The Bucharest Forum is an annual event, with the 2012 edition between 8-9 November at the Parliament Palace, which gathered over 400 foreign investors, representatives of the Romanian business sector, large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises and high-ranking officials. The Forum brought an important contribution to the debates on economic public policy formulation in Romania and the region. At the same time, it aimed at rebuilding and strengthening the trust of domestic and foreign, private and institutional partners, in the context of the latest political events and of a shattered political climate.

The forum’s topic was Europe’s Frontier Economies: Equity for a Long Term Growth and Stability Strategy for the Region and it created a relevant reflection opportunity and influential platform for regional economic agendas and ideas.

The forum overall serves as a blueprint for the expectations and needs for a functional return to sustainable growth. The end product is a Pact for the Economy, which represents a consensus between the representatives of the economic and political environments, on several jointly identified priority topics. The document comprises concrete proposals and an Action Plan proposed by the private sector to the incoming Romanian government and designed to accelerate the growth and development of the Romanian economy.
This landmark economic event is organized by the Aspen Institute Romania, with support from AOAR – Romanian Businessmen’s Association, FIC – Foreign Investors Council and AmCham – American Chamber of Commerce in Romania.

 

Agenda

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

08:30 – 09:00 Registration of participants and welcome coffee

09:00 – 09:30 OFFICIAL OPENING

Welcome remarks:
Mircea Geoana, President, Aspen Institute Romania, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Romanian Senate

Keynote Speeches:
Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania
Florin Pogonaru, Vice-president, Aspen Institute Romania, President, Businessmen Association of Romania
Sorin Mîndrutescu, President, American Chamber of Commerce in Romania, Managing Director, Oracle Romania
Vasile Iuga, Member of the Board and Treasurer, Aspen Institute Romania, Country Managing Partner – PwC Romania, Managing Partner – PwC SEE

09:45 – 10:00 “Evolution of Major Economy Indicators. A Consumer’s Perspective”, Marius Luican, General Manager, Reveal Marketing Research
“Comparative Macroeconomic Indicators of Romania. November 2012”, Andrei Radulescu, Senior Investment Analyst, Target Capital

10:00 – 10:15 COFFEE BREAK

10:15 – 11:45 PARALLEL WORKING GROUPS SESSION I

WORKING GROUP I: FINANCIAL AND FISCAL SECTOR, INVESTMENTS

Kick-off discussants:
Florin Georgescu, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Public Finance
Vincenzo Calla, Romania Country Head & Bucharest Branch CEO, BNP Paribas Romania
Sergiu Manea, Executive Vice President Treasury, Capital Markets and Group Large Corporates, Member of the Management Board, BCR
Manuel Costescu, Vice President, Global Public Sector Group, JP Morgan
Moderator: Florin Ilie, Director, ING Bank Romania

WORKING GROUP II: LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, HUMAN RESOURCES, TALENT MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION

Kick-off discussants:
Alina Dragan, Executive Vice-president on HR, UniCredit Tiriac Bank
Giuseppe Cangelosi, CEO, Pirelli Tyres Romania SRL
Dumitru Costin, President, The National Trade Union Block (BNS)
Sebastian Metz, General Manager, The German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Moderator: Bogdan Patriniche, Executive Director, Delphi Securities

11:45 – 12:00 COFFEE BREAK

12:00 – 13:30 PARALLEL WORKING GROUPS SESSION II

WORKING GROUP III: INNOVATION, INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Kick-off discussants:
Jihad Haidar, Vice President and Managing Director, Infineon Technologies
Octavian Buiu, Portfolio Manager, Sensors Lab Bucharest, HoneywellRomania SRL
Andrei Pitis, President, Employers’ Association of Software Industry and Services (ANIS)
Nic Voiculescu, Managing Partner, Link Resource
Moderator: Irina Anghel, Secretary General, South Eastern European Private Equity and VC Association (SEEPEA), Founder and CEO, Triple Helix

WORKING GROUP IV: INFRASTRUCTURE AND SECTORAL PRIORITIES

Kick-off discussants:
Roberto Musneci, Vice President, Aspen Institute Romania, Senior Partner, Serban and Musneci Associates
Werner Weihs-Raabl, Head of Infrastructure Finance, Erste Group
Robin Martens, President, Black Sea Gateway Association
Jean Valvis, CEO, Valvis Holding
Moderator: Radu Soviani, Editor, The Money Channel

13:30 – 14:30 LUNCH

14:30 – 16:00 WRITING SESSION

16:00 – 16:30 COFFEE BREAK

16:30 – 18:00 A PACT FOR THE ECONOMY

Panelists:
Valeriu Zgonea, President, Romanian Chamber of Deputies
Matei Balaita, Counselor, Ministry of Economy, Commerce and the Business Environment
Alexandra Gatej, Board Member, Aspen Institute Romania, CEO, Maldon & Wat

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9
International Conference

09:30 – 10:00 Registration of participants and welcome coffee

10:00 – 11:00 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OPENING

Welcome remarks:
Traian Basescu, President of Romania
Mugur Isarescu, Governor, National Bank of Romania
Eric Stewart, President, American – Romanian Business Council (AMRO)

11:00 – 11:30 COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – 13:00 SESSION 1: The European Backdrop and the Great Depression

The cost of growth – fiscal and monetary policy in the non-Euro economies of the EU. The specter of low employment economy: investment and competitiveness in the era of high sovereign risk.

Moderator: Giles Merritt, Secretary General, Friends of Europe
Panelists:
Tonny Lybek, The Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bulgaria and Romania
Lucian Cernat, Chief Economist and Trade Analysis, Trade DG, Directorate G – Trade Strategy and Analysis, Market Access, European Commission
Luca D’Agnese, President and CEO,Enel Romania
Cornel Ban, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Boston University, Visiting Scholar in International Studies, The Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University
Liviu Voinea, Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Finance

13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 – 15:30 SESSION 2: A Level Playing Field for Competitiveness

The Prague declaration and the World Forum for Governance lessons for the Euro periphery; the role of EU-US and private public cooperation in achieving a competitive business environment in the region

Moderator: Vasile Iuga, Member of the Board and Treasurer, Aspen Institute Romania, Country Managing Partner – PwC Romania, Managing Partner – PwC SEE
Panelists:
Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, Member of the Foreign Policy Committee, Chamber of Deputies
Steven van Groningen, President, Raiffeisen Bank, President, Foreign Investors Council
Daniel Barbu, Professor, Political Science Department, University of Bucharest
Madalin Niculeasa, Coordinator Attorney, Niculeasa Law Office Litigators Tax Regulatory
Daniel Badea, Managing Partner, Clifford Chance Badea
Bogdan Chiritoiu, President, Competition Council
Cristian Ghinea, Director, Romanian Center for European Policies

15:30 – 16:00 COFFEE BREAK

16:00 – 17:30 SESSION 3: US-EU Equity in Long Term Growth Strategies in the Region

Transversal solutions and sectorial priorities (energy, infrastructure, agriculture); regional opportunities – the New Silk Road strategy and economic implications for the Black Sea and Danube region.

Moderator: Andrei Tarnea, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Romania
Panelists:
H. E. Mark Gitenstein, US Ambassador to Romania
François Lafond, Executive Director, Aspen Institute France
Cristian Diaconescu, Presidential Advisor
Gruia Stoica, President of Romania-Kazakhstan Business Council, President, Grampet Group
Alina Inayeh, Executive Director, German Marshall Fund, Bucharest Office

17:30 – 18:00 CLOSING REMARKS

Mircea Geoana, President, Aspen Institute Romania, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Romanian Senate