The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership:

SMEs Perspective

CONFERENCE

December 2nd, 2014, Sofi a

Conference

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: SMEs Perspective

Main partners:

With the support of:

Embassy of ItalySofi a

December 2nd, 2014, Sofia

2

Ag

en

da

Agenda

8:30-9:00 Registration & welcoming coff ee

09:00-11:00 Opening

Welcoming Remarks:Peter Lithgow, President, American Chamber of Commerce in BulgariaPietro Ghia, President, Confi ndustria Bulgaria

Opening Address: Meglena Kuneva, Deputy Minister for European Policy and Institutional Aff airsH.E. Marco Conticelli, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to BulgariaH.E. Marcie B. Ries, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria

Keynote Presentation: Christina Sevilla, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Small BusinessMarco Felisati, Deputy Director, International Aff airs, Confi ndustria

11:00-11:30 Coff ee Break

11:30-13:00 Session: The Transatlantic Economic Agenda: Opportunities and Incentives for SMEs

Moderator: Tsvetan Simeonov, President, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Panelists: Bozhidar Loukarski, Minister of Economy of the Republic of BulgariaLori Cooper, Senior Policy Advisor, Offi ce of European Union, U.S. Department of CommerceOgnian Zlatev, Head, Representation of the European Commission in BulgariaPetar Ganev, Senior Researcher, Institute for Market EconomicsAndrea Rigoni, President, Rigoni di Asiago Luca Donelli, Gruppo Donelli, International and European Relations, Confi ndustria Young Entrepreneurs Plamen Dilkov, Shareholder, Bulgaria Engineering

13:00-14:00 Networking Lunch

3

Пр

огр

ам

а

Програма

8:30-9:00 Регистрация & кафе

09:00-11:00 ОткриванеПитър Литгоу, Президент, Американска търговска камара в БългарияПиетро Гиа, Президент, Конфиндустрия България

Обръщения: Меглена Кунева, Заместник министър-председател по координация на европейските политики и институционалните въпросиН.Пр. Марко Контичели, Посланик на Италия в БългарияН.Пр. Марси Б. Рийс, Посланик на САЩ в България

Водещи презентации: Кристина Севия, Заместник-помощник търговски представител за малък и среден бизнес на САЩМарко Фелизати, Зам.-директор, Международни отношения, Конфиндустрия

11:00-11:30 Кафе пауза

11:30-13:00 Панел: Трансатлантическата икономика: Възможности и стимули за малкия и средния бизнес

Модератор: Цветан Симеонов, председател, Българска търговско-промишлена палата

Панелисти: Божидар Лукарски, Министър на икономиката на БългарияЛори Купър, Старши съветник, Отдел за ЕС към Департамента по търговия на САЩОгнян Златев, Ръководител, Представителство на Европейската комисия в БългарияПетър Ганев, Старши икономист, Институт за пазарна икономикаАндреа Ригони, Президент, Ригони ди Асиаго Лука Донели, Групо Донели, Международни отношения и отношения с ЕС, Конфиндустрия Млади предприемачиПламен Дилков, Акционер, България инженеринг

13:00-14:00 Обяд

4

Programma

8:30-9:00 Registrazione e caffè di benvenuto

09:00-11:00 Apertura dei lavoriPeter Lithgow, Presidente, Camera di Commercio Americana in BulgariaPietro Ghia, Presidente, Confindustria Bulgaria

Indirizzi di saluto delle autorità: Meglena Kuneva, Vice Primo Ministro per le Politiche Europee e gli Affari IstituzionaliS.E. Marco Conticelli, Ambasciatore d’Italia in BulgariaS.E. Marcie B. Ries, Ambasciatore degli Stati Uniti in Bulgaria

Presentazioni principali: Christina Sevilla, Vice Assistente alla Rappresentanza Commerciale Statunitense per le piccole impreseMarco Felisati, Vice Direttore, Affari Internazionali, Confindustria

11:00-11:30 Pausa caffè

11:30-13:00 Sessione: L’Agenda Economica Transatlantica: Opportunità e Incentivi per le PMI

Moderatore: Tsvetan Simeonov, Presidente, Camera di Commercio e dell’Industria Bulgara

Relatori: Bozhidar Loukarski, Ministro dell’Economia della Repubblica di BulgariaLori Cooper, Consigliere Politico Senior, Ufficio per l’Unione Europea, Dipartimento del Commercio degli Stati UnitiOgnian Zlatev, Direttore della Rappresentanza della Commissione Europea in BulgariaPetar Ganev, Ricercatore Senior, Istituto per l’Economia di MercatoAndrea Rigoni, Presidente, Rigoni di Asiago Luca Donelli, Gruppo Donelli, Relazioni Internazionali e Rapporti con l’Unione Europea, Confindustria Giovani ImprenditoriPlamen Dilkov, Bulgaria Engineering

