Baltic-Nordic-Western- Balkans BUSINESS FORUM 22 – 23.05.2008 in Nordic Hotel Forum, Viru Väljak 3, Tallinn, ESTONIA Goal of the forum: to promote economic cooperation between Western Balkans and Baltic Sea regions. • To provide the participants from Nordic and Baltic countries an overview of business environment and cooperation networks in the Balkan states. • To give a networking opportunity for entrepreneurs and representatives of business organizations from Western Balkans and the Baltic sea regions. Participants from Balkan states, Baltic and Nordic countries: • Interested enterpreneurs and other representatives of business communities, Chambers of Commerce and enterprise supporting organisations • Representatives of diplomatic missions in Tallinn Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry • Mission of European Commission in Estonia • Politicians, governenent officials, representatives of media and academic world interested in cooperation between Baltic sea region and Western Balkans. Baltic-Nordic-Western- Balkans BUSINESS FORUM Welcome to the The international community has paid close We have invited prominent speakers Baltic- Nordic and attention to the development in the Western- representing business communities, Western Balkans Balkan region for many years. Estonia, among the international organizations and political Business Forum, others, has followed the course of events with decision –makers who share their views and great interest. Like other countries around the experience of economic cooperation between May 22.–23. 2008 Baltic Sea we have noticed the positive changes the Western Balkans and Baltic Sea region. Tallinn, Estonia. with satisfaction and growing excitement. The Forum will also provide networking opportu- The excessive reforms and dynamic deve lop ment nities, as Director General of Esto nian Chamber of the Western Balkans have torn the interest of of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Siim Raie will the international investors to the area. Along - host a reception for the participants in the side with the others, the entrepreneurs from the evening of May 22 and the Forum will end with Baltic and the Nordic States are already active lunch hosted by Mr. Urmas Paet, Esto nian in the region and the inte rest in the economic Minister of Foreign Affairs. cooperation is gradually increasing. To support this interest and to tighten economic Also tables for information materials will be ties between the Western Balkan countries and arranged for interested business orga ni sa tions. the Nordic and the Baltic states Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Esto nian Chamber of Commerce organize Baltic Nordic Balkan Business Forum in Tallinn, on May 22. - 23, 2008. Mr. Urmas Paet Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs We think that this event will offer businesspeo- ple from the Baltic, Nordic and Western Balkan countries the possibility to meet with the pur- pose of identifying business opportunities in dif- ferent directions, and will conse quently Mr. Siim Raie Director General of Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry contribute to advan cing of business integration between the areas. Baltic-Nordic-Western- PROGRAMME Balkans BUSINESS FORUM Thursday, 22 May 2008 Friday, 23 May 2008 12:30 Lunch buffet at Nordic Hotel Forum 09:00 Morning coffee 13:30 Opening session/Greetings 09:25- I PANEL: Director General of Estonian Chamber of Commerce 12:15 Business environment and co-operation network and Industry, Mr. Siim Raie, moderator in Balkans Countries/Best Practices and Case Prime Minister of Estonia, Mr. Andrus Ansip Moderator: Mr. Andrus Alber, Minister of Investment of Macedonia, Mr. Gligor Taskovic Chairman of the Board, NASDAQ OMX, Tallinna Börs Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, H. E. Mrs. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir Opening session Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Mr. Urmas Paet 09:30 TOPIC I: How to become most competitive economy of the world Presentations: Keynote speaker: Mr. Risto Penttilä, 14:30 TOPIC I: SAA, CEFTA and internal reforms: the way forward Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA to investments and economic integration 10:00 TOPIC II: The Western Balkans region as investment Keynote speaker: Mr. Pierre Mirel, Director location, competitive advantages for investors European Commission, DG Enlargement • Political and economic progress in the region • Benchmarking factors impacting on investment decisions: 15:00 TOPIC II: Small economies on big markets business conditions, cost factors, labor conditions, taxation, etc. Balkan possibilities of entering into high-value markets • Case studies and testimonials Keynote speaker: Mr. Marko Tulonen, • General information about the Investment Promotion Head of Baltic Region, Finnpro Agencies and World Bank Group services for investors Keynote speaker: Mr. Harald Jedlicka, 15.30 Coffee and snacks Marketing Executive, World Bank Group Presentations: 10:45 TOPIC III: The Western Balkan countries in focus Albania, 16:00 TOPIC I: Nordic business experiences in the Balkans. