DAY 1, Monday, September 6, 2021
DAY 1, Monday, September 6, 2021
11:30-12:00
12:00-12:30
Mr. Fatmir Besimi
Minister of Finance, Republic of North Macedonia
Mr. Zoran Zaev
Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia
11:30-12:00
12:00-12:30
Mr. Fatmir Besimi – Minister of Finance of the Republic of North Macedonia
Mr. Zoran Zaev – Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia
12:30-14:00
Global growth prospects remain highly uncertain even in 2021. International financial institutions forecast divergent recoveries across the globe. The anticipated vaccine-driven recovery is likely to lift personal consumption and investment in the second half of 2021. What are the scars from the pandemic-induced recession? Which policies limit economic scarring? What are the global and regional prospects of recovery and growth for 2022? How can policies best support growth? What are the main challenges for maintaining security in a changing world?
Ms. Anna Bjerde
Vice President, Europe and Central Asia,World Bank
Ms. Radmila Shekerinska
Minister of Defense
Mr. Artan Grubi
First Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Political System and Relations Between Communities
H.E. Ms. Kate Marie Byrnes
Ambassador of the United States of America
Mr. Haoliang Xu
Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and
Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
Ms. Majlinda Bregu
RCC Secretary General
Mr. Andrew White
Associate Dean for External Relations,
Said Business School, Oxford University
Moderator:
Mr. Walter Deffaa, Economic Policy Advisor for the Prime Minister’s Office
Written summary by:
Academic Abdulmenaf Bexheti, Rector of South East European University
12:30-14:00
Panel 1: Global and Regional Challenges and Prospects of Recovery and Growth
Global Global growth prospects remain highly uncertain even in 2021. International financial institutions forecast divergent recoveries across the globe. The anticipated vaccine-driven recovery is likely to lift personal consumption and investment in the second half of 2021. What are the scars from the pandemic-induced recession? Which policies limit economic scarring? What are the global and regional prospects of recovery and growth for 2022? How can policies best support growth? What are the main challenges for maintaining security in a changing world?
Speakers
Ms. Anna Bjerde – Vice President, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank
Mr. Artan Grubi – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Political System and Relations between Communities
Mr. Haoliang Xu – Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP
Ms. Radmila Sekerinska – Minister of Defense
Ms. H.E. Kate Marie Byrnes – Ambassador of the United States of America
Ms. Majlinda Bregu – RCC Secretary General
Mr. Andrew White –Associate Dean for External Relations, Said Business School, Oxford University
Moderator: Mr. Walter Deffaa, Economic Policy Advisor for the Prime Minister’s Office Discussion
Written summary by: Academic Abdulmenaf Bexheti, Rector of South East European University
14:00-15:00
Lunch
Special address by:
Parliamentary Finances and Budget Committee
Mr. Timco Mucunski
Mr. Arber Ademi
Mr. Elmi Aziri
Mr. Dime Velkovski
14:00-15:00
Lunch
Special address by:
Parliamentary Finances and Budget Comittee
Mr. Timco Mucunski
Mr. Arber Ademi
Mr. Elmi Aziri
Mr. Dare Velkovski
15:00-16:30
Fiscal and monetary policies were and still are essential in addressing the crisis and paving the economic recovery. Which types of fiscal and monetary interventions helped businesses and jobs? What are the risks associated with a premature withdrawal of fiscal stimulus measures? How can countries balance the need of supporting the economy in the post-pandemic world with rebuilding fiscal buffers? What are the main challenges for the monetary authorities? How can central banks balance the need to stabilize markets with the potential for moral hazard? Is the recent increase in inflation driven by global factors and only temporary? Will central banks be confronted with a rise of non-performing loans? Can structural and institutional reforms regain dominance in near future?