13:00-14:00 Pranzo

Pro

gra

mm

a

December 2nd, 2014, Sofi a

5

Opening

Peter LithgowPresident, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria

Peter Lithgow is the Country Manager of AES in Bulgaria. Before relocating to the coun-try in 2006, he was leading AES business in Hungary, focusing upon its consolidation.Prior to joining AES, Peter worked in international project development, project execu-tion and operational management of assets in Europe and the US. He started his career in 1976 with Nuclear Electric, Great Britain and went through numerous assignments in the energy sector – from Plant Manager of West Burton Power and Drax Power Sta-

tion, through Project Manager with National power energy in Turkey to Vice President Operations and Mainte-nance at American National Power, USA.With over 30 years of experience in power project development and portfolio management, Peter possesses stra-tegic understanding of the issues facing the industry.Peter received a degree in Energy Technology from Aston University, Birmingham and holds ADP degree in Gen-eral Management from London Business School.In 2011 Peter was elected for President of American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and presently he continues heading Chamber’s activities in the country.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership:

SMEs Perspective

CONFERENCE

December 2nd, 2014, Sofi a

6

Op

en

ing

Pietro Luigi GhiaPresident, Confindustria Bulgaria

Pietro Ghia is CEO of 4 manufacturing companies in Bulgaria based in Plovdiv: Bulsafi l, Gruppo Caraglio, Bulltek and Zobele. These companies work in the textile, metalwork-ing, energy sector and production of health and personal care products. Furthermore he manages 20 more medium and small size companies in the region.He arrived in Bulgaria in 1991 when diff erent Italian companies appointed him to seek business opportunities in the country.

In 2011 Pietro Ghia was elected as President of Confi ndustria Bulgaria and presently he continues heading Associa-tion’s activities in Bulgaria. He is also a member of the board of Confi ndustria Balcani, Federation of the Italian business associations in the Balkans area founded in 2010.From 2004 to 2009, he was appointed as Honorary Consul of Italy in Plovdiv.

Meglena KunevaDeputy Minister for European Policy and Institutional Affairs

Meglena Kuneva graduated from the Faculty of Law at Sofi a University St Kliment Ohridski in 1981; awarded PhD in Law in 1984. She specialized in a number of universi-ties abroad: International Relations and Environmental Law at Georgetown University, Washington, USA, 1995 and 1999-2000; Human Rights at Human Rights Institute, Turku, Finnland, 1993; Environmental Law at Oxford, UK, 1996. In 1990, she took a job as a senior legal adviser at the Cabinet, which she held until

June 2001, when she was elected a member of Parliament in the 39th National Assembly. In August 2001, Kou-neva left Parliament because she has been appointed as a deputy minister and Bulgaria’s chief negotiator with the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. In May 2002 she was appointed Bulgaria’s fi rst Minister of European Aff airs. In December 2006, Kouneva was elected by the European Parliament as the European Commis-sioner in charge of Consumer Protection. She commenced her term of offi ce on January 1, 2007 when Bulgaria became an EU member country.On July 1, 2012 she was elected as a chairperson of the political party “ Bulgaria for Citizens Movement”.As of November 7, 2014 she is appointed as a Deputy Prime Minister for European coordination of policies and Institutional Aff airs.

7

Op

en

ing

H.E. Marco ConticelliAmbassador of the Republic of Italy to Bulgaria

Ambassador Conticelli arrived in Sofi a on the 3rd of September 2012. Carrier diplomat, he graduated in Political Science at the University of Florence in 1985 and joined the Foreign Offi ce in 1987. Prior to his appointment in Sofi a he has carried out various duties in Rome and abroad:

– Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Rome, Coordinator for EU Migration Policies (2011); – Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Rome, Head Justice and Home Aff airs, Department for European Union (2006); – Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva, Head Human Rights Section, 2002-2006); – Embassy of Italy in New Delhi (India), Head Economic and Commercial Section (1998-2002); – Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Rome, Department for Political Aff airs, 1995-1998) ; – Consul of Italy in Seville (Spain) on the occasion of the 1992 Universal Exhibition (1991-1995); – Embassy of Italy in Khartoum, Sudan, Deputy Head of Mission (1989-1991); – Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Rome, Department for Staff and Administration Aff airs (1987-1989).

