Agenda
Registration
Venue: Blue Hall
Inaugural Session
Master of Ceremonies:
Sheila Paylan, Senior Human Rights Consultant, United Nations
Inaugural Address:
Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister, Republic of Armenia
Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Armenia
Transition
Venue: Blue Hall
The Curators’ Call: Dialogue Prompts
In today’s world, both globalised and fragmented, events taking place in one part of the world immediately affect and are echoed by developments in other corners of the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption of global supply chains and the exacerbation of armed conflicts in various parts of the world bring about new challenges and complexities in present-day international politics. What are the main themes? What are some of the ideas that prompt us to discuss issues of great regional and global importance?
Davit Karapetyan, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India
Tea/Coffee Break
Venue: Blue Hall
South Caucasus at the Crossroads: Between Fragmentation and Cooperation
Historically, the South Caucasus has been a crossroad of civilisations, an important part of geopolitical processes, a major trade pathway, and a cultural highway. Today, it can also serve as a connecting hub for interactions within the wider region, between Asia and Europe. Yet, the region’s potential as a hub for cooperation is not without obstacles. The ongoing challenges, including violations of international law and decline of humanitarian principles, pose significant challenges for the political and economic potential of the region.
Q: In the current era of deeply fragmented geopolitics, what can transform the South Caucasus into a space of cooperation and interconnectedness? Ensuring security and stability, promoting inclusive and equitable regional and cross-border connectivity: what new paradigms could ensure a positive outcome?
Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Xavier Bettel, Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg
Dalia Grybauskaitė, Former President, Lithuania
Lasha Darsalia, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgia
Mohammed Hassan Sheikholeslami, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran
Moderator: Nerses Kopalyan, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States
Lunch
Venue: Blue Hall
Geopolitics of Connectivity: From Competition to Collaboration
The ongoing fragmentation and geopolitical division in the world make the creation of viable connectivity routes, as well as sustainable and efficient infrastructure an urgent necessity. This situation has forced many states to redesign their strategies for economic cooperation and realign the supply chains. In regions that are the crossroads between Asia, Eurasia, and Europe—such as the Mediterranean, the Gulf and the South Caucasus—new connectivity initiatives have seized global attention, from the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. How do countries navigate geopolitical divisions to create the best way to connect economies, catalyse investment, and spur growth? Do landlocked countries have a new role as pivotal hubs in the emerging era of land-based connectivity? How can the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative contribute to peace and economic development of the South Caucasus and beyond?
Ruben Rubinyan, Vice President, National Assembly, Armenia
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hungary
Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Alibek Kuantyrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan
David Bertolotti, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
Sachin Pilot, Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly; Former Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Corporate Affairs and Communication and IT, India
Moderator: Maria Titizian, Editor-in-Chief, EVN Report; Lecturer, American University of Armenia, Armenia
Venue: Green Hall
Digital Public Infrastructure: Debating Best Practices for a Global Good
Analysts believe Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) adoption can speed up economic development by 33 percent. As an important plank of international development, DPIs have come to represent a fundamental pivot in accelerating the attainment of SDGs. What are the pathways for international cooperation and foreground best practices as countries look to develop, build, and adopt DPIs for national transformation? What are the highs and lows of DPI adoption experienced by those already committed to these transformational technology-led changes?
Arvind Gupta, Founder Member, Digital India Foundation, India
Hayk Voskanyan, CEO, Inecobank, Armenia
Hayk Yesayan, CEO, Team Telecom Armenia, Armenia
Marianna Marcucci, Vice-Chair, ALL DIGITAL, Belgium
Bassant Hassib, Assistant Professor of Political Science, The European Universities, Egypt
Teresa Laura Larocchia, Manager, Disal Consulting Srl, Italy
Moderator: Erin Watson, Managing Director, Baker & York; Adjunct Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Australia
Tea/Coffee Break
Venue: Blue Hall
A Global Order in Churn: Seeking Solutions
Whilst the international order is unravelling, the world is facing multiple challenges to the notion of state sovereignty. The existing structures and institutions are unable to ensure the unobstructed functioning of international law and deal with violent conflicts such as those in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the South Caucasus. New actors aspire to have a bigger role in the international arena and seek to assert their influence. Smaller-sized states expect their vital interests also to be respected.