Mr. Fatmir Besimi
Minister of Finance
Mr. Alfred Kammer
European Department Director, IMF
Mr. Hekuran Murati
Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfer
Ms. Linda Van Gelder
Regional Director for Western Balkans, WB
Mr. Milojko Spajic
Minister of Finance and Social Welfare
Ms. Anita Angelovska – Bezhoska
Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia
Mr. Besart Kadia
Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance
Mr. Timco Mucunski
Chairman of the Parliamentary Finances and Budget Committee
Moderator:
Mr. Freek Janmaat, Head of Section for Economic Issues, Institution Building and CBC, DEU
Written summary by:
Mr. Dimitar Kovachevski, Deputy Minister of Finance
15:00-16:30
Fiscal and monetary policies were and still are essential in addressing the crisis and paving the economic recovery. Which types of fiscal and monetary interventions helped businesses and jobs? What are the risks associated with a premature withdrawal of fiscal stimulus measures? How can countries balance the need of supporting the economy in the post-pandemic world with rebuilding fiscal buffers? What are the main challenges for the monetary authorities? How can central banks balance the need to stabilize markets with the potential for moral hazard? Is the recent increase in inflation driven by global factors and only temporary? Will central banks be confronted with a rise of non-performing loans? Can structural and institutional reforms regain dominance in near future?
Mr. Fatmir Besimi – Minister of Finance
Mr. Hekuran Murati – Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfer
Mr. Milojko Spajic – Minister of Finance and Social Welfare
Mr. Besart Kadia – Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance
Mr. Alfred Kammer – European Department Director, IMF
Ms. Linda Van Gelder – WB Regional Director for Western Balkans
Ms. Anita Angelovska Bezoska – Governor
Mr. Timco Mucunski – Member of Parliament
Moderator: Mr. Freek Janmaat, Head of Section for Economic Issues, Institution Building and CBC, DEU
Written summary by: Mr. Dimitar Kovachevski, Deputy Minister of Finance
16:30-17:00
Coffee break
16:30-17:00
Coffee break
17:00-18:30
Apart from the health-crisis response, the speed of recovery and economic growth also depends on the pace of structural and institutional reforms. How can the governance framework and the institutional capacity be improved? What are the main challenges in the areas of rule of law, control of corruption, and political stability? Which policies to be implemented to ensure social cohesion and inclusive prosperity? How to increase the extent of trust in government and within society? How to focus on shared values and commonalities that bind the society across internal lines of division?
Mr. Ljupco Nikolovski
Deputy Prime Minister for Anti-Corruption and Crime,
Sustainable Development and Human Resources
Mr. Bojan Marichic
Minister of Justice
Mr. Koen Davidse
Executive Director, World Bank Group
Ms. Barbara Kolm
President of the Hayek Institute, Director of the Austrian Economics Center and Vice President of the Austrian Central Bank
Mr. Oliver Spasovski
Minister of Internal Affairs
H.E. Mr. David Geer
Head of Delegation of the European Union
H.E. Ms. Rachel Galloway
British Ambassador to North Macedonia
Moderator:
Mr. Dragan Tilev, State Counsellor, Secretariat for European Affairs
Written summary by:
Mr. Nikola Popovski, FON University
17:00-18:30
Mr. Ljupco Nikolovski – Vice President for Anti-Corruption and Crime, Sustainable Development and Human Resources
Mr. Koen Davidse – Executive Director, World Bank Group
Mr. Oliver Spasovski – Minister of Internal Affairs
Mr. Bojan Marichic – Minister of Justice
Ms. Barbara Kolm – President of the Hayek Institute, Director of the Austrian Economics Center and Vice President of the Austrian Central Bank
H.E. Mr. David Geer – Head of Delegation of the European Union
H.E. Ms. Rachel Galloway – British Ambassador to North Macedonia
Moderator: Mr. Dragan Tilev, State Counsellor, Secretariat for European Affairs
Written summary by: Mr. Nikola Popovski, FON University
DAY 2, Tuesday, September 7, 2021
DAY 2, Tuesday, September 7, 2021
09:00-09:20
09:00-09:20
09:20-09:40
Mr. Petre Shilegov
Mayor of Skopje
09:20-09:40
Mr. Petre Shilegov – Mayor of Skopje
Mr. Stevo Pendarovski
President of the Republic of North Macedonia
Mr. Stevo Pendarovski – President of the Republic of North Macedonia
09:40-11:10
Modern governments recognize that public investment, public guarantee schemes, and publicly available funds from official creditors can stimulate larger investment demand. The financing of recovery and growth would be faster and more resilient if the private capital is mobilized. What are the main enables of private investment? What about private investment in climate adaptation and resilience through removing barriers to investment and blueprint for action? The European Green Deal for instance is very ambitious. It would not be fair to put the burden only on the Government expenditure, especially considering the strain on budgets from the pandemic and the guidance to stay within the parameters of the Maastricht criteria. What are the possibilities for greater private sector involvement?
