Draft 04.03.2024

CONTINUING TO BUILD ECONOMIC BRIDGES

DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

21/22 April 2024

National Palace of Culture, Hall 6

Bulgaria Blvd, 1463 NDK

Sofia, Bulgaria

Working Languages: Bulgarian and EnglishSimultaneous Translation will be provided

VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM

SOFIA MEETING 2024

Sunday, 21 April 2024 Boyana Residence, Building 2

4.00-4.20 p.m. 4.20-4.30 p.m. 4.30-6.30 p.m. Followed by 6.30-8.00 p.m.

Registration

Family Photo (By Invitation)

OPENING SESSION

CONTINUING TO BUILD REGIONAL ECONOMIC BRIDGES –

THE ROLE OF INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION

MODERATION

• Mr. Boyko VASSILEV, Chief Editor Current Affairs, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) OPENING • Amb. Dr. Elena KIRTCHEVA, Founder and Member of the Board, Secretary General of Vienna

Economic Forum (in Bulgarian) • Amb. Dr. Emil BRIX, Director, Diplomatische Akademie Wien (DA)-Vienna School of International

Studies, Vienna, President of Vienna Economic Forum WELCOMING WORDS • H.E. Ms. Milena STOYCHEVA, Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria(in Bulgarian) GREETING WORDS • H.E. The Deputy-Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria • Dr. Akkan SUVER , President, Marmara Group Foundation, Türkiye, Strategic Partner of Vienna

Economic Forum IMPULSE STATEMENT

• H.E. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (in Bulgarian) DISCUSSION: MAIN STATEMENT • Mag. Nikolaus-Conrad LORENZ, Strategy Director, Canon CEE GmbH, Member of the Board

of Vienna Economic Forum PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISCUSSION

• Dr. Barbara KOLM, President Friedrich A, v. Hayek Institute, Director of Austrian Economic Center,

Austria, Strategic Partner of Vienna Economic Forum “No Innovations without Education”• Prof. Dr. Danica PURG, President of Bled School of Management, Slovenia, Strategic Partner of

Vienna Economic Forum • Dr. Heimo SCHEUCH, CEO, Wienerberger AG, Member of Vienna Economic Forum • High representatives of the Bulgarian, regional and international economy

WELCOME COCKTAIL (for all registered participants for the VEF- Sofia Meeting 2024)

Possibilities for BILATERAL TALKS (organized by VEF)

Monday, 22 April 2024 National Palace of Culture

Hall 6 Bulgaria Blvd, 1463 NDK, Sofia

08.00-08.45 a.m. REGISTRATION

08.45-08.55 a.m. FAMILY PHOTO (by invitation)

09.00-09.40 a.m. I. OPENING SESSION

CONTINUING TO BUILD ECONOMIC BRIDGES DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

DEVELOMPENT OF REGIONAL COOPERATION

MODERATION

• Mr. Boyko VASSILEV, Chief Editor Current Affairs, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) OPENING • Amb. Dr. Elena KIRTCHEVA, Founder and Member of the Board, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum • Amb. Dr. Emil BRIX, Director, Diplomatische Akademie Wien (DA)-Vienna School of International Studies, Vienna

President of Vienna Economic Forum MAIN STATEMENT

• H.E. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria IMPULSE STATEMENT

• TBN

09.45-11.15 a.m. II. SESSION

ENSURING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STABILITY ON THE PATH TO EUROPE

CHALLENGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE MODERATION • Mr. Boyko VASSILEV, Chief Editor Current Affairs, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) IMPULSE STATEMENTS

• High representative of European Investment Bank (EIB), Luxembourg (tbc)

• Mr. Mark BOWMAN, Vice-President, Policy and Partnerships, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development

(EBRD), London

MAIN STATEMENTS

• H.E. Ms. Milena STOYCHEVA, Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria(in Bulgarian)• H.E. Mr. Bogdan BOGDANOV, Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISCUSSION

• Mr. Peter HÖFINGER, Deputy General Manager and Deputy Chaiman of the Managing Board, Vienna Insurance Group

AG (VIG), Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum

• Mr. Kalin PESHOV, CEO, Chairman of the Board of GBS Holding AD, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum

• High representatives of the Governments of the VEF- Member States

• High representatives of the Bulgarian, regional and international economy

Q AND A SESSION with the Audience (led by the Moderator)

11.15 -11.45 a.m. COFFEE BREAK

Possibilities for BILATERAL TALKS (organized by VEF)

11.45 a.m. -1.00 p.m.

III. SESSION

FROM REGION TO REGION

ACTING TOGETHER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMON FUTURE MODERATION • Mr. Boyko VASSILEV, Chief Editor Current Affairs, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) MAIN STATEMENT

• TBN

PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISCUSSION

• VEF- Board members

• Mr. Aleksandar VLAHOVIĆ, President, Serbian Association of Economists, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic

Forum

• Representative, Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Investment Office, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum (tbc)

• Ms. Mila NENOVA, Executive Director, InvestBulgaria Agency, Cooperation Partner of Vienna Economic Forum

• Ms. Majlinda BREGU, Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Sarajevo

• High representatives of Baltic Countries

• High representatives of the Bulgarian, regional and international economy

Q AND A SESSION

With the Audience (led by the Moderator)

1.00-2.00 p.m. NETWORKING LUNCH

Possibilities for BILATERAL TALKS (organized by VEF)

2.00-4.30 p.m. IV. SESSION

ALPHA SESSION – ASK THE DECISION MAKERS

BUILDING ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN DIFFICULT TIMES MODERATION • Mr. Boyko VASSILEV, Chief Editor Current Affairs, Bulgarian National Television (BNT)

PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISCUSSION

• H.E.H.E. PRIME MINISTERS OF THE VEF- MEMBER COUNTRIES- PATRONS OF VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM (tbc) EUROPEAN COMMISSION VIEW

• H.E. Ms. Adina VĂLEAN, EU Commissioner for Transport (tbc)

• H.E. Mr. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market (tbi)

Q AND A SESSION

With the Audience (led by the Moderator)

4.00-4.15 p.m. SUMMARY WORDS

• Amb. Dr. Elena KIRTCHEVA, Founder and Member of the Board, Secretary General of Vienna

Economic Forum

• Amb. Dr. Emil BRIX, Director, Diplomatische Akademie Wien (DA)-Vienna School of International Studies, Vienna, President of Vienna Economic Forum

4.15-4.30 p.m. CONCLUDING WORDS

H.E. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Followed by

SPECIAL AWARD CEREMONY OF THE VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM- SOFIA MEETING 2024

4.30 p.m. - END OF THE VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM- SOFIA MEETING 2024