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Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum (BBSF) begins in Serres

Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum (BBSF) begins in Serres

The first-ever Balkans & Black Sea Cooperation Forum (BBSF) kicked off on Thursday in the northern Greek city of Serres, with participants including top EU officials, representatives of institutional bodies in SE Europe and the Black Sea region, along with officials from international organizations, diplomats, corporate executives and academics.

The two-day forum will focus on a series of major international and regional issues.

In his opening remark, GEO Routes Cultural Institute president Yannis Balakakis noted that tensions around the wider region, the ubiquitous deliberations over the allocation and management of natural resources as well as recent geopolitical developments render Greece as an interesting area within the wider region.

"This forum aims to develop policies and to promote new partnerships and business plans," he said.

In greeting participants and in opening the forum, the deputy regional governor of Serres prefecture, Yannis Moisidis, referred to a milestone for the area, while adding that the intent of all parties involved is to transform the forum into an institution for the city of Serres.

The forum is organized by the Geo Routes Cultural Institute (GRCI), and is held under the auspices of various international, European and Black Sea region organizations, in cooperation with the Serres regional unit.

BBSF's official partner is the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization, whereas strategic partners are the European Bank Federation (EBF), the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR).

Speakers at the forum, among others, are BSTDB president of Ihsan Ugur Delikanli, EBF Chief Executive Wim Mijs and CPMR director of transports Patrick Anvroin.

Developments in the energy sector in the wider region, the role of women in leadership and top management positions, new agricultural and environmental trends as well as cultural and sustainable tourism models will be discussed.

Cultural tourism as a key for sustainable development, based on the UN's 2015 proclamation for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, is one of the central themes for this week's inaugural BBSF.

The event is supported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) and its affiliated Praktoreio 104.9 FM radio station.

Source: APE-MPE