Mr. Fatmir Bytyqi
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, coordination of economic departments and investments
Mr. Ary Naim
Regional Manager, Central and Southeast Europe, IFC
Мr. Jürgen Rigterink
EBRD First Vice President
Mr. Branko Azeski
President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
Мs. Lilyana Pavlova
VP of the European Investment Bank
Ms. Danela Arsovska
President of the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce
Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi
Minister of Economy
Mr. Nebi Hoxha
President of Economic Chamber of North West Macedonia
Mr. Blagoj Bochvarski
Minister of Transport and Communications
Moderator:
Mr. Aris Vlahos, Chairman of the Hellenic Business Association in North Macedonia
Written summary by:
Mr. Trajko Slaveski, PhD, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
09:40-11:10
Panel 4: Public and Private Investments and Competitiveness
Speakers
Mr. Fatmir Bytyqi – Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, coordination of economic departments and investments
Мr. Jürgen Rigterink – EBRD First VP and Head of Client Services Group
Мs. Lilyana Pavlova – VP of the European Investment Bank
Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi – Minister of Economy
Mr. Blagoj Bochvarski – Minister of Transport and Communications
Mr. Ary Naim – Regional Manager, Central and Southeast Europe, IFC
Mr. Branko Azeski – President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
Ms. Danela Arsovska – President of the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce
Mr. Nebi Hoxha – President of ECHNWM
Moderator: Mr. Aris Vlahos, Chairman of the Hellenic Business Association in North Macedonia
Written summary by: Mr. Trajko Slaveski, University of “St. Cyril and Methodius”
11:10-11:30
Coffee break
11:10-11:30
Coffee break
11:30-13:00
Many businesses will recover, but can the recovery be steered towards a green economy? How can societies speed up digitization? Which environmental-related investment would be attractive in near future? How can businesses support the Green Agenda and climate resilience? Which tax regimes or Government expenditure programs could speed up the digitization and greening of the economies? What structural reforms are necessary to attract more private investments? Is there a greater role to be played by the international donors? How can we increase the absorption capacity of donor-financed investments in the two areas? Are Public-Private Partnerships a viable solution? What are the expectations of domestic and foreign private investors on legislative frameworks, challenges to making PPPs work etc.? Which sectors could be attractive for PPPs (health, transport, energy…)?
