Sergey Stanishev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Filip Vujanovic, President of the Republic of Montenegro
Kalman Mizsei, United Nations Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director, United Nations Development Programme
Branko Dokic, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Valentin Zlatev, Director General, LUKOIL Bulgaria
Representative, NBG Group

Moderator: George Tabakov, Chairman, Bulgaria Economic Forum

MAIN STREAM: Development of Knowledge-Based Economy and ICT

Location: Hall 9

11:00 - 12:30

Discussion panel: Reforming the Education and ICT sector – key factor for development of knowledge-based economy

Ekaterina Vitkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Republic of Bulgaria
Teodor Milev, Managing Director, Microsoft Bulgaria
Michael Easton, President, American University in Bulgaria
Plamen Vatchkov, Chairman, State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications, Bulgaria
Krassimir Ganchev, Executive Director, EADS Secure Networks - Bulgaria
Professor Boris Krstev, Vice Rector in charge of investments, finances and development, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University , Skoje , Macedonia
Marta Svetina, Ph.D, Director, Slovenian Technology Agency

Moderator: Bisser Boev, Managing Director, IDG Bulgaria

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:30

Discussion Panel: E-Government: creating efficient administration in the digital era

Nikolay Vassilev, Minister of State Administration and Administrative Reform, Republic of Bulgaria – "E-government in Bulgaria"
Branko Dokic, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Silviu Hotaran, Regional Director for South East Europe, Microsoft
Krassimir Ganchev, Executive Director, EADS Secure Networks - Bulgaria
Claudia Covaci, PR Manager , General Inspectorate for Communications and Information Technology, Romania
Plamen Vatchkov, Chairman, State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications, Bulgaria
Evgeny Jelev, Mayor, Municipality of Stara Zagora , Bulgaria – "On-line services in the Municipality of Stara Zagora"
Maria Neykova, District Governor, District of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria - "E-Administration at regional level"

Moderator: Nedyalka Yolovska, Deputy Managing Director, IDG Bulgaria

15:30 - 15:45 Contact Break

15:45 - 16:45

Discussion panel: Challenges for investment and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector in SEE: The Bulgarian Experience

D-r Borislav Kitov, Chairman of the Health Commission, National Assembly, Bulgaria
D-r Emil Hristov, Director, Executive Drug Agency, Republic of Bulgaria
D-r Ivan Bukarev, Director, National Health Insurance Fund, Bulgaria
Representative, Eli Lilly and Company
Representative, Association of the Research-Based Pharma Manufacturers

Moderator: Julian Uzunov, Manager, Top Management Advisors

MAIN STREAM: Policies for Competitive SMEs

Location: Hall 7

11:00 - 12:30

Round Table: Government policies for development of competitive SMEs sector

Stanimir Barzashki, Executive Director, Executive Agency for Promotion of SMEs, Bulgaria
Tajana Kesic Sapic, State Secretary for the Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, Republic of Croatia – "Policies for Competitive SMEs in Croatia"
Zora Simovic, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Republic of Serbia - "Development of the SME Sector and Investment Stimulation"
Gabriela Tasca, Advisor, National Agency of SME, Republic of Romania
Zarko Djuranovic, manager of Euro Info Correspondence Center, Directorate for development of SME sector, Montenegro
Anthony O'Sullivan, Programme Director, Investment Compact for Southeast Europe (OECD)
Teodora Mladenova, Project Manager, Job Opportunities through Business Support (JOBS), UNDP
Eugeniy Ivanov, Institutional Advisory Manager, CLR/K Advisors & Local Consultant in Investment Promotion, JOBS Project
Karlheinz Zahn, Senior Advisor Regional and SME Development Consult, Pro Regio

Moderator: George Prohasky, Co-Chairman, Center for Economic Development

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:30

Survey Presentation: Linking local SMEs with foreign investors - current state and opportunities