H.E. Marcie B. RiesU.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria

Ambassador Ries is a senior Foreign Service Offi cer with thirty-four years of experi-ence in Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East. A specialist in national security and political-military matters, she has worked on UN and NATO issues, strategic arms control, as well as bilateral relations with Western Europe, the Balkans and Iraq.

Most recently, Ambassador Ries was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verifi cation and Compliance. In 2008-2009, she

was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Aff airs. In that capacity, she had responsibili-ty for offi ces dealing with relations with the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), the European Union (EU) and Western Europe, as well as strategic planning and personnel. From 2007-2008, Ambassador Ries was Minister-Counselor for Political-Military Aff airs in Baghdad, Iraq. She has also served as United States Ambassador to Albania (2005-2007); Chief of Mission, U.S. Offi ce Pristina, Kosovo (2003-2004); and Director, Offi ce of United Nations Political Aff airs (2001-2003).

Ambassador Ries’s experience abroad also includes service at the U.S. Embassy in London, four years at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels and tours in Turkey and the Dominican Republic.

Ambassador Ries is a graduate of Oberlin College and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

8

Op

en

ing

Christina SevillaDeputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business

Christina Sevilla is Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business at the Offi ce of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Executive Offi ce of the President. She develops and coordinates trade policy and outreach related to small and medium en-terprises for multilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements and initiatives. She is the U.S. lead negotiator on small and medium enterprises for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) with the European Union. She also works on the

National Export Initiative. Previously, she has been responsible for USTR’s private sector advisory committee sys-tem established by Congress and managed state and local government relations. She speaks around the country and abroad to private sector groups and other organizations regarding the U.S. trade agenda. Sevilla is also an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Aff airs. She has been a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow, a Krupp Foundation Fellow, and a Harvard Graduate Prize Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Aff airs. She received a Ph.D. in political science and international relations from Harvard University. Sevilla received a B.A. summa cum laude in political science from Boston College, graduating as Valedictorian of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Marco FelisatiDeputy Director, International Affairs, Confindustria

Marco Felisati has dealt with trade related-issues for over twenty years. He spent ten years in Brussels, at the Confi ndustria representation in Brussels in charge of the EU ex-ternal relations and at the European Commission, DG External Relations, in charge of economic cooperation with South and South East Asian Countries. Since 2002 he is in charge of international trade, trade policy and market access at the Confi ndustria head-quarter in Rome, where he is Deputy Director for Internationalization and Trade Policies.

He is a member of the International Aff airs Committee of the European Union of Employers’ Organizations – BUSI-NESSEUROPE, representative of Confi ndustria at the B20 Coalition, member of the European Consultative Commis-sion for Industrial Changes – CCMI of the Economic and Social Committee. Confi ndustria is the largest Italian business organization representing companies of all sizes and sectors. Deeply committed in international economic governance and in trade related matters to ensure a sound and balanced framework of principles and regulations for free market access and fair competition at global level. Education – Graduated in Political Sciences (Bologna University, Italy) – Visiting MA Banking and Finance (Bangor University, New Wales - UK) – Post-graduate School of Banking Disciplines (Siena University, Italy) – Post-graduate Diploma in European Aff airs (ISTUD, Rome, Italy) – Post-graduate Diploma in International Careers (SIOI, Rome, Italy).

9

Bozhidar LoukarskiMinister of Economy of the Republic of Bulgaria

Мr. Loukarsky was a chairman of “SDS” (“Union of Democratic Forces”) Political Party. He was also a chairman of the Control Board of “SDS” during the period 2010 - 2013.

He graduated from “Constantine-Cyril The Philosopher” National High School of Ancient Languages and Culture” in 1991. He has a Master’s degree in Law from Sofi a University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

During the period 1998 – 2002 he held the position of legal adviser in Privatization Agency/Agency of Post-Privatization Agency.

During the period 2002 – 2003 he was a Chief Secretary of “Mladost” District in Stolichna (Capital city) Municipality.

Throughout the period 2003 to 2007 he was a Deputy Mayor of “Mladost” District in Stolichna (Capital city) Mu-nicipality.

Since 2008 he has been a freelance lawyer at Sofi a Bar Association. He is fl uent in English, German, Russian and Serbian languages.

He was elected Minister of Economy on 7 November 2014.

