US-Albania Investment Forum, September 2011

On 19th September 2011, at 3 West Club, New York, Developing Markets Associates in conjunction with the Consul General of Albania in New York hosted the US-Albania Investment Forum 2011. This landmark event was attended by close to 300 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The Forum was officially opened by Tony Podesta, President and CEO, Podesta Group and Eneida Guria, Director, Albanian Investment and Development Agency (AIDA) who introduced HE Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of Albania, who gave a keynote address to the conference.

The conference was further addressed by senior government ministers such as Hon Edmond Haxhinasto, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Suzana Guxholli, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and Hon Aldo Bumci, Minister of Tourism, Culture,Youth and Sports; as well as Ardian Fullani, Governor, Bank of Albania, Suzana Guxholli, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and HE Dritan Mishto, Consul General of Albaniain New York, amongst others. From the private sector, the conference was addressed by distinguished representatives such as Christian Canacaris, CEO, Raiffeisen Bank, David Welch, President of Europe, Africa, Middle East, Bechtel, Karim Jobanputra, Chairman & CEO, Sky Petroleum, Per Lindberg, Country Manager, Albania,Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Dr Sotiris Kapotas, Chairman, Stream Oil & Gas, Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO,Tirex Resources and Suneel Gupta, COO & Executive Vice President, Bankers Petroleum, Albania, amongst others. Conference Chairs included Michael Granoff, Chairman, Albanian American American Enterprise Fund, Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates, and Avni Mustafaj, Executive Director, National Albanian American Council. At the end of the day’s proceedings a vote of thanks was given by Eneida Guria, Director, Albanian Investment and Development of Albania (AIDA) prior to a Networking Gala Reception.

PROGRAMME
New York, 19th September 2011

8.00am – 9.00am
Registration and refreshments

9.00am – 10.00am
Official Opening of the Forum
Tony Podesta, President and CEO, Podesta Group Eneida Guria, Director, Albanian Investment and Development Agency (AIDA)
Keynote Speaker: HE Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of Albania
The Hon Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of the Albanian Issues Caucus Michael Granoff, Chairman, Albanian American Enterprise Fund Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, International Affairs Advisor, Patton Boggs, LLP

10.00am – 11.15am
Session 1: Doing Business in Albania
Chair: Michael Granoff, Chairman, Albanian American American Enterprise Fund
• Hon Edmond Haxhinasto, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Ardian Fullani, Governor, Bank of Albania
• Christian Canacaris, CEO, Raiffeisen Bank
• David Welch, President of Europe, Africa, Middle East, Bechtel
Q & A session

11.15am – 11.45am
Refreshment Break

11.45am – 13.30pm
Session 2: Investing in Energy and Natural Resources
Chair: Mark Stuckart, Director and Special Assistant for Business and Product Development, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
• Suzana Guxholli, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister
• Suneel Gupta, COO & Executive Vice President, Bankers Petroleum, Albania
• Dr Sotiris Kapotas, Chairman, Stream Oil & Gas
• Karim Jobanputra, Chairman & CEO, Sky Petroleum
• Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO, Tirex Resources
• Per Lindberg, Country Manager, Albania, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)
Q & A session

13.30pm – 14.30pm
Networking Lunch

14.30pm – 15.30pm
Session 3: Investing in Infrastructure & Telecommunications
Chair: Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
• HE Dritan Mishto, Consul General of Albania in New York
• Endri Mataj, Advisor to the Prime Minister
• Svetoslav Gatchev, Delphos International
Q & A session

15.30pm – 16.00pm
Refreshment Break

16.00pm – 17.00pm
Session 4: Investing in Tourism
Chair: Avni Mustafaj, Executive Director, National Albanian American Council
• Hon Aldo Bumci, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports
• Eneida Guria, Director, Albanian Investment and Development of Albania (AIDA)
• Denis Kalenja, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Albanian Chamber of Commerce
Q & A session

17.00pm – 17.30pm
Conclusion and Closing Remarks:
Chair: Harry Bajraktari, President, Bajraktari Management Corporation
• David L. Philips, Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Nick Markola, Market Analyst, Albanian American Professionals and Entrepreneurs Network, USA
Vote of Thanks: Eneida Guria, Director, Albanian Investment and Development of Albania (AIDA)

17.30pm – 18.30pm
Networking Gala Reception