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Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2018
Leadership | Economics | Synergies
30 May - 1 June 2018 | Athens, Greece

Agenda 2018

Wednesday May 30th 2018
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030
13:00 - 14:00
Registrations
16:00 - 16:30
Break
18:00 - 18:30
Moderators Conclusions
20:00 - 22:00
Official dinner | by invitation only (exclusive sponsor NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE)
Thursday 31 May 2018
Policy Summit «Rail, Road, Rivers Connectivity to the EU via Balkan Region» | Digital Markets | Energy Affairs | Women in Leadership | Circular Economy
08:15 - 09:00
Registrations
09:30 - 11:30
S/1: Policy Summit: «Rail, Road, Rivers Connectivity to the EU via Balkan Region» | EU-Balkans-Black Sea Perspectives |
11:30 - 12:00
Break (sponsored by SALFO & ASSOCIATES SA)
12:00 - 13:30
S/2: Digital markets-crossover economies: "Cyber security & ICT assurance"

Unlocking the potential of digital: fostering innovation while safeguarding trust

Data protection and cybersecurity are the key factors that will ultimately determine the success of the digital transformation. While economies depend on rail, roads and rivers, they cannot escape the fact that Europe’s future is digital and connected. This panel will address European Union priorities for creating a digital single market and for unlocking untapped economic potential through innovation in the digital space. Disruptive financial technology is reshaping finance, with implications for banking services to businesses and households. But only if trust is safeguarded.

Session Speakers

Session Moderator

13:30 - 14:30
Luncheon
14:30 - 16:30
S/3: Energy affairs "Trading in energy - The Energy Exchange of South East Europe"

Greece is currently undergoing a fundamental change. Namely, it is restructuring its electricity market in order to become a full member of the European market, the so-called Target Model in 2019. The unification of the Greek with the European market apart from ensuring security of supply will improve competition and consequently will reduce electricity prices for the end users. Moreover it is expected to attract significant capital and investments in the region. It is also of immense importance to safeguard that energy trading will take place through a comprehensive and transparent regulatory framework.

Moreover, the establishment of the Hellenic Energy Exchange, an initiative that Greece has just completed, with the collaboration of state managed, as well as private sector stakeholders, can also act as an opportunity to strengthen and enhance its cooperation with countries within the wider region. The possible transfer of the know-how that Greece has acquired to its neighbors could lead to the emergence of a regional energy market in the benefit of all players.

About the session:
The mission of Energy Exchange session is to bring together key players from Europe, Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus in order to explore and address the possibilities of spurring cooperation and creating synergies within the region in the strategic field of energy.

Session Speakers

Session Moderator

16:30 - 16:45
Break
16:45 - 17:45
S/4 (Parallel): Women in leadership: “How can the private sector advance gender equality and women's empowerment?”
16:45 - 17:45
S/5 (Parallel): Green growth & circular economy: "New technologies and eco-innovation"
19:30 - 21:30
Networking reception cocktail | Goulandris Natural History Museum (speakers & delegates only)

Networking cocktail reception is for BBSF2018 Speakers, Vips & delegates only

More info online: Athens 2018 - Networking reception page

Friday 1 June 2018
Business Summit: «Rail, Road, Rivers Connectivity to the EU via Balkan Region» | Maritime, Transports, Infrastructures | Education-Innovation | Culture, Sustainable Tourism
09:15 - 11:00
S/6: Business Summit «Rail, Road, Rivers Connectivity to the EU via Balkan Region»

Session aims to highlight the means of transport, infrastructures and hubs as key vehicle for economic development. From airports to ports and the hinterland connections, a trans-European efficient transport network requires deeper cooperation and regional coordination in order to connecting people and facilitating trade exchanges.

Session Speakers

Session Moderator

11:00 - 11:30
Break
11:30 - 12:00
EU - Western Balkans: promoting synergies
12:00 - 13:15
S/7 (Parallel): Higher Education-Innovation: "Digital Transformation & Innovation, the role of technology in driving future changes"

In an era that the business environment is changing constantly, higher education is considered as a critical player for the future. “Smart Institutions” recognize the need to incorporate experience-based learning, focusing on skills adapted to real-word business challenges. The emergence of new collaborative education models reinvents education by blending career and technical skills, with a number of affiliated companies to provide practical workplace experience with internships. To support growth, economic development and social change, higher education is progressively adapting to new technologies, collaborating with industry forces towards shaping a new ecosystem in an evolving world. This session deploys business schools “learning by flow” education with regards to today’s workforce and skills requirements, highlighting business’ needs for creating, delivering, and capturing value for generating revenues in order to remain competitive.

Session Speakers

Session Moderator

12:00 - 13:15
S/8 (Parallel): Culture - Sustainable Tourism: "The Internet of things in Tourism industries"

Tourism and Culture stands a major source of income for many countries, considered a people-oriented industry which provides jobs and helps revitalizing local economies. Although the impacts of the massive form of tourism usually results social dislocation, loss of cultural heritage, economic dependence and ecological degradation. Tourism need to be sustainable, protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage, respecting local society and the travelers, but moreover to benefit the people and the environment of the host country. This session shares policies and information of responsible management in hotel, cruise, air transportations, tour-operators and showcases practices to optimizing cooperation at intra-regional level.

Session Speakers

Session Moderator

13:45 - 14:00
Forum Declaration, Announcing 2019 Hosting City
14:00 - 17:30
Field Visit: Special reception at COSCO/Piraeus Port Authority premises (Speakers & Delegates only)

Field visit is for BBSF2018 Speakers & delegates only

More info online: Athens 2018 - Field Visit Program page