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Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2017
Stability | Growth | Cooperation
May 25-26, 2017 | Serres, Greece

On May 2017 the biggest ever Forum in Balkans & Black Sea

Athens, 28-11-2016

 

An exceptional initiative from Geo Routes Cultural Institute with regards to the organization of the international conference Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum© launched last week.

The «Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum» is an international conference which will be held at Serres | Central Macedonia | Greece on 25-26 May 2017 aiming at highlighting cross‐border cooperation, enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations, strengthening business opportunities and promoting economic growth and sustainable development among the 17 States of the Balkan and Black Sea Region.

Devoted to the task, Geo Routes in cooperation with the Regional Unit of Serres have taken all provisions in order to deliver a hi-end Forum and provide a warm hospitality to that great gathering of delegates from the Balkans, Black Sea and other visitors. Forums’ official announcement took place in Serres, where the Vice Governor of Serres Mr. Yiannis Moisiadis and the President of Geo Routes Cultural Institute Mr. Giannis Balakakis held a formal press conference for distributing information to the media about the nature, the size, the scope and the importance of the event that will be hosted at Serres on May 2017.

«It concerns a very important event for Serres which came to be materialized further to the excellent cooperation established with Geo Routes Cultural Institute, upon the Cultural Heritage Journeys of our Region assigned and delivered by Geo Routes» said the Vice Governor Mr. Moisiadis; and he added that «we strongly believe that the Forum will promote Serres worldwide and will facilitate to the cross border cooperation desired by the countries of that region». Additionally Mr. Moisiadis has pointed the importance of the visit to Serres of the Ambassador Michael B. Christides, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on Thursday November 17th, in order to be informed of the progress and to salute the Organizors for the outstanding performance over the multiple facades of the event.

Giannis Balakakis, President of the Geo Routes Cultural Institute stated that «such prominent international Forum this year will be highlighting Serres and sets hi-standards for the next hosting country», and emphasized the major pillars of the conference, which are stability, growth and cooperation. Moreover he has addressed call for participation to volunteers of the local society who can play leading role towards the hospitality and the overall event organization.

 

About the «Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum»

The Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum© is an international conference which will be held at Serres | Central Macedonia | Greece on 25-26 May 2017 aiming at highlighting cross‐border cooperation, enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations, strengthening business opportunities and promoting economic growth and sustainable development among the 17 States of the Balkan and Black Sea Region.

Participants shall be Senior Officials from the EU, the Balkans and the Black Sea Bodies & Institutions, Officials from International organizations, public officials, diplomats, businesses, entrepreneurs and academia, whose the mix of attendance is forecasted to be 50% from the private sector, 25% from the Public and Governmental and 25% from the NGOs and Institutional sectors.

Sessions will cover 7 topics:

a) EU Balkans & Black Sea Perspectives and SDGs 2030
b) Roads of Energy,
c) Digital Economy & Innovation,
d) Women in leadership,
e) Agriculture & Environment,
f) Maritime, Transportation, Infrastructures & Hubs,
g) Cultural & Sustainable Tourism.

On 2017 its headline will be “Cultural Tourism | a key to Sustainable Development” aligned with UN resolution (A/C.2/ 70/L.5/Rev.1 of 4/12/2015) that has adopted 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Annually held at a different State of the region, the Forum will also provide a Business HUB as exhibiting zone for organizations to promote their business activities and a Cultural Zone for 2 honorary countries to showcase their cultural heritage, which both will be open to the public areas. To such comprehensive organization, Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum© constitutes an excellent opportunity for its sponsors, contributors and supporters to strengthen their outreach, to influence issues related to the business and economic environment and to explore challenges and possibilities while exchanging views with experts and influencers from the EU, the Balkans and the Black Sea Bodies & Corporations, Entrepreneurs and other International representatives.

The Forum is organized by Geo Routes Cultural Institute and shall be under the auspices, the support and the cooperation of several European and Black Sea Organizations. Forum’s organization consists of the Organizing, the Steering, the Scientific, the Advisory Committees and 7 Working Groups, those of Diplomatic, Hospitality, Speakers, Communications, Staffing, Venue and Administration Management, relying substantially on the kind contribution of a significant group of volunteers. This structure undertakes all tasks necessary as to welcome the 500 delegates expected to be at Serres in May 2017 and to deliver a hi-end result to the audience and the public.

States of the Region the Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum© is concerned (in alphabetical order): Albania – Armenia – Azerbaijan – Bosnia/Herzegovina – Bulgaria – Croatia – FYROM – Georgia – Greece (2017 hosting country) – Moldova – Montenegro – Romania – Russian Federation – Serbia – Slovenia – Turkey (Jan 2017 Presidency BSEC) – Ukraine (July 2017 Presidency BSEC).