Program – Tab Style
Caption Lines HereDay 1
27 Jun 2023
Day 2
21 Jun 2022
9.15
THE IMPACT OF RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE IN BULGARIA’S GEOPOLITICAL STANDING
Rosen Plevneliev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012-2017)
Kenneth Merten, US Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria
Irene Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Bulgaria
Andrea Ikic-Böhm, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Bulgaria
Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Bulgaria
Chair: Solomon Passy, Founding President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Kenneth Merten, US Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria
Irene Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Bulgaria
Andrea Ikic-Böhm, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Bulgaria
Olesya Ilashchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Bulgaria
Chair: Solomon Passy, Founding President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Rosen Plevneliev
Kenneth Merten
Irene Maria Plank
Andrea Ikic-Böhm
Olesya Ilashchuk
Solomon Passy
10.45
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Rosista Kirova, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
Rositsa Kirova
EU ENLARGEMENT: THE NEW GROWTH PLAN FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS – WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE BERLIN INITIATIVE 16/10
Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement (video message)
Alexios Marios Lyberopoulos, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria
Yordan Bozhilov, President, Sofia Security Forum
Chair: Symeon Tsomokos, Delphi Economic Forum
Alexios Marios Lyberopoulos, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria
Yordan Bozhilov, President, Sofia Security Forum
Chair: Symeon Tsomokos, Delphi Economic Forum
Olivér Várhelyi
Alexios Marios Lyberopoulos
Yordan Bozhilov
Symeon G. Tsomokos
FIRESIDE CHAT
Assen Vassilev, Minister of Finance, Republic of Bulgaria
Chair: Latchezar Bogdanov, Chief Economist, Institute for Market Economics
Chair: Latchezar Bogdanov, Chief Economist, Institute for Market Economics
Assen Vassilev
Latchezar Bogdanov
12.00
Networking break
DEVELOPMENTS IN SE EUROPE: ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE
Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Chair: Elena Poptodorova, Vice President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Chair: Elena Poptodorova, Vice President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Lazăr Comănescu
Elena Poptodorova
THE BANKING SECTOR AND THE GREEN FINANCING CHALLENGES
Lilyana Pavlova, Vice President, European Investment Bank, Luxembourg
Chair: Latchezar Bogdanov, Chief Economist, Institute of Market Economics
Chair: Latchezar Bogdanov, Chief Economist, Institute of Market Economics
Lilyana Pavlova
Latchezar Bogdanov
THE ACCESSION OF BULGARIA TO SCHENGEN: A SPACE WITHOUT BORDERS
Meglena Kuneva, Ambassador of the European Union to the Council of Europe (2018-2022)
Chair: Elena Poptodorova, Vice President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Chair: Elena Poptodorova, Vice President, Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Meglena Kuneva
Elena Poptodorova
13.20
NETWORKING LUNCH BREAK
ENERGY TRANSITION AND CARBON NEUTRALITY IN THE REGION
Iva Petrova, Deputy Minister of Energy, Republic of Bulgaria
Vladimir Malinov, Executive Director, Bulgartransgaz
Teodora Georgieva, Executive Officer, ICGB, Bulgaria
Karel Kral, CEO, Electrohold Group Bulgaria
Mario De Martino, Managing Director, Porsche Bulgaria
Maria Aram Merdzhanova, Head of Sales EE, UK and Nordics, Jinko Solar
Chair: Kostantsa Rangelova, Senior Analyst, Energy and Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
Vladimir Malinov, Executive Director, Bulgartransgaz
Teodora Georgieva, Executive Officer, ICGB, Bulgaria
Karel Kral, CEO, Electrohold Group Bulgaria
Mario De Martino, Managing Director, Porsche Bulgaria
Maria Aram Merdzhanova, Head of Sales EE, UK and Nordics, Jinko Solar
Chair: Kostantsa Rangelova, Senior Analyst, Energy and Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
Iva Petrova
Vladimir Malinov
Teodora Georgieva
Karel Kral
Mario De Martino
Maria Aram Merdzhanova
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN THE REGION
Kalin Peshov, Chairman of the Management Board, Glavbolgarstroy Holding AD
Ivan Mihaylov, CEO, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria
Plamen Panchev, CEO, Trakia Economic Zone
Florian Pupeter, Managing Director, Porsche Bulgaria
Emmanouil Fountoukis, General Manager, Etem Gestamp; Chairman of the BoD, Automotive Cluster Bulgaria
George Satlas, Executive Director, ICGB
Chair: Basil Gavalas, Managing Partner, Milhous Associâtes Consultancy and Development Corporation
Ivan Mihaylov, CEO, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria
Plamen Panchev, CEO, Trakia Economic Zone
Florian Pupeter, Managing Director, Porsche Bulgaria
Emmanouil Fountoukis, General Manager, Etem Gestamp; Chairman of the BoD, Automotive Cluster Bulgaria
George Satlas, Executive Director, ICGB
Chair: Basil Gavalas, Managing Partner, Milhous Associâtes Consultancy and Development Corporation
Kalin Peshov
Ivan Mihaylov
Plamen Panchev
Florian Pupeter
Emmanouil Fountoukis
George Satlas
Basil Gavalas
TRANSFORMING THE REGION BRICK BY BRICK: LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Julian Popov, Minister of Environment & Water, Republic of Bulgaria
Georgi Gvozdeykov, Minister of Transport and Communications, Republic of Bulgaria
Ivaylo Staykov, Deputy Minister of Regional Development & Public Works, Republic of Bulgaria
