The Caucus on Central Asia

by Gary Litman

On November 18, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment Eni FH Faleomavaega and the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Armed Services Howard P. "Buck" McKeon jointly kicked off the Caucus on Central Asia. In their joint "Dear Colleague" letter, the two congressmen point out that "by forging trade links that will bind us together, we will bring renewed attention to a region which is critical to our security and energy interests." Convened on the heels of the Trade and Investment talks with the ministers of economy from all the Central Asian countries, this is a welcome sign that U.S. efforts to lower trade barriers across this vital region will have congressional support. Of course the need to have a secure and efficient supply route to U.S. troops and our allies in Afghanistan has focused many minds.

On October 19 and 20, several US government officials joined Central Asia transport experts in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to form a Working Group on road transport to Afghanistan via the Caucasus. Following an encouraging study, sometime early in 2010 a trial truck convoy from the Black Sea port of Poti will wind its way to Afghanistan across many borders. If the governments in the region cooperate on resolving the nagging customs, safety and security problems on their borders,we will see a lot more goods going through the region and bringing additional business opportunities to US suppliers and local entrepreneurs. Local authorities must recognize the value of attracting legitimate commercial flows across their jurisdictions. The challenge is to persuade them to do it together. For once, Washington is helping to bring all the players to the table and serving a true catalyst in the creation of a new regional market. We will keep tracking the work of the new Caucus and the progress in secure trade facilitation efforts across the Black and Caspian Seas region.

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The challenge is to persuade them to do it together. For once, Washington is helping to bring all the players to the table and serving a true catalyst in the creation of a new regional market.