The "Blue Dot Network," was formally announced on November 4, 2019 at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the 35th ASEAN Summit. It is led by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. The BDN is a global initiative to connect different regional and global transportation hubs to facilitate trade and transit. Some have seen it as Washington's response to China's Belt and Road.
Guest speaker Dr. Kaush Arha, Senior Adviser, Strategic Engagement, USAID, and CACI experts discussed this initiative and its potential impact on Central Asia and the Caucasus.
S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, moderated the discussion.
