site.bta5th Sofia Economic Forum Has Wide-Ranging Agenda

The 5th Sofia Economic Forum is taking place at the Sofia Balkan Palace in the Bulgarian capital on Monday, January 20.

Тhe Sofia Economic Forum is a high-level meeting of influential Bulgarian and international political, corporate and intellectual leaders to address pressing challenges currently facing Bulgaria, Europe and the world. It provides an opportunity to identify and assess key growth challenges, learn from policy experiences in other countries, support the adoption of corporate social innovation practices in the private sector and identify a course of policy actions towards more competitive and inclusive economies in Bulgaria and South East Europe. The event is organized by the Delphi Economic Forum.

Notable speakers and guests of honour at the fifth installment of the forum include President Rumen Radev and current and former government ministers of Bulgaria, Greece's Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras, the ambassadors of Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Greece to Bulgaria, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria CEO Ivan Mihaylov, Confindustria Bulgaria President Roberto Santorelli, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Secretary General Michael Christides, Canadian Nuclear Association acting President and CEO George Christidis, Bulgaria's National Electricity Company CEO Martin Georgiev, World Bank Senior Economist Emilija Timmis and UN Refugee Agency Representative Seda Kuzucu.

The agenda of the 5th Sofia Economic Forum is as follows:

• Von der Leyen 2.0: The direction for the new European Commission in light of the Draghi report;
• Shifting paradigms: How does the new US administration plan to interact with the region?
• The dawn of a new era? Bulgaria’s long awaited entry to the Eurozone;
• Boosting Bulgaria’s economic competitiveness: Challenges and opportunities;
• The role of businesses in boosting European economic growth through investments in science, technology and innovation;
• Navigating the migration challenge: Bulgaria's perspective and the country’s European future;
• Scaling up with FDI: The status of the Bulgarian economy and the role of investments;
• Counting on energy: South East Europe’s chip for a seat at the global table;
• Vertical realignment: Infrastructure development in South East Europe as a bridge between South and North;
• Is the future circular? The circular economy as a blueprint for sustainable growth.