Mr. Paolo Gentiloni
European Commissioner for Economy
Mr. Jeton Shaqiri
Minister of Information Society and Administration
Mr. Paul Hilbers
Executive director, International Monetary Fund
Mr. Arjanit Hoxha
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
Mr. Massimiliano Paolucci
World Bank, Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia
Ms. Olga Sclovscaia
Regional Head, Europe and Central Asia, MIGA
Mr. Naser Nuredini
Minister of Environment and Physical Planning
Ms. Narine Sahakyan
Resident Representative UNDP North Macedonia
Moderator:
Mr. Iraj Hashi, Staffordshire University
Written summary by:
Mr. Gligor Bishev, PhD, CEO, Sparkasse Bank
11:30-13:00
Mr. Paolo Gentiloni – European Commissioner for Economy
Mr. Paul Hilbers – Executive director, International Monetary Fund
Mr. Massimiliano Paolucci – World Bank, Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia
Mr. Naser Nuredini – Minister of Environment and Physical Planning
Mr. Jeton Shaqiri – Minister of Information Society and Administration
Mr. Arjanit Hoxha – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
Ms. Olga Sclovscaia – Regional Head, Europe and Central Asia, MIGA
Ms. Narine Sahakyan – Resident Representative UNDP North Macedonia
Moderator: Mr. Iraj Hashi, Staffordshire University
Written summary by: Mr. Gligor Bishev, PhD, CEO, Sparkasse Bank
13:00-14:00
Lunch
Special address by:
Foreign Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Maja Filipceva
AmCham
Mr. Ajdovan Ademoski
Macedonia Turkey Chamber of Commerce, MATTO
Mr. Stefan Peter
Foreign Investors Council
Ms. Maja Stevkova Shterieva
Macedonian Banking Association
Mr. Patrick Martens
German Industry and Commerce in North Macedonia
13:00-14:00
Lunch
Special address by:
Foreign Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Maja Filipceva – AmCham
Mr. Stefan Peter – Foreign Investors Council
Mr. Ajdovan Ademoski – Macedonia Turkey Chamber of Commerce, MATTO
Ms.Maja Stevkova Shterieva – Macedonian Banking Association
Mr. Patrick Martens – German Industry and Commerce in North Macedonia
14:00-15:30
Mr. Rolf Wenzel
Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank
Mr. Goran Milevski
Minister of Local Self-Government
Mr. Bujar Osmani
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ms. Irena Stefoska
Minister of Culture
Mr. Venko Filipce
Minister of Health
Mr. Harry Patrinos
Practice Manager for Education-Europa and Central Asia, World Bank
Ms. Mila Carovska
Minister of Education and Science
Mr. Jamele Rigolini
Program Leader for Human Development – Western Balkans (presentation)
Moderator:
Ms. Nina Fiti, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Republic of North Macedonia
Written summary by:
Mr. Zoran Jovanovski, VP, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
14:00-15:30
Mr. Rolf Wenzel – Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank
Mr. Bujar Osmani – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Venko Filipce – Minister of Health
Ms. Mila Carovska – Minister of Education and Science
Mr. Goran Milevski –Minister of Local Self-Government
Ms. Irena Stefoska – Minister of Culture
Mr. Harry Patrinos – Practice Manager for Education-Europa and Central Asia, World Bank
Mr. Jamele Rigolini – Program Leader for Human Development – Western Balkans (presentation)
Moderator: Ms. Nina Fiti, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Republic of North Macedonia
Written summary by: Mr. Zoran Jovanovski, VP, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
Mr. Fatmir Besimi
Minister of Finance
Mr. Trajko Slaveski
University “St. Cyril and Methodius”
Academic Abdulmenaf Bexheti
Rector of South East European University
Mr. Gligor Bishev
CEO, Sparkasse Bank
Mr. Dimitar Kovacevski
Deputy Minister of Finance
Mr. Zoran Jovanovski
VP, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
Mr. Nikola Popovski
FON University
Ms. Jelena Tast
State Secretary
Mr. Vladimir Gligorov
WIIW
Mr. Fatmir Besimi – Minister of Finance
Mr. Dimitar Kovacevski – Deputy Minister of Finance
Ms. Jelena Tast – State Secretary
Academic Abdulmenaf Bexheti – Rector of South East European University
Mr. Nikola Popovski – FON University
Mr. Trajko Slaveski – University “St. Cyril and Methodius”
Mr. Gligor Bishev – CEO, Sparkasse Bank
Mr. Zoran Jovanovski – VP, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
Mr. Vladimir Gligorov – WIIW
