2021 Balkans to Asia Conference

The millennia-long economic ties between the Balkans and Asia

Agenda

Key speakers

The millennia-long economic ties between the Balkans and Asia

The economic relations between the Balkans and Asia begin with the dawn of civilization itself, when during the process of Neolitization, about 8000 years ago, agriculture, pottery, and city-living crossed the Aegean Sea from the Middle East into the Balkans and gradually spread across Europe.

The economic ties between Western Asia and Europe through the Balkans continued to flourish in the millennia to come. On the one side, Asia offered exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious items – gold jewelry, metal vessels, intricate glasswork, delicious spices, delightful perfumes, and vivid pigment. On the other hand, Europe offered raw materials, ores, timber, amber, and furs.

One of the most inspiring stories of overseas voyages and trade is that of the Phoenicians from the Levant, who during early antiquity traveled all along the Mediterranean, founding cities and trade emporia, and even reaching faraway Britain.

In the first centuries of the Common Era, traders from Qin or nowadays China established the famous Silk Road and exported the soft and smooth textile to Daqin i.e. the Great Qin, or, as we know it, the Roman Empire. In return, Chinese traders brought high-quality Roman ceramics and glasswork. Eventually, the silkworm was brought to the Byzantine Empire, the successors of Rome, which ruled over Asia Minor and the Balkans.

In the centuries to follow, the Silk Road became the most important trade route up to the Renaissance. Caravans traversing the route connected various peoples and countries from both Asia and Europe, bringing to them exotic goods from distant and unknown lands.

The Age of Exploration brought new opportunities for the traders of European states, which perilously sought and found the sea routes to the lands of India and the Far East, tapping into the already developed network of trade ports in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

Several centuries forward, Asia today is the world’s biggest economic powerhouse, with countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore offering great opportunities for economic collaboration for Europe and the developing countries of the Balkans.

At this year’s “Balkans to Asia” conference, our speakers will offer insight into the prospects of new economic opportunities and sustainable value chains between the Balkans and Asia, at the same time addressing the challenges for cooperation under emerging world realities and strategizing pathways for future Balkan – Asian business ties.

Agenda

25.11.2021 (12:00 – 15:15 CET)

Welcome Address (12:00-12:05 CET):

Conference organizers:

Hriday Sarma, PhD
Sasho Kjosev, PhD
Mr. Nelu Neacsu, MSc.

Opening speech (12:05-12:20 CET):

Mr. Henri MALOSSE, Former President of the European Economic and Social Council:

Topic: Economic benefits of closer economic cooperation between EU, Balkans and Asia

I. Prospecting New Economic Opportunities to create Sustainable Balkans-to-Asian Value Chains.

Mr. Zoran Martinovski (12:20-12:35 CET)
Topic: The Chinese economic agenda under the Belt and Road Initiative in the Western Balkans: Challenges and opportunities for the WB6 countries from the emerging economic linkages with China
Ms. Roxana Minzatu (12:35-12:50 CET)
Topic: Legislation, funding, evidence and study cases on social economy in Romania and the EU

Open Discussion (13:05 – 13:30 CET)

Moderator: Hriday Sarma

II. Addressing challenges for stakeholder collaboration under emerging new realities.

Amjad Ayoub (13:30 – 13:45 CET)
Topic: Prospecting New Economics Opportunities to create Sustainable Balkans-to-Asia Value Chains
Attila Galambos (13:45 – 14:00 CET)
Topic: Various dynamics in Asia-WB6 economic cooperation
Dumitru Tudor JIJIE (14:00 – 14:15 CET)
Topic: Linking Southeast Asia to Western Balkans – why and how EU should support it.
Hriday Sarma (14:15 – 14:30 CET)
Topic: Connecting opportunities in frontiers of Asia with the Western Balkans
Prof. Shahab Enam Khan (Time: 14:30 – 14:45 CET)
Topic: Prospects for Global Economic Partnerships in Bangladesh in the post-Covid 19 phase

