The forum, titled “Central Europe and Eastern New Economies Strategies with the Gulf States”, will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, Hotel and Spa under the patronage of Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The high-profile economic and investment forum, organised by Crans Montana Forum, Middle East, is the first-of-its-kind to connect GCC with central and eastern European nations and is in association with the CMF, Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCC), United Nations for Industrial Development (Unido), Euro-Chambers, Economic Development Board and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The opening ceremony of the three-day forum will be attended by many high-level delegates, government representatives from across the world, and the forum has an impressive lineup of speakers, all of them experts in their respective areas.
Confirmed participants are Calin Constantin Anton Popescu-Tariceanu, prime minister of Romania; Sergei Stanishev, premier of Bulgaria; Hashim Thaci, PM of Kosovo; Lado Gurgenidze, prime minister of Georgia; Milo Djukanovic, premier of Montenegro; Dusan Caplovic, deputy PM and minister for European affairs, human rights and minorities of the Slovak Republic; Marius Medeleanu, minister of economy, and Bernard Savage, ambassador, delegation of the EU to Riyadh.
Ministerial delegations in addition to business delegates from Ukraine, Hungary and Croatia will spotlight the economic and investment climate within these regions as well as investment promotions and the enormous opportunities they represent.
The participation of high-level officials from Europe will reinforce the bilateral relationship with GCC countries. The active support and involvement of Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, secretary general of the GCC; Dr Fakhro and Pierre Simon, president of Euro-Chambers in the forum will play a vital role in the wake of Europe-GCC talks on the proposed FTA to accelerate the process of its inception as well as the activation of the memo signed between Eurochambers and FGCC for economic co-operation.
“The sessions will discuss the latest economic strategies and policies, and the most current and available investment opportunities will be spotlighted.
Furthermore, the forum will provide a platform for the exchange of professional expertise, enhancing dialogue on a variety of key topics of mutual interest, including a common market, commercial arbitration, a free economy, common currency, economic co-operation, investment promotion and, with the prospect of the proposed FTA with the EU, we are also expecting the confirmation of VIPs to attend the major event: Iulia Tymoshchenko, prime minister of Ukraine; Sali Berisha, premier of Albania, and Filipovic, PM of Bosnia- Herzegovina,” said Jean-Paul Carteron, CMF chairman.
Discussion topics are targeted to benefit a diverse range of participants including ministers of finance, economy, economic development, trade, investment promotion, industry, oil and gas, telecommunications; high-level officials of international and regional organisations, chambers of commerce, investment-promotion agencies, investment authorities and sovereign wealth funds and chairmen, chief executive officers and directors of major companies.