The Transatlantic Economic Agenda: Opportunities and Incentives for SMEs

Tsvetan SimeonovPresident, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Tsvetan (Atanasov) Simeonov was born in Bulgaria /2 March 1955/ and has studied Law in Sofi a University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. He graduated in 1979 getting a M.A Degree in Law. His post graduate qualifi cations include International Arbitration and Commercial Law. He also specialized in Labour Law and Social Relations at the Interna-tional Training Centre of the International Labour Organization, Turin.

Apart from his native Bulgarian, he speaks English and Russian fl uently and basic Spanish.

Tsvetan Simeonov, aged 59, has been working at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 30 years now, starting his professional experience as a specialist-jurist in various departments of the Chamber such as the Trade Register Directorate, Law Department etc.

He was elected BCCI President in June 2009. He is a member of the following national and international pro-fessional bodies: Employers’ delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria with the International Labour Organization-Geneva, Board of Directors of the Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAM-BRES - Brussels), Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Business Council (BSEC BC) as well as the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation at the Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Council, President of the Board of GS1 – Bulgaria, Arbitrator at BCCI Arbitration Court etc.

The

Tran

satla

ntic E

con

om

ic Ag

en

da

: Op

po

rtun

ities a

nd

Ince

ntiv

es fo

r SM

Es

10

The

Tran

satla

ntic E

con

om

ic Ag

en

da

: Op

po

rtun

ities a

nd

Ince

ntiv

es fo

r SM

Es

Lori CooperSenior Policy Advisor, Office of European Union, U.S. Department of Commerce

Lori Cooper serves as Senior Policy Advisor in the Offi ce of the European Union, within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA). A career federal government policymaker, Ms. Cooper specializes in developing innovative ap-proaches for government-to-government cooperation in support of Small and Me-dium Enterprises (SMEs) doing business in the transatlantic market.

Ms. Cooper currently leads the Commerce Department’s SME Team in negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). In 2012, she spearheaded negotiation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation between ITA and the European Commission’s Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). Through support for SMEs, the MOU is geared to enhance exports and job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation and in-vestment. The MOU provides much of the practical SME cooperation experience that will serve as the foundation for SME cooperation under the TTIP. In 2011, Ms. Cooper collaborated with colleagues at the United States Trade Representative (USTR), to launch the U.S.-EU SME Best Practices Exchange Workshop, a series of semi-annual exchanges in Brussels and in Washington, to share information on SME support programs.

Ms. Cooper received her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, is a member of the Ohio Bar, and graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in International Relations and French.

Ognian ZlatevHead, Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria

Ognian Zlatev is the Head of the European Commission Representation in Sofi a as from 1st May 2013.

He joined the European Commission as Head of Communications Unit of DG Employ-ment, Social Aff airs and Inclusion in December 2011.

He has over twenty years of professional experience in communication, media devel-opment and NGO management. His assignments took him to a number of transition

societies and environments across the World (South-East Europe and Western Balkans, Southern Caucasus, Cen-tral Asia, Middle East) where he worked as a consultant for international institutions (UNESCO, OSCE, The World Bank) and media (BBC).

Before joining the European Commission, Ognian Zlatev served as Member of the Managing Board of the Bul-garian National Television (the Public Service broadcaster). Prior to that he founded and managed the Media Development Center in Bulgaria. He was a lecturer at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Republic of Bulgaria and Director of the Information Centre for the Open Society Institute in Sofi a.

11

Andrea RigoniPresident, Rigoni di Asiago

Andrea Rigoni serves as the Chief Executive Offi cer of Rigoni di Asiago Srl, a family-owned company that produces and commercializes products from organic agriculture (Honey, Jams, Chocolate spreads).

Mr. Rigoni starts his career in the family company Distilleria Dall’Olio Snc owned by his father and uncles.

In 1979 established - along with his brothers Antonio and Paolo and with the cousin Ma-rio – the company Apicoltura Rigoni Snc dedicated to the production of honey.

In 1996 the company enjoyed constant growth and starts an international business development with premises in Bulgaria and from 1997 distributes the complete product range in the USA.

Following this growth the company chose to open its stock capital to public entities such as Sviluppo Italia, Veneto Sviluppo, Simest, Finest e F.I.I. (Fondo Italiano di Investimento).

Appointed by the European Commission, Mr. Rigoni is a member of “High Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain”.

In 2009 Mr. Rigoni received a prize in the “Quality of life” category of the National Businessman of the Year Award, promoted by Ernst & Young

Petar GanevSenior Researcher, Institute for Market Economics

Petar Ganev is a senior economist at the Institute for Market Economics (IME) in Sofi a.

