BALKAN
ECONOMIC SUMMIT REPORT
INTRODUCTION
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB),
which is the apex organization representing the private sector
in Turkey, assumed the Presidency of the Association of Balkan
Chambers (ABC) for the year 2008.
The
Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC) is a non-political and non-governmental
organization, founded in 1994, aiming at fostering the economic
development and the business activities in the Balkans.
Under
the Presidency of the Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC), within
the context of ABC activities, TOBB hosted the Balkan Economic
Summit, which was held under the patronage of the Deputy Prime
Minister of Turkey, H. E. Nazım Ekren, on November 26 of 2008,
in İstanbul, the glorious city at the crossroads where East meets
West.
The idea of the Balkan Economic Summit took momentum from the
firm dedication to organize meetings that would create synergy
and partnerships among ABC Member Countries with a focus on common
concerns and benefits.
Within this framework, the Summit provided an opportunity to present
concrete views and insights on the economic future of the Balkans;
development, investment, logistics and infrastructure. Within
this context, the inspiration of the Summit was to effectuate
these ideas and insights presented on "Best Practices", public
private partnerships, energy and infrastructure in the daily practices
of Balkan countries.
All
information concerning the Summit, including the program, documents
and photos, is accessible on http://balkan.tobb.org.tr.
PARTICIPANTS
Registration of the participants began on Tuesday, November 25
of 2008, at 10.00AM. The Balkan Economic Summit was an all-encompassing
event that sought a broad participation of approximately 450 representatives
from Balkan Countries, including; the Ministers and government
representatives from Balkan countries, besides the Presidents
and representatives of the ABC member chambers, regional, national
and international private sector enterprises; and leaders of the
business circles.
Please find attached the final list of participants to the event.
PREPARATORY WORKS FOR ROUND-TABLE MEETING
The Pre-Assembly Meeting was held on Tuesday, November 25 of 2008,
at 18.30PM. The Presidents of the ABC member chambers attended
the meeting. This meeting was held as a preliminary one that provided
an opportunity to the Presidents of the ABC member chambers to
look over, discuss and exchange ideas on the economic development
of Balkan Countries in preparing for the agenda for the Round-Table
Meeting, which was held on Wednesday, November 26 of 2008.
Also, one of the main issues discussed in the meetings was how
the Global Financial Crisis is affecting the entire world economy,
and within that context, how their countries may get affected
individually and what measures can be taken to guard themselves
against this crisis.
WELCOME
COCKTAIL
The Welcome Cocktail was held on Tuesday Night, November 25 of
2008, at 19.30PM. Within the context of the Summit, the Welcome
Cocktail was an opportunity to bring together all participants
to the event and provide them with a chance to meet one another.
OPENING SESSION
The Opening Session began on Wednesday, November 26 of 2008, at
10.00AM. The Session began with the welcome speech of Mr. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu, the President of the Association of Balkan Chambers
(ABC) and The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB).
The
Opening Session continued with the Opening Speech of H.E. Prof.
Dr. Nazım Ekren, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey and Minister
of State, and was concluded at 10.25AM.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
SIGNING
AGREEMENTS
Within the context of the Summit, on Wednesday, November 26 of
2008, at 10.30AM, Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, and Mr. Murat Yalçıntaş,
the President of ASCAME, signed the "Cooperation Agreement between
ABC and ASCAME;" and at 10.35AM, Mr. Kürşad Tüzmen, Minister of
State, and H.E. Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister of Economic Development
of Montenegro, signed the "Free Trade Agreement between Republic
of Turkey and Montenegro."
For
a full-size picture, please click on the image.
STATEMENTS
OF MINISTERS
- H.E. Hamdo Tinjak, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade
and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
-
H.E. Branimir Mladenov, Ambassador of Bulgaria,
-
H.E. Hadi Nezir, Minister of State of Macedonia,
-
H.E. Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister of Economic Development of
Montenegro,
-
H.E. Sulejman Ugljanin, Minister of State of Serbia, and
-
H.E. Stefan Imre, State Secretary, Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized
Companies, Trade, Tourism and Liberal Professions of Romania,
attended the Summit and each delivered a 10 minute statement on
Wednesday, November 26 of 2008, at 10.45AM.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL (RCC)
Following the Statements of the Ministers, on Wednesday, November
26 of 2008, at 11.45AM, Mr. Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of
the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), delivered a speech under
the title "Political and Economic Developments in South East Europe
and Relations with EU."
THE GIFT CEREMONY AND GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS
The Gift Ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 26 of 2008,
at 11.55AM.
H.E. Prof. Dr. Nazım Ekren, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey and
Minister of State, and Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the President
of the Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC) and The Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) presented the government
representatives from Balkan countries and the Presidents and representatives
of the ABC member chambers each a silver plaque.
Group Photograph with Ministers and Presidents of the member Chambers
/ Unions of Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC) was taken on
Wednesday, November 26 of 2008, at 12.10PM.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
LUNCH
Lunch
was held on Wednesday, November 26 of 2008, at 12.30PM.
SESSIONS
Holding
the theme "The New Investment Environment in the Balkans", the
Summit encompassed two simultaneous sessions that took place on
Wednesday, November 26 of 2008: "Improvement of Investment Climate,
Public Private Partnerships - Best Practices - in the Balkan Countries",
and "Balkans Energy and Infrastructure".
The
Session was moderated by Mr. Ersin Altınordu, the Co-Chairman
of the Turkish-Romanian Business Council.