Will a new set of assumptions define the future? Who will write these new rules and how to ensure their implementation? How will the influence of the newly rising actors affect the shaping of the global order? What strategies can small states employ to become participants in shaping the new world order, rather than recipients of its outcomes? What role can multilateral institutions play in achieving this goal?
Zohrab Mnatsakanian, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Suzi Carla Barbosa, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guinea-Bissau
Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, India
Zoran Dimitrovski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Republic of North Macedonia
Ali Aslan, International TV Presenter and Journalist, Germany
Moderator: Nathalie Tocci, Director, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy
Venue: Green Hall
This Room is, for, and by the Youth: Re-drawing the Future of Politics, Economics, and Policy
Today’s youth are the largest generation in history: There are about 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10-24 on Earth today. They inhabit a world more interconnected than ever. As the ‘adults in the room’ struggle to reconcile, reimagine, and recreate, these young people may well have to pick up the ruins. What are the main challenges facing this generation? Who do they support, and who do they blame? And how do outgoing millennials and incoming GenZ look at the decade ahead?
Raghuram Satyanarayana, Joint Secretary (Policy Planning & Research), Ministry of External Affairs, India
Jainaba Sowe, Public Relations Officer, Open Gambia Network, Gambia
Vanshica Kant, Climate, Human & Social Development Expert, Asian Development Bank, India
Malshini Senaratne, Assistant Head of Department, University of Seychelles, Seychelles
Charlotte Rose, Director, North Star CLS, Australia
Pegor Papazian, Chief Development Officer, TUMO, Armenia
Moderator: Manasi Subramaniam, Editor-in-Chief, Penguin Random House, India
Venue: Blue Hall
Climate Security in the Era of Uncertainty
From unprecedented rains and floods stretching from the Middle East to China, destructive heat waves across southern Asia, wildfires across Western countries, the planet is angry and demanding immediate attention. While the climate crisis is creating fallouts across multiple areas, its impact on peace and security, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected geographies remains a grey area. How is climate going to impact political stability? Are we too late to address this slide into crisis? What can current global governance mechanisms do to ease climate-driven political fallouts? Are institutions such as COP29 nimble enough to keep up with the faultlines the climate crisis is creating?
Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, Forest; Climate Change and Minister of State for External Affairs, India
Dmitry Maryasin, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECE
Zbigniew Pisarski, Founder & President, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland
Joshua Wycliffe, Chief of Operations, International Solar Alliance, India
Fabrice Balanche, Associate Professor and Research Director, University Lyon 2, France
Victoria Panova, Head of BRICS Expert Council; Vice Rector, HSE University; W20 Russian Sherpa, Russian Federation
Moderator: Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, India
Tea/Coffee Break
Venue: Blue Hall
The Future of Work: Paycheck, Protections, and Purpose
The rapid expansion of technological innovations is reshaping the nature of employment. Concurrently, we are witnessing a rise in non-traditional work arrangements. These intertwined shifts are fundamentally altering the essence of economic stability and exacerbating existing inequities. The ‘traditional’ model of employment-once a cornerstone not only providing stable incomes (paychecks) but also access to social safety nets (protections) and avenues for advancement and fulfilment (purpose)-is unravelling. Work is now characterised by fragmentation, insecurity, and transient relationships between employers and employees.
Amidst these fundamental societal changes, how can we ensure income security, safeguard social protections, and foster avenues for finding purpose?
Narek Mkrtchyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Armenia
Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour, Qatar
Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Albania
Françoise Jacob, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Republic of Armenia, United Nations
Heungchong Kim, Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University, South Korea
Sarah Mosoetsa, Chief Executive Officer, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa
Moderator: Maggie Sprenger, Co-founder and General Partner, Audere Capital, United States
Venue: Green Hall
Chronicling New Conflicts: Technology and Traditionalism at Today’s Battlefields
Warfare is undergoing a profound transformation; new frontiers of conflict have arisen. From drones using AI to select their own targets to low-cost high-impact autonomous weapons in the hands of non-state armed groups, the evolution of weaponry is playing a pivotal role in shaping conflict. In ‘gig warfare’, victory can depend upon access to technology, networks, and groups that flow unregulated across borders. Can traditional norms, from command systems to the rules of war, survive unscathed?
Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, India
Werner Fasslabend, President, Austria Institute for European and Security Policy, Austria
Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Research Fellow, Applied Policy Research Institute, Armenia
Priyank Mathur, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mythos Labs, Inc., United States
Stephanie Fenkart, Director, International Institute for Peace, Austria
Sergey Tairyan, Chief Information Security Officer, Digitain, Armenia
Moderator: Oana Popescu-Zamfir, Director & Founder, Global Focus Center; Former State Secretary for EU Affairs, Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the Romanian Senate, Romania
Venue: Blue Hall
Strengthening Multiculturalism in a Divided World
This panel will examine the critical role of intercultural dialogue in navigating a turbulent global landscape. Amid shifting political structures and challenges to multilateralism, the panel will explore how intercultural dialogue can bridge cultural divides, promote tolerance, mutual understanding, human rights, and foster cooperation. The discussion will also highlight the importance of protecting cultural heritage, underscoring its role in advancing the culture of peace and non-violence.
Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General, High Representative, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Spain
Mehdi Jomaa, Former Prime Minister, Tunisia
Nikola Stojanovic, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Serbia
Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India
Sossi Tatikyan, Senior Adviser on Foreign & Security Policy, UN Security Sector Reform Advisory Network Member, Armenia
Elke Selter, Program Director, ALIPH, Belgium
Moderator: Mariam Wardak, Founder, Her Afghanistan, United States
Venue: Green Hall
AI: A Boom for Emerging Markets?
We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and interact with one another. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, rapidly intersecting with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has changed how globalisation functions: Emerging markets have now taken a leading role. How can AI assist sustainable development goals? What will be AI’s impact on traditional labour markets in the developing world? How can we address ethical questions surrounding the use of AI such as privacy, security, and bias? Can we ensure that the economic benefits from new tech will be more equitably shared across geographies than those from past industrial revolutions?
Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry, Armenia
Rohit Bansal, Group Leader, Reliance Industries Limited, India
Anush Ghambaryan, Vice President of AI Engineering & Operations, Picsart, Armenia
Hoda Al Khzaimi, Founder and Director, EMARATSEC Center for Emerging Tech and Advanced Research Acceleration; Associate Vice Provost of Research Translation and Innovation New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Mallory Knodel, Founder and Executive Director of the Social Web Foundation and PhD candidate at the Courant School of Mathematics and Computer Science at NYU, United States
Moderator: Sheila Paylan, Senior Human Rights Consultant, United Nations
Venue: White Hall
Crossroads of Business Opportunities
Side event on Investment and Logistics, organised by Enterprise Armenia
Registration Opening Remarks
- Levon Ohanesyan, General Director, Enterprise Armenia
Welcome Speech
- Gevorg Papoyan, Minister of Economy, Armenia
Keynote Presentation (targeting agriculture, logistics, investment sectors, as well as the Gyumri “Dry Port” project): Investment Climate and Opportunities in Armenia highlighting the country’s strategic location
- Representative, Enterprise Armenia
“Crossroads of Peace” project presentation
- Armen Simonyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Armenia
Panel Discussion: “Armenia as a transport and logistics hub. development prospects”
Narek Hovakimyan, Deputy Minister of Economy, Armenia
Armen Simonyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Armenia
Luke Fochtman, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Armenia Permanent Mission Deputy Director
Dmitry Maryasin, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECE
Ruben Gevorgyan, CEO, ICON-X, Armenia
Moderator: Gohar Galyan, Investment Director of Enterprise Armenia
Tea/Coffee Break
Venue: Green Hall
Debating a New Phoenix: The Global South and a Renewed World Order
Global power dynamics are undergoing a transformative shift, as emerging nations ascend to prominence. By 2030, three out of the world’s four largest economies will hail from the Global South. Individually and collectively, developing nations increasingly exert significant influence in a changing geopolitical environment. How are traditional players and global institutions accommodating the rise of the South? What motivates these countries to act as responsible powers and catalyse positive change on the global stage? What unites, what divides, and what drives the Global South? Can the Global South mobilise as a united voice to influence critical issues of the day?
