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EBRD hosts regional seminars ahead of 2005 Annual Meeting
Bank’s Secretary General Johnny Åkerholm visits Belgrade
The EBRD is hosting a series of regional seminars ahead of its 2005 Annual
Meeting in Belgrade to engage countries from the western Balkans and beyond in
dialogue that will benefit the wider region.
The Bank’s Secretary General Johnny Åkerholm arrives in Serbia and Montenegro
today to meet with senior government officials, including Serbia’s Finance
Minister Mladjan Dinkic in Belgrade and Igor Luksic, Minister of Finance for
Montenegro, in Podgorica. He will also meet with Predrag Ivanović, Minister
for International Economic Relations for Serbia and Montenegro and Nenad
Bogdanovic, Mayor of the City of Belgrade. During his meetings Mr Åkerholm
will brief officials of the seminars in more detail, reiterate the Bank’s
commitment to working with the authorities to ensure the success of the Annual
Meeting, and emphasise its importance for Serbia and Montenegro and its
neighbours.
The visit comes on the eve of the first of the two-day seminars, which runs
8-9 November in Zagreb, Croatia, and will focus on the development of
municipalities across the country. Other seminars will tackle the subjects of
transport (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2-3 December), energy (Albania, February
2005), and privatisations (FYR Macedonia, March 2005).
The seminars will focus on key issues affecting these countries, said Mr
Åkerholm, as well as addressing the regional dimension, which is crucial for
the prosperity of these countries. The seminars will bring together prime
ministers, finance ministers, mayors, business leaders and experts in relevant
fields to see how best to develop these core sectors and overcome obstacles to
investment.
Just two months after hosting the final seminar, the EBRD will hold its 14th
Annual Meeting on 22-23 May 2005 in Belgrade, Mr Åkerholm added. It will be an
occasion to draw the world’s attention to the region, with more than 2,500
guests expected, including investors, business leaders, politicians,
non-governmental organisations and journalists.
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