Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2018
Leadership | Economics | Synergies
30 May - 1 June 2018 | Athens, Greece
The international rotating Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum 2018 (BBSF) takes place in Athens, Greece 30/5-1/6/2018 at Helexpo-Marousi conference center. Leading business- and policy makers from Greece, the Balkans, Black Sea and Western Europe will be engaging in debates about economic cooperation, business relations and sustainable growth across the region and beyond.
BBSF2018 highlights “Rail, Road, Rivers connectivity to the EU via Balkan region during a policy summit at May 31st and a business summit at June 1st. Both sessions focus on alliances and investments in the sectors of transports, communications, logistics, infrastructures & hubs, interconnected with the EU Western Balkan strategy, Balkan Silk Road and China-Central East Europe 16+1 initiatives.
BBSF anchors brilliantly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 on May 30. Cutting edge sessions on May 31 & June 1 will deploy: Digital Economy, Energy, Agro/Circular Economy, Women in Leadership, Tourism/Culture and Education/Innovation. A number of distinctive international speakers and hi-level audience from ministries, businesses, organizations and the diplomatic world will interact in policies, business and geo-strategic initiatives reflecting South & Central East Europe and beyond.
Among BBSF2018 key-speakers are: Mariya Gabriel EU Commissioner Digital Economy/Society, Zorana Mihajlović Dpt. Prime Minister & Minister of Construction-Transport-Infrastructures Serbia, Ismir Jusko Minister Communications & Transport Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lise Kingo Executive Director United Nations Global Compact, Georges Markopouliotis Head European Commission Representation Greece, Alqi Bllako Secretary General to the President of Albania, Oleg Tulea Vice-President Danube Commission, Zeljka Cvijanovic Prime Minister Republika Srpska/Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elena Kountoura Minister of Tourism, Stergios Pitsiorlas Dpt Minister Economy & Development, Georges Katrougalos Alt. Minister Foreign Affairs, Ivailo Kalfin Fm. Dpt. PM Bulgaria & Director Institute for Economics & International Relations, Michael Christides Secretary General Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Andrew Main Wilson Chairman United Nations PRME, Zsuzsanna Hargitai Director/Head of Western Balkans EBRD, Wim Mijs CEO European Banking Federation, Danica Purg President CEEMAN, Arda Batu Secretary General Turkish Business Confederation, Bora Tuncer Cluster President Turkey-Iran-Central Asia Schneider Electric, Alia El-Yassir Regional Director UN Women Europe-Central Asia, Monica Scatasta Head of Environment-Climate-Social Policy EIB, Maaike Okano-Heijmans Sr. Research Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Sotirios Theofanis President-CEO Thessaloniki Port Authority, Erwin Van Overbeek Manager Large Companies Network MVO Netherlands, Marina Migliorato VP CSR Europe-Head Sustainability Innovation & Stakeholders Engagement ENEL S.p.A. and more.
BBSF2018 is held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy & Development and Tourism. Furthermore, a number of international partners support the Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum, such as BSEC, UNWomen, UN Global Compact, UNESCO, European Banking Federation, International Centre for Black Sea Studies, EC/DG Environment, CEEMAN, Clingendael Institute, CSR Europe, CSR Hellas etc.
Useful links:
Information