Mnatsakan Safaryan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Vijay Chauthaiwale, In Charge, Department of Foreign Affairs, Bharatiya Janata Party, India
Eghosa E Osaghae, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Nigeria
Nada Al-Hajjri, President, Yemen information Centre, Yemen
Guadalupe Dorna, Professor and researcher, Political Science, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina
Moderator: Kwame Owino, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya
Venue: White Hall
Gendered Growth: Investments and Barriers to Enterprise and Social Development
Women-owned and -led businesses have been major success stories for many years, particularly in the tech sector. However, much still needs to be accomplished as technology becomes the focal point of everything from energy security to societal economic inclusion benefiting individuals and families alike. Given the global business landscape is shifting erratically and dramatically, can the world move more swiftly towards gender inclusivity and equality? What are the policy incentives required within the next five years to liberalise access to tech capital in an inclusive manner and remove long-standing barriers for women in tech and more broadly, in global business?
Irena Alajbeg, Director-General for Economic affairs and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Croatia
Sarah Bressan, Research Fellow, Global Public Policy Institute, Germany
Sara Ahmadian, Founder, AnarVC, United States
Gayane Abrahamian, President, For Equal Rights NGO, Armenia
Amun Thapa, Founder, Khalisisi, Nepal
Moderator: Aakanksha Tangri, Founder, Re:Set, United Arab Emirates
Lunch
Lunch Session: Emerging Security Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized States in the Modern Era (Closed Door/Invite Only – Roundtable Room)
In the Chair: Davit Karapetyan, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Venue: White Hall
Rethinking Energy Transitions: Powering Tomorrow’s Growth
Across the world, countries seek to balance their needs—to increase energy access, maintain energy security, and accelerate the energy transition. Choices about energy being made today have significant implications not just for climate change but also for political stability, geopolitics, and global growth. How will the developing world chart a course towards secure energy transitions? How can innovation and partnerships preserve growth and increase access alongside the structural shift from old to new fuels? Who benefits from these new dynamics in global energy security, and what is the future of institutions like OPEC?
Hakob Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Armenia
Tadas Norvydas, Head of Climate Change Mitigation Centre, Lithuanian Energy Agency, Lithuania
Gawdat Bahgat, Professor of National Security Affairs, National Defense University’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, United States
Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South, Morocco
Rajeev Gowda, Former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), India
Ornela Çuçi, Vice President, IKAR Holdings, Albania
Moderator: Verena Sturm, Director – Innovation, Tech, and Social Impact, Observer Research Foundation Middle East, United Arab Emirates
Venue: White Hall
Multilateralism of Democracies: How Small and Medium Democracies can Strengthen Each Other`s Resilience
Democracy is a continuous struggle that not only demands the strong commitment of political leaders and active participation of its citizens but also the resilience to withstand adversity. Democracy has always been about ensuring the rule of law and the protection of human rights, providing for transparency and accountability, promoting good governance and sustainable development. Today, it has also become a very important tool for protecting national sovereignty and the strategic autonomy of states.
Do democracy and human rights remain the best choice for the states’ development and security and do they face the same challenges? Do small and big democracies have the same chance at survival and sustainable development? How can democracy define the states’ ability to navigate turmoil? How should democracies cooperate with like-minded partners to safeguard their common values?
Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Marko Štucin, State Secretary for European affairs, economic diplomacy, international law and the protection of interests, Slovenia
Arturo Sarukhan, Founder and President, Sarukhan + Associates; former ambassador of Mexico to the USA; Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, United States
Andrew Caruana Galizia, Head of Europe and Eurasia, World Economic Forum, Switzerland
Wanjiru Munene, Senior Advisor, Market Development and Partnerships, inSupply Health, Kenya
Srikanth Kondapalli, Author, Commentator, Professor of Chinese Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Moderator: Chitra Subramaniam, Founder, CSDconsulting, Switzerland
Tea/Coffee Break
Venue: White Hall
Re-Imagining Tomorrow, Today: Ideas, Wisdom, Impact
Despite a pervasive sense of pessimism, the fact is that humanity has made tremendous strides over the past decades—from green tech to vaccines. The future may demand urgent solutions on issues from climate to poverty to governance; but it nevertheless remains bright. What lessons from the past decade should inform the next 10 years? How can our politics move towards reconciliation? What are the lessons for the Right, the Left, and every other political and ideological silo operating today?
Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, United Nations
Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Centre, United Arab Emirates
Gladden Pappin, President, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs; Co-Founder, American Affairs, Hungary
Ana Miguel dos Santos, Former Member of the European Parliament, Portugal
Moderator: Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India
Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks
Mnatsakan Safaryan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Armenia
Davit Karapetyan, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Armenia
