BSTDB Hosts International Conference on Applied Economics and Finance
Knowledge exchange and international academic cooperation support sustainable development and economic resilience
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) hosted the in-person sessions of the 16th International Conference on Applied Economics and Finance (ICOAEF) at its headquarters in Thessaloniki, marking the third consecutive year that the Bank has welcomed the international academic event.
Organised in collaboration with Anadolu University (Türkiye), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), the conference brought together academics, researchers and practitioners from around the world to discuss emerging issues in economics and finance and to exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping economies and financial systems in the Black Sea region and beyond.
The opening session featured remarks by Prof. Hasan Murat Ertuğrul of Anadolu University, Prof. Dimitrios Kousenidis of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Prof. Nikolas Hourvouliades of the American College of Thessaloniki and Dr. Serhat Köksal, President of BSTDB.
In his remarks, Dr. Köksal underscored the importance of international cooperation and knowledge exchange in addressing increasingly complex economic and financial challenges.“Conferences such as this serve as critical platforms where academic research, policy perspectives and practical experience come together to offer solutions for the future,” Dr. Köksal said.
The conference programme covered a broad range of themes, including finance and banking, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, sustainability and the green economy, governance, environmental economics and economic development.
BSTDB’s continued support for the conference reflects the importance it attaches to international cooperation and evidence-based dialogue. By bringing together academic research, policy perspectives and practical experience, ICOAEF contributes to a deeper understanding of the economic, financial and sustainability challenges shaping the Black Sea region and beyond.
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.
