Strengthening Central Asia-Middle East Relations - Zuhra Halimova
The video discusses evolving Central Asia-Middle East relations, emphasizing the regions shift toward multi-vector and open-door policies that promote diversification of opportunities. Central Asia, traditionally focused on partnerships with Europe, the U.S., Russia, and China, is increasingly exploring opportunities with Gulf states. This shift is seen as a way to reposition Central Asia as a central hub in Eurasia, boosting development, trade, and digital innovation. The investment potential from the Middle East is highly attractive, but Central Asian countries must improve their financial discipline, transparency, human capital, and rule of law to create a more investor-friendly environment. Additionally, Central Asia should learn from the Gulf states’ experiences to better understand how to attract investment while also positioning itself as an exporter of products to the Middle East in the future, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.
This video is part of the Center’s series on Responsible Business. The series explores economic factors and business initiatives that can be used to create more productive and peaceful economies.
Speaker Biography
Zuhra Halimova is an executive with diversified experience in the field of international development and inclusive growth with over 25 years of professional experience in Eurasia and beyond. She was the executive director of the Open Society Foundation in Tajikistan for 20 years. She managed national reform projects, promoting human rights and the rule of law, transparency and accountability, digital transformation, business development and reforms of public services -engaging government and development agencies, civil society organizations, media, and think tanks using a participatory approach to engage in inclusive social, economic and governance reforms.
She has been awarded with the Certificate of Appreciation from the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communication Technologies for Development/ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNAPCICT/ESCAP) in recognition of her contribution towards supporting the ICT human capacity development in Central Asia.
Zuhra is currently senior advisor of the CAPS Unlock and a strategic advisor at the Women in Digital Transformation (WinDt LLC), as well as serving as a member of the Transition Assistance Group of the Institute for Integrated Transition (IFIT), advising countries on reforms regarding policy, institutional, and regulatory conditions that govern the digital transformation and investment climate in the region.
She is a member of the USIP’s C5+1 expert group. She also worked as a consultant with USAID Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment, WB Digital CASA, Internews Greater Internet Freedom Project/Ranking Digital Rights, as well as EU, GIZ and Demos Helsinki. Zuhra holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University with a focus on international security, and another master’s degree in Oriental Studies from Tajik State University. She is an alumna of the Leadership Academy for Development (LAD) of the Stanford Center for Democracy, Development and Rule of Law (CDDRL), Stanford University, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Harvard Kennedy School’s NESA/NDU Executive Education Programs, Leadership and INSEAD-OSF Global Leaders Executive Education Program.
