CAREC Business Forum 2026 Advances Regional Investment Dialogue and Private Sector Engagement

Around 400 representatives from governments, businesses, development partners, and international organizations gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the CAREC Business Forum (BF) 2026, held alongside the 25th CAREC Ministerial Conference. Under the theme “Scaling Up Investment – Driving Infrastructure Transformation,” the forum provided a platform for dialogue on investment opportunities, regional connectivity, and public-private collaboration across the CAREC region.  

The forum featured high-level plenary discussions on clean energy, transport and logistics, critical minerals, and innovative approaches to mobilizing capital for regional infrastructure. Participants explored emerging pipelines of bankable projects and practical solutions to address financing and investment challenges while strengthening regional economic integration.  

A key milestone of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding establishing the CAREC Chambers Alliance (CCA), bringing together chambers of commerce across the region to strengthen private sector cooperation and support implementation of the CAREC agenda. The inaugural CCA meeting was also convened during the forum to discuss governance arrangements and future priorities.  

Organized by ADB as the CAREC Secretariat, CAREC BF 2026 reinforced the growing role of the private sector in advancing regional cooperation, investment, and sustainable economic development across CAREC member countries.