On 3 June, Mr Shakhboz Akhmedov, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development at IAIS, took part as a newly appointed member of the Rihla Initiative Policy Council for Central Asia and the Caucasus in a virtual workshop convened to frame policy guidance on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) investments in the region. Hosted under the auspices of the Rihla Initiative for Green Economic Growth of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation — a program dedicated to mobilizing climate finance and fostering sustainable industrial cooperation between the Gulf and Global South — this workshop brought together experts, policymakers and investors to consider how GCC capital could best support the green transition across Central Asia and the Caucasus. Mr Akhmedov’s participation underscored Uzbekistan’s growing role in regional dialogues on sustainable development and signaled the IAIS’s broader commitment to green diplomacy.

The workshop opened with introductory remarks emphasizing the Rihla Initiative’s mission to translate regional priorities into tangible strategies for green economic growth. Mr Akhmedov drew upon the urgency of directing climate finance towards water, agriculture and energy sectors that have been historically underfunded. In his remarks, he highlighted how existing GCC investments could be leveraged not merely for large‐scale infrastructure projects but also for capacity building activities across energy, climate change, water and agriculture sectors.

Moreover, Mr Akhmedov urged participants to consider not only the capital inflow but also the transfer of technical expertise from Gulf institutions. His contributions underscored the importance of human‐capacity building as an integral complement to financial commitments, ensuring that green investments yield lasting benefits for local communities and reinforce regional self‐reliance.

Hence, Mr Shakhboz Akhmedov joined fellow council members in a forward‐looking discussion on the key principles needed to underpin a robust policy framework for GCC green investments. He further highlighted the strategic importance of conceptualizing the next phase of the Rihla Initiative as one that not only mobilizes finance but also galvanizes a network of various stakeholders to co‐develop climate solutions tailored to the unique geographic and institutional landscapes of Central Asia and the Caucasus.