On June 14, voters in Afghanistan will decide on the country’s next President in the second round of Afghanistan’s 2014 presidential elections. Not only Afghans but the whole world is looking at the run-off between former opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. A smooth political transition in June 2014 preceding the withdrawal of international combat troops at the end of 2014 will be an encouraging sign for the decade of transformation. Politics and security will also impact Afghanistan’s economy and the economies of the region. After years of considerable economic growth in Afghanistan, driven by the presence of foreign forces, their departure and a gradual decline in overall donor support are expected to lead to a drop in growth rates. Afghanistan will need to redirect its economy. The country has considerable economic assets of its own and is strategically located at the crossroads of Asia. The region—although marked by old and new conflicts—holds great potential for economic and political cooperation.

At the event, the EastWest Institute’s Brussels Center will also launch its latest report “Afghanistan Reconnected – Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014.” This report is based on EWI’s consultation series on infrastructure, energy security and investment, held in 2013 and 2014 in Istanbul, Islamabad, New Delhi and Berlin, involving leaders from governments, parliaments, the business sector, international organizations and academia.