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, An investment case of Swedfund in Macedonia. Serbia, Kosovo. Keynote speakers: Mr. Staffan Ahl, Investment Manager, Presentations and comments by the representatives of Invest - Swedfund International AB ment Promotion Agencies from the Western Balkan countries. Each representatives will have max. 10 min. for the presenta- 16:45 TOPIC II: Comparative view on doing business in Baltic tion/comments. and Balkan regions. Keynote speaker: Mr. James Oates, 12:00 Questions Senior Advisor, UniCredit Markets & Investment Banking 12:15 Coffee break 17:30 Questions 12:30- II PANEL: 18:15 Leaving to reception location 13.45 Business environment and co-operation network in Balkans Countries/Best Practices and Case Presentations 19:00-21:00 Moderator: Mr. Andrus Alber, Reception hosted by Mr. Siim Raie, Director General of Chairman of the Board, NASDAQ OMX, Tallinna Börs Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Mustpeade maja, Pikk st. 26) 12:30 TOPIC I: Investment experiences to Balkan countries, view from Estonia Keynote speaker: Ms. Kristel Kivinurm, Fund Manager, Avaron Investment 13:00 TOPIC II: Investment experience in the Balkans. View from Central and Northern Europe Keynote speaker: Mr. Jaakko Salmelin, Senior Portfolio Manager, Danske Capital 13:30 Questions and resumé 13:45 Gathering at the hotel lobby 14:00- Lunch at Savoy restaurant in Viimsi 15:30 hosted by Mr. Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia www.peokeskus.ee Information market with tables for information materials of different orga - nisations from the Balkans and Baltic Sea region will be open both days of the event. Baltic-Nordic-Western- Balkans BUSINESS FORUM Reply card Baltic-Nordic-Western-Balkans business forum 22-23.05.2008 in Nordic Hotel Forum, Viru Väljak 3, Tallinn, ESTONIA. There will be no registration fee for the business forum. Please complete one form /reply card/ per attendee in block capital letters and return via fax. To +372 604 0061 before 16 May 2008. Mr. Mrs. Ms. First name: Last name: Position: Organization/Company: Address: Postcode: City: Country: Phone: Fax: E-mail: Website: Attending Thursday 22 May Business forum in Nordic Hotel Forum Reception at Mustpeade maja Attending Friday 23 May Business forum in Nordic Hotel Forum Lunch at Savoy restaurant Practical Information The Baltic-Nordic-Western-Balkans business By bus: International bus lines connect Tallinn to forum will take place at the Nordic Hotel Forum. Aachen, Berlin, Cologne, Kaliningrad, Kiev, Kara - Address: Viru väljak 3, 10111 Tallinn, Eesti. kov, Moscow, Munich, Munster, Riga, St. Peters - For questions about the registration and Tel: +372 622 2900 • Fax: +372 622 2901 bourg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Vilnius and Warsaw. programme, please contact Mrs Liis Liivoja, www.nordichotels.eu By sea: Tallink connect Tallinn by ferry to Hel - Project Manager of Estonian Chamber of sinki, Stockholm and Rostock. Commerce and Industry, on +372 604 0081 The hotel is situated right in the heart of Tallinn, By rail: AS GoRail from Moscow and St. Peters - or e-mail: [email protected] only a short stroll from the medieval old town. bourg. Facilities include relax center/spa and sauna/. By car: European highways E20, E67 and E77. For questions about the accommodation please contact Mrs Teele Rohtla, Sales Manager of Travel to Tallinn: Language: All sessions will be conducted in Nordic Hotel Forum on +372 622 2905 By air: Via Tallinn Ülemiste Airport with direct English. No translation will be provided. or e-mail: [email protected] flights from 24 cities. The airport is located 4km from Tallinn’s city center. Estonian Air flies to NB! To make booking please use the password Bar celona, Brussels, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Frankfurt, NB! Remember to keep a copy of this form for Business Forum Hamburg, Kiev, Copen hagen, London, Milan, your own record. Moscow, Oslo, Paris, Simferopol, Stockholm, St. Petersbourg and Vienna..