Hosted by: Bulgaria Beyond the Facts, UNDP

Survey by: Gallup

Marchella Abrasheva, Executive director, BBSS Gallup Intl
Vitcho Vitchev, Manager, Festo Production
Anthony O'Sullivan, Programme Director, Investment Compact for Southeast Europe (OECD)

Moderator: Neil Buhne, Resident Representative in Bulgaria, UNDP

15:30 - 15:45 Contact Break

15:45 - 17:00

Discussion Panel: The role of government, local authorities and business associations for linking local SMEs with foreign investors

Hosted by: Plovdiv Municipality

Mitko Vassilev, Chairman of the Board of Directors, German-Bulgarian Trade and Industrial Chamber
Representative, Plovdiv Municipalty
Krasen Stanchev, Executive Director, Institute for Market Economics
Krassimir Dachev, Deputy Chairman, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Viktor Delov, Director, Macinvest (Agency for Foreign Investments), Macedonia
Dimitrina Todorova, Executive Director, Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies (BARDA)
Josip Perica, Project Manager, Investor Support Division Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Croatia
George Prohasky, Co-Chairman, Center for Economic Development
Milica Zatezalo, Consultant, SIEPA

Moderator: Kenneth M. Lefkowitz, President, AmCham Bulgaria

MAIN STREAM: Real Estate, Italian Business, Transport

Location: Hall 8

10:45 - 12:00

Discussion Panel: Development of the real estate market on the threshold of the EU

Hosted by: Address Group

Teodora Ivanova, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Address Real Estate – "Analysis of the real estate market in Bulgaria in 2005 and forecast for 2006"
Valery Vulchev, Executive Director, Forton International – "Trade and office spaces – a comparative analysis of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia"
Deyan Kavrakov, Manager, ADIS – "Residential and holiday estate – comparative analysis and perspectives of the market in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia"
Valery Leviev, Manager, Elta Consult – "Investment funds in Southeast Europe – destination Bulgaria"

Moderator: Hristo Iliev, Chief Executive Director, Address group

12:15 - 13:30

Country Presentation: The Italian Business Experience in Southeast Europe

Hosted by: Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria

Marco Montecchi, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria
Dante Brandi, Head of Commercial Department, Embassy of Italy
Antoaneta Aleksova, Business Promoter, Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE)
Enzo Pietropaoli, Analyst, FINEST S.p.A, Italy – "Presentation of Finest"
Maria Nankova, Bulgarian Representitive, AENOR INTERNATIONAL
Emil Emanuilov , Kambourov & Partners

Moderator: Alessandra Ibbadu, Public Relations, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (invited)

13:30 - 14:00 Lunch

15:45 - 17:00

Discussion Panel: Development of transport networks of SEE countries

Petar Mutafchiev, Minister of Transport, Republic of Bulgaria
Branko Dokic, Minister of Communications and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tsvetomir Stoyanov, Executive Director, K-I Logistics – "Investment projects of K-I Logistics – logistical center Sofia"
Krastan Zolumov, Executive Director, Burgas Port – "Port of Burgas – present state and development perspectives"
Angelo Dell'Atti, General Manager, Private Enterprise Partnership for South-East Europe (PEPSE) Infrastructure, International Finance Corporation

Moderator: Dessislava Terzieva, Director National Transport Policy Directorate, Ministry of Transport and Communications, The Republic of Bulgaria

DAY TWO - 2 November 2005, Wednesday

National Palace of Culture

MAIN STREAM: Financial Markets

Location: Hall 9

9:30 - 11:15

Discussion Panel: Development of capital markets in the region

Vladimir Michailovsky, Country Officer, International Finance Corporation
Dimitar Aleksandrov, Director Investment banking, United Bulgarian Bank
Desimir Arnaudov, Manager "Bond Issues", United Bulgarian Bank
Dilian Panev, Executive Director, Active Properties - "The associations with special investment purposes as tools for investment in the real estate"
Henri Bergstrom, Senior Vice President OMX Exchanges, Growth Market, Finland
Ziga Peljko, Portfolio Manager, KD Group, Slovenia – "Slovenia – Path from Yugoslavia to Europe"
Plamen Tzvetanov, Executive Director, UBB Assets Management
Vasilios Margaris, General Manager, Thessaloniki Stock Exchange Center S.A.
Enzo Pietropaoli, Analyst, FINEST S.p.A, Italy

