Vusala Jafarova, Head of the Turkic World Research Center operating under the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), participated in the "5th Annual Research Conference" held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The conference was dedicated to the theme "CAREC Connectivity: Promoting Trade and Trade Facilitation."

During the event, Vusala Jafarova delivered a presentation on the findings of her research titled "The Role of Azerbaijan and the Middle Corridor in Strengthening Regional Connectivity and Trade Facilitation within the CAREC Framework." In her presentation, she provided insights into Azerbaijan's proactive role in the field of regional transport and logistics corridors, the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects within the Middle Corridor, as well as the country's strategic investments to enhance its transit potential and promote digitalization in the transit sector.

The conference was co-organized by the CAREC Institute and several key institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, Pakistan Single Window, the University of Sargodha, Allama Iqbal Open University, the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Manzil Pakistan, Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA), and the ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF).

The main objective of the event was to create a platform for researchers, policymakers, experts, and other stakeholders across the CAREC region to discuss economic and trade-related issues and to promote stronger regional cooperation. The conference aims to contribute to the expansion of research-based collaboration among CAREC countries, support the development of unified economic approaches, and deepen regional integration efforts.