In this Session, the following guest speakers made presentations:
-
Mr. İsmail Bitirim, representative of Investment Support and Promotion
Agency, on "Investment Environment and Opportunities in Turkey,"
-
Mr. Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister of Economic Development of
Montenegro, on "Investment Opportunities in Montenegro,"
-
Mr. Sorin Vasilescu, Director General of the Romanian Agency for
Foreign Investments (ARIS) of Romania, on "Romania Top Investment
Destinatio,"
-
Mrs. Slavica Korica, Executive Director for Investment Promotion
of Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
on "Investment Opportunities of Bosnia & Herzegovina,"
- Mrs. Valentina Alexandrova, Director of Investment and Legal
Services Department at Invest Bulgaria Agency, on "Bulgaria Investment
Climate and Opportuities,"
-
Mr. Kemal Çokakoğlu, General Manager of Customs, Tourism Enterprises
and Trade Corporation of Turkey, on "Modernization of Border Gates,"
and
-
Prof. Dr. Abdylmenaf Bexheti, Vice President of South East Europe
University of Macedonia, on "Challenges of Public Private Partnerships
in Macedonia - Case of SEEU."
- - - A coffee break was given between 15.20 - 15.40PM. -
- -
The
Session was moderated by Mr. Selahattin Çimen, the Acting Undersecretary
for the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
In
this Session, the following guest speakers made presentations:
- Prof. Dr. Vladimir Petkovski, Professor of Economics at Aziz
Kiril and Metodij University of Macedonia, on "The Investment
Climate in the Energy Sector of Macedonia,"
-
Mr. Osman Z. Göksel, NABUCCO Project Coordinator, Project Director
of Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan, Member of the Board of BOTAŞ, and Ministry
of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, on "NABUCCO Project,"
- Mr. Alexandru Sandulescu, Director General for Energy Policy,
and Minister of Economy and Finance of Romania, on "Romanian Energy
Sector," and
-
Mr. Dragutin Martinovic, Director of Electricity Supply Industry
of Montenegro and Member of the Board of Directors of Chamber
of Economy of Montenegro, on "Energy and Renewable Sources of
Electricity."
BILATERAL
MEETINGS
Within the context of the Summit, on Wednesday, November 26 of
2008, at the Opera Room, Bilateral Meetings were held between
Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the President of the Association of
Balkan Chambers (ABC)
and The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB),
and Presidents of the member Chambers / Unions of Association
of Balkan Chambers (ABC).
In the Bilateral Meetings, Presidents of the ABC each shared their
perspectives on increasing the bilateral commercial and economic
relations with Turkey.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
ROUND-TABLE MEETING (LIMITED PARTICIPATION)
The Round-Table Meeting was held on Wednesday, November 26 of
2008, at 16.45PM. Relevant Ministers from Balkan countries and
ABC Member Chambers' Presidents attended this meeting in order
to share insights on challenges and opportunities for the regional
economic cooperation with the Ministers.
The Ministers and government representatives from Balkan countries,
and the Presidents of the ABC member chambers all shared their
insights on challenges and opportunities for the regional economic
cooperation.
The Global Financial Crisis was a top issue in the Meeting. The
Presidents of the ABC Member Chambers emphasized how important
it is to overcome all obstacles in the way of increasing trade
in their Region.
It has been decided to establish a coordination unit for the preparation
of the proposals with the participation of Ministers and the Presidents
of the Chambers of the countries related, and the Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey has been charged in the conduction
of this coordination.
The Balkan Economic Summit also decided to organize the Summit
annually, within the ABC Presidency term of the member countries.
It has been decided that the Second Balkan Economic Summit will
be organized in Albania in 2009.
Please find enclosed the Joint Declaration of the Balkan Economic
Summit.
NETWORKING COCKTAIL
The
Networking Cocktail was held on Wednesday, November 26 of 2008,
at 16.30PM.
The
Networking Cocktail was aimed at creating a unique platform to
meet with regional counterparts, to exchange ideas and to bring
a new vision for the economic development of the Balkan countries.
It provided an opportunity to present concrete views and insights
on the economic future of the Balkans by all participants concerned.
DINNER
Dinner was held on Wednesday Night, November 26 of 2008, at 20.30PM, at Sait Halim Paşa Yalısı, Yeniköy.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
ABC GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
The ABC General Assembly Meeting was held on Thursday, November
27 of 2008, at 10.30PM.
During the meeting, the President of the Union of Trade and Industry
of Albania, Illir Zhilla, was announced and greeted as the President
of Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC) for the next term.
The Project Coordinator of the DIHK - ABC Partnership Project,
Eduard Schwartz, stressed the improvement and positive development
in the Balkans.
Please find enclosed the report on Concept of Sustainability based
on the Partnership Project between DIHK and ABC; the ABC General
Assembly Declaration.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
LUNCH
Lunch was held on Thursday, November 27 of 2008, at 12.30PM.
For a full-size picture, please click on the image.
TOURISTIC
TOUR
A Touristic Tour to the Rahmi Koç Museum, organized for the Presidents of the member Chambers of ABC and guest speakers, was held on Thursday, November 27 of 2008, at 15.00PM.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Everything concerning the Balkan Economic Summit is accessible
from the address, http://balkan.tobb.org.tr.
ENC
1: List
of Participants
ENC 2: Joint
Declaration
ENC 3: Concept
of Sustainability based on the Partnership Project between DIHK
and ABC
ENC 4: ABC
General Assembly Declaration
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