARGALITA ARABIDZE – SPEAKER
Deputy Head of Energy Reforms and International Relations, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable
Ms. Margalita Arabidze is Deputy Head of Energy Reforms and International Relations at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MoESD) and associate professor at Georgian Technical University. She has more than 15 years of experience working in energy sector. Margalita with her department is currently working on EE, RE secondary legislation, action plans, Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (NECP) and on other important issues. Beside that Ms. Arabidze has very close cooperation with local and international donors, investors, IFIs and international organizations. She is cooperation with Energy Community since 2014 within different formats such as RECG and other relevant aspects. Besides that Margalita Arabidze is represented in IRENA, UNECE, IAEA and other. During previous years Ms. Arabidze worked on different positions in MoESD, Ministry of Energy and GTU. With supervision of her department important laws and action plans were developed and adopted in late 2019 and mid-2020, such as RE law. EE and EPB laws, also NREAP and NEEAP for 2019-2020. Ms. Margalita Arabidze is an author for a number of publications and textbooks on issues such as, energy complexes, EE, RE and climate change in energy sector.
JUBO TURASHVILI – SPEAKER
Ministry of Georgia
ALLAYAROV DOVLET NARKULIEVICH – SPEAKER
Head of Development Service for Renewable Energy Sources, Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan State Electric Power Corporation “Turkmenenergo.”
Allayarov Dovlet Narkulievich is an accomplished Electrical Engineer with a background from Turkmen Polytechnic Institute. His journey includes diverse roles at Turkmenistan State Electric Power Corporation “Turkmenenergo,” ranging from engineering to leadership positions. He received the Medal “For Love of the Motherland” in 2015. Currently, he serves as the Head of the Development Service for Renewable Energy Sources, showcasing his dedication and expertise in the field.
SHAH JAHAN MIRZA – SPEAKER
Managing Director, Private Power & Infrastructure Board
REN CONG – SPEAKER
Senior Program Office, National Energy Administration
HONGLIANG YANG – PANELIST
Principal Investment Operations Specialist, AIIB
ROXANA IGNAT – PANELIST
Senior Investment Officer, FMO
FLORIAN KITT – PANELIST
Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank
ANNA LOBANOVA – PANELIST
Sustainable Energy Specialist, UNESCAP
NICHOLAS OKRESHIDZE – PANELIST
Energy Sector Advisor, USAID
JOONHO HWANG – SPEAKER
Director Energy, Central and West Asia Department, ADB
Joonho Hwang, Director of the Energy Division at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) since August 2020, brings over 22 years of experience, including 12 years at ADB. Holding a Doctorate in Civil Engineering and a Masters’ degree in Engineering Geology, he has led teams in processing and administering projects, managing a $8 billion portfolio. His diverse background includes work as a licensed Professional Engineer in the United States, overseeing projects in oil/gas, power, and transport sectors.
ABDURASHID MIRZAYEV – SPEAKER
Head Dispatcher at The Energy Dispatch Centre in Uzbekistan
HANS HOLZHACKER – SPEAKER
Chief Economist, CAREC Institute
Hans Holzhacker is Chief Economist at the CAREC Institute. Before joining the CAREC Institute, he was for two years Lead economist for Central Asia with the EBRD. Hans was chief economist at Golomt Bank in Mongolia and ATFBank in Kazakhstan. He was also teaching at the Turan and Narxoz universities in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Earlier, he was a Vienna-based economist at several banks, focusing mostly on countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Hans holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and a MA in Economics from the University of Vienna.
ALFREDO BANO LEAL – SPEAKER
Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Alfredo Baño Leal is a Senior Energy Specialist at ADB, developing sustainable energy operations in the East Asia region. Previously, he worked at the Independent Evaluation Department of ADB, where he evaluated energy programs and led ADB’s 2009 Energy Policy Evaluation. He has over 15 years of international experience working on energy infrastructure sectors across more than 20 countries in Europe and Asia. Before joining ADB, he worked for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, he consulted for the World Bank and other international organizations, and worked for an engineering consulting firm in Spain. He is an electromechanical engineer, with majors in electricity generation and power systems, and holds an MBA in Corporate Finance.
SEUNG DUCK KIM – SPEAKER
Senior Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Seungduck Kim works on the energy projects in the energy division of the Central and West Asia Department. He brings more than 15 years’ experience in a wide range of energy sector operations from renewable energy, conventional generation, hydropower, energy efficiency to power transmission and distribution across Asia and Middle East regions. His recent professional interest of focus is on sector reforms in the Central Asian countries with a view to attracting private sector investments across the energy value chain and increasing regional interconnections. Currently, Seungduck is leading ADB’s energy sector lending and technical assistance operations in Uzbekistan and shifting ADB’s operations from conventional approaches to innovative and cutting-edge interventions in project design and financing. Prior to joining ADB, he worked with a large public sector electricity utility in Korea and for independent power projects across the globe. He holds a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Korea University
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC Program):
The CAREC Program is a partnership of 10 countries and development partners working together to promote development through cooperation. It is guided by the overarching vision of “Good Neighbors, Good Partners, and Good Prospects” and includes Azerbaijan, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
CAREC Members have committed to a shared vision for the region’s energy sector. Learn more about the CAREC Energy Program here.
KAMRAN HUSEYNOV – SPEAKER
Deputy Director, Renewable Energy State Agency
KAMRAN HUSEYNOV – SPEAKER
Deputy Director, Renewable Energy State Agency