Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Meeting 2024

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 English Simultaneous 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