Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 8 / Trend N.Ismayilova /
The First Eastern Partnership Business Forum will be organized in Sopot on Sept.30, as an event accompanying the official Eastern Partnership Summit, Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Michael Labenda told Trend.
The Eastern Partnership Business Forum is a joint initiative of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan, and is co-organized by BUSINESSEUROPE.
The Eastern Partnership Business Forum (EaP BF) will be a special event of the European Forum for New Ideas (EFNI), an international meeting for representatives of business communities, politics and academia and a debate on the role and future of Europe.
The goal of the EaP BF is to develop and present recommendations of business communities on the future development of the Eastern Partnership, specifically its economic and business dimensions. The Forum will also provide a platform for experience sharing, establishing business contacts and discussing investment opportunities and joint projects implemented by entrepreneurs and governments, within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
Two hundred participants from the EaP and the EU countries will attend the First Eastern Partnership Business Forum, including representatives of business communities, governments, the European Commission, and economic experts. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, have already confirmed their attendance. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Karel de Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade, are also expected to attend the Forum.
Henryka Bochniarz, President, PKPP Lewiatan; Vice President BUSINESSEUROPE, Philippe de Buck, Director General, BUSINESSEUROPE; Beata Stelmach, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland; Henri Malosse, President, Employers' Group, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) have already confirmed their participation in the plenary session. Otto Kentzler - President, German Confederation of Skilled Trades and Crafts; Ambassador Paweł Wojciechowski - Permanent Representative of Poland to the OECD; Representatives of SMEs from the EaP countries, EUROCHAMBRES, as well as representatives of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; European Investment Bank ; a bank from Georgia; Warsaw Stock Exchange; HSBC are excpected to attend the panel.
Participation in the plenary session of the Forum confirmed: Henrik Bohnyazh - President of Leviathan, "Philippe de Buck - Director General of the Confederation of European Business, Beata Stelmach - Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Henry Malossi - Chair of the Employers' European Economic and Social Committee. In sections will be attended by Otto Kentslera - Chairman of the Association of German craftsmen, Paul Voitekhovsky - permanent Representative of Poland to the OECD, representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European investment Bank, the Warsaw Stock Exchange, "Bank of Georgia" and businessmen from the Eastern partnership.
More information is available on the website of the European forum for new ideas www.efni.pl in the "Program".