Moderator: Petya Cekova, Chief Economist, United Bulgarian Bank

11:15 - 11:30 Contact Break

11:30 - 12:30

Discussion Panel: Introduction of BASEL II rules and the financial sectors of SEE countries

Dr Cristiano Zazzara, Director,Head of Credit & Regulatory Research, Capitalia – "Presentation of Capitalia"
Rumen Simeonov, Director Directorate "Supervisory Policy and Methodology", Bulgarian National Bank
Yann Dautais, Manager, Experian-Scorex
Dr. Nikola Hristovich, Chairman, Investors Union

Moderator: Christo Michailovsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bulgarian Credit Rating Agency

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:00

Discussion Panel: Smart financial solutions for a flourishing SMEs sector

Catalin Cretu, Regional Director for Romania and Bulgaria , Visa International CEMEA
Athanassios Petropoulos, Executive Director and Member of the Management Board, Postbank
Angel Mateev, Head of Small Business Banking Division, Postbank
Stefan Vasilev, Manager of Credit center "Small, medium and micro business", United Bulgarian Bank
Andrew Jeffreys, CEO, Oxford Business Group

Moderator: Viktor Manev, Managing Partner, MM Consult Bulgaria

MAIN STREAM: The Business Experience of Greece in Bulgaria

Location: Hall 8

11:00 – 12:30

Discussion Panel : The Greek - Bulgarian business relations – development and perspectives

Hosted by: Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria

Christos Katsanis, Chairman of the Managing Board of HBCB, Executive Director, United Bulgarian Bank
Dr.Dimitrios Zomas, First Counselor Economic and Commercial Affairs, Embassy of The Republic of Greece
Stoyna Poromanska, Head of Greek Philology Department, Sofia University "Climent Ohridsky"
Vladimir Moskov, Mayor, Gotse Delchev , Bulgaria
Stamatis Theodoropoulos, Member of the Managing Board of HBCB, General Manager, Chipita

MAIN STREAM: Sustainable Energy Solutions and Renewable Energy Sources

Location: Hall 7

10:00 - 11:00

Discussion Panel:The path to energy intelligent economy - attracting investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources projects

Hosted by: BNP Paribas

Rumen Ovcharov, Minister of Economy and Energy, Republic of Bulgaria
Mgr. Vlatko Sekulovic, State Secretary, Ministry of International Economic Relations, Republic of Serbia
Ullrich-Gunther Schubert, CEO, BNP-Paribas Bulgaria AD
Philip Carlea, Chief of Cabinet of the Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Republic of Romania
Tomas Huner, Regional Manager for Bulgaria, CEZ
Tasko Ermenkov, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency Agency

Moderator: Tasko Ermenkov, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency Agency

11:00 - 11:15 Contact Break

11:15 - 12:30
Discussion panel: Development of integrated energy market

Representative, Ministry of Economy and Energy, Republic of Bulgaria
Atanas Marin, Manager, Dispatch Information Technologies, National Dispatching, National Electricity Company, Bulgaria
Eng. Aleksander Kojuharov, Director, CITYGAS Bulgaria EAD - " Basic Characteristics of Gas Distribution Region Trakia"
Koichiro Tsuchiya, Chief Representative, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Frankfurt Representative Office - "Financial support to renewable energy projects"
Hristo Hristov, Executive Director, Energy Institute AD, Bulgaria – "Opportunities for the business under the EU emissions trading scheme"