Ioannis Kirkinezis, Vice President and Managing Director, Balkans, Hill International
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Georgi Gvozdeykov, Minister of Transport and Communications, Republic of Bulgaria
Ivaylo Staykov, Deputy Minister of Regional Development & Public Works, Republic of Bulgaria
Ioannis Kirkinezis, Vice President and Managing Director, Balkans, Hill International
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Julian Popov
Georgi Gvozdeykov
Ioannis Kirkinezis
GEORGE KREMLIS
EU INTEGRATION 2.0: BULGARIA’S EUROZONE HOPES AMID A TURBULENT WORLD ECONOMY
Kalin Hristov, Deputy Governor, Bulgarian National Bank
Cătălin Creţu, General Manager, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, Visa
Dimitar Bechev, Lecturer, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, UK
Chair: Petar Ganev, Senior Researcher, Institute for Market Economics
Cătălin Creţu, General Manager, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, Visa
Dimitar Bechev, Lecturer, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, UK
Chair: Petar Ganev, Senior Researcher, Institute for Market Economics
Kalin Hristov
Dimitar Bechev
Catalin Cretu
Petar Ganev
17.05
PRESENTATION: TAX POLICIES FOR IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND HUMAN HEALTH
Mihail Kalapchiev, Manager, Indirect Taxes, EY Bulgaria
Mihail Kalapchiev
CIRCULAR ECONOMY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
Julian Popov, Minister of Environment & Water, Republic of Bulgaria
Dimitris Kontaxis, General Manager, Waste Management Division, Motor Oil, Greece
Demian Pintos, General Manager, Philip Morris Bulgaria
Borislav Malinov, Chairman of the Management Board, Bulgarian Association of Recycling
Lin Sun, Head of Sustainability Development, Jinko Solar
Arno Behrens, Senior Environmental Economist, World Bank Group
Yavor Vassilev, Director, Envirometrics
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Dimitris Kontaxis, General Manager, Waste Management Division, Motor Oil, Greece
Demian Pintos, General Manager, Philip Morris Bulgaria
Borislav Malinov, Chairman of the Management Board, Bulgarian Association of Recycling
Lin Sun, Head of Sustainability Development, Jinko Solar
Arno Behrens, Senior Environmental Economist, World Bank Group
Yavor Vassilev, Director, Envirometrics
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Julian Popov
Dimitrios Kontaxis
Demian Pintos
Borislav Malinov
Lin Sun
Arno Behrens
Yavor Vassilev
GEORGE KREMLIS
FIRESIDE CHAT
Charlina Vitcheva, Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Union
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Chair: George Kremlis, Member of the Board, EPLO; Honorary President Circular Economy & Climate Change Institute, Greece
Charlina Vitcheva
GEORGE KREMLIS
TOURISM IN THE REGION
Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism (2014-2020), Republic of Bulgaria
Mariela Modeva, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, Republic of Bulgaria
Roumen Markov, General Manager, Large Infrastructure Projects LLC, Bulgaria
Ambassador (a.h.) Michael Christides, Secretary General BSEC PERMIS (2015-2021)
Bulut Bagci, President, World Tourism Forum Institute
Chair: Dimitrina Goranova, Chairman, Association of Bulgarian Tour operators and Travel Agents
Mariela Modeva, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, Republic of Bulgaria
Roumen Markov, General Manager, Large Infrastructure Projects LLC, Bulgaria
Ambassador (a.h.) Michael Christides, Secretary General BSEC PERMIS (2015-2021)
Bulut Bagci, President, World Tourism Forum Institute
Chair: Dimitrina Goranova, Chairman, Association of Bulgarian Tour operators and Travel Agents
Nikolina Angelkova
Mariela Modeva
Roumen Markov
Michael Christides
Bulut Bagci
Dimitrina Goranova
19.00
END OF SOFIA ECONOMIC FORUM IV
20.30
Official Dinner (by invitation only)
Guest of Honour and Speaker
Iliana Iotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Iliana Iotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Iliana Iotova
10:45-11:40
Inflation, currency board and eurozone candidacy: the 2022 context
Inflation in a currency board; economic and political challenges; Eurozone candidacy in turbulent times
17:30
15:45 - 16:25
The jobs market in Bulgaria: balancing efficiency and inclusivity
Labor market: A joint action by State and private sector.
13:30- 14:20
Digital Transformation: Taking Government to the next level
Bulgaria’s digital transition plan, ways to enhance performance on digital skills, digitisation of businesses and of public services, boosting development of Bulgaria’s digital economy
14:20 - 15:15
Strategic Infrastructural Projects
Mobility – connectivity, rail and road connections, automotive cluster
9:30 - 10:00
The world – Post war in Ukraine: Mapping the new global & regional security order
NATO, Russia-Ukraine conflict – ways ahead, EU security
15:15-15:45
Light Lunch
09:15 - 09:30
Keynote Opening Address
H.E. Kiril Petkov, Prime Minister of The Republic of Bulgaria
12:20 - 13:30
Beyond volatility: Geopolitical tensions and Energy transition
Balancing new industrialization with circular, green and digital economy Gas and pipelines – FSRU – storage facilities RES and hydrogen
10:00-10:45
The power of accession: EU Enlargement as a geostrategic imperative after Ukraine?
Western Balkans, Turkey, Post-Soviet space, Infrastructure
12:00 - 12:20
Coffee Break
16:25-17:30
Developments in FDI & Regional Economic Clusters
Foreign Direct Investments as a catalyst for macro- and micro-economic growth in the Western Balkans, Changes in the landscape of FDI in the region, policies to boost international flows.