GRATA International was pleased to co-host a seminar with Ashurst in Beijing

GRATA International was pleased to co-host a seminar with Ashurst on 24 March 2026 in Beijing: “Empowering the New Silk Road: Legal Frameworks, Bankability Issues, and Future Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships in Greater Central Asia”.

We were delighted to welcome over 60 clients and guests, including investors, developers, and financial institutions, for a dynamic discussion on the growing investment and public-private partnerships (PPPs) opportunities for Chinese enterprises across Greater Central Asia, covering Azerbaijan, the five Central Asian republics, and Mongolia.

As a leading regional firm with deep roots in these markets, GRATA brought together local experts from the following jurisdictions:

🇦🇿 Ummi Jalilova (Azerbaijan)
🇰🇿 Shaimerden Chikanayev[1] (Kazakhstan)
🇰🇬 Elvira Maratova (Kyrgyzstan)
🇹🇯 Nurlan Kyshtobaev (Tajikistan)
🇲🇳 Bolormaa Volodya & Khulan Ganbold (Mongolia)
🇺🇿 Shakhzod Alimkhodjaev (Uzbekistan)

Together with Ashurst, we offered participants a comprehensive perspective - bridging international best practices with on-the-ground legal and commercial insight along the Eurasian corridor, a critical artery of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

A key highlight was the comparative panel discussion, where Ashurst’s international team joined GRATA’s local experts. Drawing on the combined, long-standing experience of both firms across Belt and Road jurisdictions, speakers shared practical insights into regional PPP and investment contracts legal frameworks, bankability considerations and emerging opportunities in rapidly developing markets such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. We also shared additional perspectives from Azerbaijan through presentation materials. 

The session provided Chinese developers, investors, and lenders with clear, actionable guidance on structuring investments across the region, spanning sectors such as energy, mining, power, and infrastructure.

Thank you to all participants for joining us and contributing to such an engaging dialogue. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting your ventures across Greater Central Asia.

 

[1] Currently on a study sabbatical until 2026, not an employee of GRATA.