BSTDB HOSTS A BLACK SEA BUSINESS DAY AND SIGNS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH RUSSIAN COUNCIL OF ASSOCIATIONS OF MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS
Press Release | 15-Apr-2000
On April 15, 2000 at Astir Palace hotel in Athens, BSTDB hosted a Black Sea Business Day on the occasion of its Second Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors. This dedicated one day conference focused on opportunities and prospects for trade and investment in the greater Black Sea region and gathered about 375 participants including high ranking government officials, heads of international financial institutions, as well as banks, industrial and trade companies active in the region. "Intracom", OTE (Greece) and National Bank of Greece supported the event.
Among speakers offering their views on investment risks and opportunities in the region were H.E. Mr. A. Shapovaliants, Minister of Economy of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. L.Barkhduryan, Minister of Finance of Armenia, H.E. Mr. M. Ukleba, Minister of State Property Management of Georgia, as well as Mr. R. Freeman, Co-President of Salomon Smith Barney, Mr. V. Rapanos, President of OTE (Greece), Mr. S. Ocak, President of Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye, Mr. T. Karatzas, Governor of National Bank of Greece, Mr J. Manos, Secretary General of Hellenic Bank Association, directors from Standard & Poor`s, Kroll Associates and Netherlands Credit Insurance Company.
Mr. L. E. Garcia, President of CAF, together with Ms S. Lamba of IFC, Mr. O. Descamps of EBRD, Mr. A.Steinherr of EIB and Mr. E. Dingstad of Nordic Investment Bank shared with the participants the IFI's experience in the area .
Prof. G. Pashko, National Coordinator for Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe of Albania, Mr. L. Anikeyev, First Deputy Chairman of VNESHTORGBANK (Russia), Mr. D. Dumitrache, Director General of Romanian Trade Promotion Center, Mr. F. Erginoglu, Vice President of Ram Dis Ticaret A.S. (Türkiye), as well as Mr. M.Aksin, Secretary General of the BSEC Business Council and Mr.Y. Papanikolaou, Director General of the International Center for Black Sea Studies spoke on trade development in the region.
BSTDB presented its project and trade financing strategies for the Black Sea area.
Mr. E.Volkan, President of BSTDB and Mr. A. Chernyshov, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Russian Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bank and Russian Council of Branch Associations of Manufacturers and Exporters. The document establishes a framework for cooperation between the two institutions and for the promotion of BSTDB activities in Russia.