Open Discussion (14:45 – 15:15 CET)

Moderator: Yelena Kalivach

26.11.2021 (12:00 – 14:30 CET)

III. Strategizing the pathway for Westerns Balkan to Asia business ties:

Arben Shkodra (12:00 – 12:15 CET)
Topic: Strategizing the pathway for Western Balkan to Asia business ties.
Darko Angelov (12:15 – 12:30 CET)
Topic: Making Geography Work for Increased Balkans and Asia Business Relationship: The Case for Logistics and Transport
Drilon Iseni (12:30 – 12:45 CET)
Topic: Overcoming trade barriers as a crucial process in penetrating the attractive Asian Market
Manish Kumar (12:45 – 13:00 CET)
Topic: Prospecting New Economics Opportunities to create Sustainable Balkans-to-Asia Value Chains
Pavel Ustiuzhaninov (13:00 – 13:15 CET)
Topic: Global Activities and Prospects for business cooperation with the Russia-China Chamber

Moderator: Courtney Weigal

Open Discussion (13:30 – 14:00 CET)

Wrap-up and Closing the Conference (14:00 – 14:30 CET)

Key speakers

EUROPEAN UNION

Mr. Henri MALOSSE, Former President of the 5th European institution (European Economic and Social Council):

Former President of the 5th European institution (European Economic and Social Council) and initiator/supporter of several participation to various pan European projects, including Corporate Social responsibility, Environment and Cooperation in the Mediterranean region
Honorary member of the European Academy of the Regions
Chairman and Founder of the French Lobbying Association of the EU and writer of bestsellers about EU funds. Experienced speaker and strategic adviser on EU- East Europe (including Russia); EU mechanisms and funds; Regional Policy (including islands) , EU institutions , French-German relations, EU Trade policy
Unique experience of the EU with a very broad “carnet d’adresses”
Professor in charge of European affairs by : Sciences-Po Paris -Executive Education; Universita Pasquale Paoli di Corsica; IRA Bastia; University of Kaunas, Economy World University of Sofia, ISEL Paris
Currently President of the Association Jean Monnet, historical association of collaborateurs and friends of the Father founder of Europe
Chairman of the famous (in the Balkans) Think tank, VocalEurope.eu
Lectures at different Universities, namely “Sciences Politiques” in Paris and University Pasquale Paoli of Corsica
Specialist of Eastern Europe and the Balkans

BALKANS

Mr. Zoran Martinovski, World Bank Group expert:

a development finance professional with specific emerging markets experience working for the International Finance Corporation for over 20 years.
World Bank Group expert in the area of PPP development (Public-Private Partnerships) and investment funds.
President of Prime Point Partners, a management consulting platform covering the Western Balkans region specializing in financial advisory services, PPPs in infrastructure and renewables sector as well as implementation of donor funded programs including business acceleration programs focusing in the green-tech sectors.
President of Supervisory Board of Tikvesh, the largest winery in Southeast Europe
Member of the Management Board of the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce
Previous working engagements with two Fortune 500 companies Philips Research (New York, USA) and Lexmark International (Lexington, USA).
MBA from the University of Kentucky and executive trainings from Harvard Kennedy School, INSEAD and Schulich, York University. A Ron Brown Fellowship Alumnus.
Former Chairman of Macedonia 2025 Investment Summit

Ms. Roxana Minzatu, former Minister for European Funds at the Government of Romania:

Former Minister of European Funds
Secretary of State in the Ministry of European Funds
President of the Romanian Agency for Public Procurement
Member in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies (Committee for Industry and Services, Committee for European Affairs)

Mr. Drilon Iseni, CEO, Chief Executive Officer at the Economic Chamber of Northwest Macedonia:

Master of Legal Sciences in the field of International Law at University of Amsterdam. Has professional experience as a consultant, researcher and legal expert in the civil and governmental sector, as well as in the business community. He’s engaged in the process of drafting and implementation of numerous projects in various fields and has participated in local, regional and global trainings. His areas of interest: developing the Chamber’s portfolio of services, networking with the representatives, diplomatic missions and donors in the country, managing projects and building partnerships with members of the Chamber.