Mr. Ganev studied Macroeconomics at the University of National and World Econo-my (Sofi a) and joined IME in the beginning of 2007. His interests are in the fi elds of economic growth and the business cycle, fi scal policy and the role of government, free markets and inequality. He is also studying the history of the Austrian School of Economics.

Mr. Ganev is a board member of the Bulgarian Macroeconomic Association and author of numerous articles in Bulgarian media. He is also responsible for the educational initiatives of IME.

The

Tran

satla

ntic E

con

om

ic Ag

en

da

: Op

po

rtun

ities a

nd

Ince

ntiv

es fo

r SM

Es

Op

en

ing

Luca DonelliGruppo Donelli, International and European Relations, Confindustria Young Entrepreneurs

Luca Donelli graduated in International Economics and Management at Bocconi Uni-versity in Milan. After an experience in McKinsey&Co. as a Business Analyst, Luca has started working on his family business, incorporated in 1911 and specialized in coat-ing, maintenance & fi nishing services for Oil&Gas, industrial plants and building con-struction.

Luca joined Confi ndustria Y.E. Alto Milanese Chapter, where he has held the VP position and he is now President. As part of the International Relations Committee, Luca has contributed to the establishment of MAME YE Net-work, a network of Young Entrepreneurs of Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East. From 2011 to 2014 he served as Sherpa of the Italian delegation at G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (@G20_YEA). He has recently joined the Confi ndustria Young Entrepreneurs Presidency team in charge of “International and European Rela-tions – Strategic Alliances”.

He is reshaping part of the concept of the company through internationalization, establishing branches in the Balkans, and innovation, introducing energy saving services and more environmentally friendly technologies. His next challenge is to further introduce and promote the use of an innovative technology, already identifi ed and currently being tested, which would revolutionize the way the company carries out maintenance projects off shore.

Plamen DilkovShareholder, Bulgaria Engineering

Plamen Dilkov graduated in Civil engineering (construction department) at the Uni-versity of Trento, Italy. Bulgaria Engineering is a company specialized in energy effi ciency, engineering and project management; in particular it refers to construction of hydro-power plants and mini hydro-power plants, including special civil works such as foundations and ground consolidation treatments.

Furthermore in 2010 Mr. Dilkov was appointed as CEO of Vez Svoge JSC and CEO of PVB Power Bulgaria.Mr. Dilkov is a member (academician) of the International Academy of Ecology and Life protection sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. In March 2011 he was elected as Vice-Chairman and Member of Board of Directors of “Alliance of the producers of ecological energy – BG”. As of November 2013 Mr. Dilkov is Deputy Chairman of Confi ndustria Bulgaria. In October 2013 he was elected as Member of the Board of Directors of CEDEC -European Federation of Local Energy Companies as Vice-Chairman of Alliance of the Producers of Ecological Energy – BG.

12

10 Reasons to Support the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

1. Economic GrowthAccording to estimates, TTIP can boost the transatlantic economy’s GDP between 1.5 and 3.5 percent.

2. Increase in Foreign TradeTTIP will significantly increase foreign trade between the EU and the US.

3. Chance to Set Global Standards in Industry and ServicesCommon standards will improve the position of the trans-atlantic partners in regard to global trade.

4. Strengthening Innovation PotentialInnovation is a key driver for growth. A comprehensive TTIP will further strengthen innovation, research and de-velopment.

5. More Labor MobilityA comprehensive agreement can significantly influence the mobility of skilled and specialized professionals, thereby counteracting the shortage of skilled workers on both sides of the Atlantic.

6. Sustainable Job CreationResearch has shown that increases in exports and new investment opportunities can create roughly 400 000 new jobs in the EU and 750 000 new jobs in the US.

7. Investment BoostTTIP will create new opportunities and incentives for com-panies to invest in the transatlantic marketplace.

8. Prosperity Gains for EveryoneExisting free trade agreements show that comprehen-sive trade liberalization generates long-term economic growth for partner states.

9. Increase in CompetitivenessThe EU and the US can expand their position in interna-tional trade as the driving forces of the global economy.

10. Deepening of Transatlantic ValuesThe transatlantic relationship that is based on trust, trans-parency and common principles will be further strength-ened.

American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria

Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area, Building 2, Floor 6, 1766 Sofia, Bulgaria Phone: +359 2 9 742 743/4/5, Fax: +359 2 9 742 741, E-mail: amcham@amcham.bg

www.amcham.bg

Confindustria Bulgaria

Sofia 1040, 36, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., office 409 B

Tel: 00359/2969/3006; Fax: 00359/2969/3007 segreteria@confindustriabulgaria.bg

www.confindustriabulgaria.bg