|
 It
is my great pleasure and indeed an
honour to have the opportunity today to be present at the opening
of the Third Business Forum of the Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation
of Enterprises. It is important to stress that today’s event is proof positive
of the will for countries in the wider geographical region to strengthen their
economic and commercial relations through the activation of institutional
entities such as the highly important UBCCE, the Chairmanship of which the
Hellenic Federation of Enterprises has held since March of 2009.
The
UBCCE was created for the purposes of collectively representing the business
communities of seventeen Black Sea and Caspian countries, as well as for the
promotion of business co-operation among their respective communities and, of
course, with the European Union. I consider this a highly significant tool that
will effectively contribute to the equal representation of its UBCCE members
within the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the European Commission and
other International Organisations.
I should also like to point out that the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises
assumed the Chairmanship of the UBCCE at an extremely crucial juncture in time,
with two major issues most prevalently dominating the global front, these being
the current financial crisis and the more long-standing effects of climate
change, both of which have brought about a far from negligible insecurity in
prevalent global conditions.
The tasks, therefore, with which SEV, the Hellenic
Federation of Enterprises, is confronted, difficult but essential to fulfill,
are the following:
·
to strengthen the collective voice of the private sector of
theUnion’s
member-states;
·
to
take advantage of all upcoming opportunities in a dynamically developing market
of more than 400 million people; and thirdly
·
to
promote common actions and initiatives aimed at expanding the co-operation
between and supporting the export-oriented gaze of the region’s
enterprises
The
objective of today’s Forum is for officials and high-ranking administrators from
International Organisations and Institutions to engage in the development of and
economic co-operation in the Black Sea region, along with business owners
themselves, and to begin discussions on upcoming novel investment and commercial
prospects through joining forces in creating opportunities by tackling the
future with realism, yet also optimism and insight.
Global
problems and the character of modern challenges, including climate change, food
security, poverty and immigration, among others, require the implementation of
co-ordinated solutions. Regional Organisations,
such as the Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBCCE)
and the Organisation
for Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC) in our region is a wonderful resource
tool which allows us to meet, in a comprehensive way, the regional challenges
that constantly emerge.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic is motivated in assisting this
effort. The will of the Greek Government is the development of our country’s
bilateral and multilateral relations with respective Governments of the area in
the promotion and implementation of a policy of development co-operation and
humanitarian aid which builds bridges across societies. Greece is a crossroads between Europe and Asia at
a point where three seas meet: the Caspian, the Black Sea and the Eastern
Mediterranean.
Greece’s
presence in the Caucasus and the Northern area of the Black Sea, which dates
back to ancient times, combined with the economic and commercial significance of
the area, necessitates and further justifies our aspiration to solidly implement
co-operation with all
neighbouring
countries.
Our
duty is to contribute to any and all efforts which aim toward overall
socio-economic development and the
creation and maintenance of prosperous conditions throughout the region.
One of the main priorities is the improvement of infrastructure. At this point,
I should like to say that Greece, moving ahead in this
direction, completed the “Egnatia Motorway” and is contributing to the upgrade
of the “Pan-European Corridor X” and to other important projects through the
Hellenic Development Fund. Furthermore, Greece supports the extension of the
“Motorways of the Sea at the BSEC Region”, which will connect the Black Sea
ports with the Aegean and Mediterranean ports, as well as the construction of
the “Black Sea Ring Highway”. These significant projects, implemented in the
framework of the BSEC, will establish the city of Thessaloniki as a nodal point of Trans-European transport
and trade and tourism networks, propelling the city to distinction as a
strategic hub of the Balkan
Peninsula for
transferring goods and services. Complementary to these initiatives is the added
dimension of the so-called ‘green’ development of the region, something which is
greatly needed and which can be promoted furthermore in the framework of both
the Joint Permanent Technical Secretariat for the Black Sea Ring Highway, based
in Thessaloniki, and the ad hoc Working
Group for the extension of the Motorways of the Sea.
I
should like furthermore to stress that Greece is committed to the enhancement of
co-operation with the European Union, through the establishment of “Black Sea
Partnerships” within the “Black Sea Synergy” process that aim to solve problems
requiring region-wide efforts and attention to the Black Sea area, as well as
through the new “Eastern Partnership” EU initiative which will enhance the
co-operation of partner countries with the EU.
These
initiatives were added to the matrix of regional co-operation frameworks in the
EUs neighborhood. It is becoming clear that regional Organisations,
in their interaction with other broader Organisations,
are increasing their own significance. Greece will have the chance to
advance this perspective during the Greek Chairmanship of the BSEC, which
commences on the 1st of June 2010, in
order to facilitate the
realisation
of regional initiatives.
I
should like also to add that the Greek Government pays a tremendous amount of
attention to environmental issues, provided that these environmental issues
transcend State borders. Green entrepreneurship can be a fruitful field of
co-operation between bordering countries in the region, so what is required here
is a common action plan with essential sharing of know-how and the realisation
of strategic infrastructures, such as the construction of large-scale wind farms
and photovoltaic power plants and the promotion of the usage of
biomass.
In
order, however, for all this to become successfully operational on the ground,
it is essential that efforts for the exploitation of investment and business
opportunities which arise in the region of the Black Sea be spearheaded by the businessmen themselves. They must take
advantage of business initiatives and promote business co-operation and relevant
agreements of their own accord. States and other Institutions will in turn help
to facilitate new business endeavors.
At this point I should like to
address Greek businessmen and encourage them to extend their prospects in the
markets of our broader region,
capitalising
on the positive image of Greece in the countries of the Black Sea and on the appreciable presence of their
respective Greek communities. They may rest assured that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, through its network of 62 Economic and Commercial Offices and all the
Greek Embassies abroad, will be their constant and close collaborator.
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