Mr. Attila Galambos, Chair of the Western Balkan Committee of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

Economist, private company owner, experienced on foreign trade and investment, focusing on WB6, Far-East (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) and Cuba
Chairman of the Western Balkan Committee of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), Vice Chairman of the Committee of International Affaires of HCCI, Honorary Consul of North Macedonia to Hungary, 1st Honorary Representant of Football Association of Albania, permanent member of steering committee of Serbian-Hungarian framework Agreement on Infrastructure cooperation.

Mr. Darko Angelov, former Ambassador of North Macedonia to Hungary, Kazakhstanand Greece and Council of Europe program manager for Russia:

Darko Angelov is a diplomat, former ambassador of North Macedonia to Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Nigeria. His past work also includes that of a program manager and adviser for the Council of Europe and the OSCE on Russia and Southeast Europe. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the Central European University in Budapest and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Mr. Dumitru Tudor JIJIE, PhD, Associate professor, PhD, Director of the Centre for Balkan Studies, University Alexandru Ioan Cuza IAȘI – ROMANIA:

Romanian – Canadian MBA Bucharest (http://www.canadian-mba.ro/), associate professor for “Marketing Research” 2004 – 2008;
- Founder of Eastern Marketing Insights LTD (a marketing research company, http://www.eastmarketing.ro/en/) – since 2004;
- Executive Manager of the Euroregion “Siret-Prut-Nistru” (a Cross-Border Association acting within the framework of the European Convention for the Cross-Border Cooperation and the European Charter for Local Self-Governance), http://www.euroregiune.org/en/) 2013 – 2018;
- Short term expert in various programs dedicated to Eastern Vicinity, coordinated by GIZ or UNDP;
- Member of the Regional Consortium for Innovation in the North-East Region of Romania

Mr. Arben Shkodra, Secretary General position in Albanian Manufacturer Union:

Mr. Arben Shkodra has graduated at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Economy. For more than 11 (eleven) years, he held the position of the head of Department at the Albanian Prime Minister Office. During his career he held also some other parallel public positions such as: General Directorate for Patents and Trademarks; Head of the Authority for conflict of Interest of the Council of Ministers. He has been Vice President of Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Albania. Currently, he holds the Secretary General position in Albanian Manufacturer Union. As one of the most potential business organizations, it aims to support the Albanian industry, manufacturers as well as domestic production. Mr. Shkodra is also a member of the National Council for EU Integration, National Economic Council and National Committee for Trade Facilitation

ASIA

Mr. Manish Kumar, Deputy Director at Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):

International Business & Collaborations Expert
Public Speaker and Mentor
National Mission Manager, Ministry of Rural Development, India
Project Officer at UNDP

Mr. Pavel Ustiuzhaninov, Head of the Center for Strategic Development of the Russian-Chinese Chamber:

Business leader, innovator, and entrepreneur
Executive Secretary of the Russian-Iranian Working Group.
Executive Director of the International Biotechnological Forum “RosBioTech”
Head of the Development Department of Intergovernmental International Organization for Scientific, Technical and Information Cooperation ICSTI

Mr. Amjad Ayoub, Member of Board of Trustees of Al Hawash Private University and CEO SyriaSun, Syria:

Chairman of The Board at Madonna Cosmetics authority
A driven entrepreneur and executive with a track record of business success
CEO of Green Energy, Syria
General Manager Company of Al-Mashreq for Industry, Solar Panel Manufacturing Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Center for Singapore Studies at Shenzhen University
Vice President of The Citizenhood and Affiliation Party, Syria

Mr. Hriday Sarma, Founder & Team-Coordinator at Caucasus-Asia Center

Sustainability Professional with Extensive work experience in frontier markets
Co-founder of Relex Development (USA), a Blockchain based investments company
Fellow at South Asia Democratic Forum (Brussels)