Month: June 2025

BBSF spring Ambassadors Meeting, June 2025

The 5th “Ambassadors’ Meeting” of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum was held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 16:00 to 19:00, hosted by the Ambassador of Israel to Greece, H.E. Mr. Noam Katz.

Participants engaged in a lively and constructive dialogue, exchanging views on the upcoming activities of both the Balkans & Black Sea Forum and the AgriBusiness Forum.

Guest speaker Mr. Mathios Rigas, CEO of Energean, delivered an insightful presentation on natural gas reserves and challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Participants in the meeting have been (A-Z order):

Ambassadors

  • HE Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of Cyprus
  • HE Noam Katz, Ambassador of Israel
  • HE Arif Mammadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
  • HE Valentin Poriazov, Ambassador of Bulgaria
  • HE Andrei Popov, Ambassador of Moldova
  • HE Zsolt Sandor, Ambassador of Hungary
  • HE Timur Sultangozhin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan
  • HE Aleksandar Sunko, Ambassador of Croatia
  • HE Gerda Vogl, Ambassador of Austria
  • ΗΕ Dragan Vukovic, Ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Mr Boris Mirchevski, Chargé d’Affaires, North Macedonia

Embassy of Israel

  • Mr. Doron Lebovich, Deputy Chief  of Mission, Embassy of Israel
  • Ms. Nelly Leon, Economic Coordinator, Embassy of Israel

Energean PLC

  • Mr. Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive Officer
  • Mr. Sotiris Chiotakis, Head Corporate Affairs & Comm. Greece, Balkans, SEE

Balkans & Black Sea Forum

  • Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair, Organizing Committee
  • Ms. Christina Mangou, V.P. Comm-External Relations

The next Ambassadorial meeting will be held in late Autumn 2025

 

Meet the Speakers – Only 2 weeks away from the Executive Roundtable 2025

On July 2, 2025 the Balkans & Black Sea Forum Executive Roundtable highlights “IMEC from potential to partnership”. Held under Chatham-house rule & by invitation only, it is addressed to businesses, diplomats, think-tanks and policymakers. This year’s pivotal meeting aims at unveiling IMEC’s geopolitical, trade and economic perspectives & opportunities between India, Middle Eastern countries, and Europe.

Website, Agenda, Speakers https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2025-exrt/

Riding the storm of Geo-politics/economics or Food Security: Stay tuned

As we head into the next quarters of 2025, it is with pleasure to announce a roster of high-caliber initiatives conducted by the Balkans & Black Sea Forum (BBSF) and the AgriBusiness Forum (ABF).

Don’t miss the opportunity to join as a speaker, sponsor, or delegate to gain insights, networking, sharpen the saw, and stay ahead of geopolitics, geoeconomics, intercultural dialogue, food & climate security, and agribusiness nexus (policies & provisions apply).

 

July & September 2025

Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2025 | 3rd Executive Roundtable

On July 2, 2025, the 3rd Executive Roundtable highlights “IMEC from potential to partnership”. Held under Chatham-house rule & by invitation only, and addressed to businesses, diplomats, thinktanks and policymakers aims at unveiling IMEC’s geopolitical, trade and economic opportunities between India, Middle Eastern countries, and Europe.

Website, Agenda, Speakers https://balkansblackseaforum.org/bbsf2025-exrt/

2nd Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum 2025

On September 30 to October 2, 2025, the 2nd Thessaly AgriBusiness Forum entitled “The Future of Thessaly agriculture in the Green & Digital Era” is held at the Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa, in cooperation with the Region of Thessaly, and Larissa Municipality. The Forum features 9 breaking sessions and 65 speakers from Greece and beyond, and addressed to businesses, farmers, cooperatives, banks, academics, and policymakers fostering dialogue and innovation at the heart of agricultural progress. https://agribusinessforum.org/

November 2025 – February 2026

Save the dates and stay tuned for more pivotal events

Revealing Portraits “Medea Symposium 2025”

On 12-16 November 2025, the international symposium «Medea, an endless journey to eternity» will take place at Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, aimed at illustrating the social, cultural, and political landscape of the time, and unveiling issues that remain strikingly relevant in the modern world. The event consists of a 2-day conference (12-13/11/2025), and Santa Medea, a 5-day exhibition (12-16/11/2025), addressed to businesses, actors/scientists, diplomats and academia. https://www.geo-routes.com/

8th International AgriBusiness Forum 2025

On November 27-28, 2025, the 8th international AgriBusiness Forum entitled “Agrifood systems & Entrepreneurship to address Food-Health-Environmental nexus in times of insecurity“, is held at the Athens Chamber of Commerce & Industry, featuring 9 roundtables and 60 actors from Greece & beyond, and addressed to businesses, farmers, banks, academics, and policymakers fostering dialogue and innovation at the heart of agrifood value chain. https://agribusinessforum.org/

Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2026 | 6th international edition

In February 2026 the 6th Balkans & Black Sea Forum entitled “Leadership, Security, Cooperation in a fragmented world” will be held at a time of numerous geo-political/economic, and power-shifting challenges influencing the global scene and endanger the social and economic equilibrium of regions. It will feature 8 pivotal roundtables addressed to leading business- & policy-makers, diplomats, ThinkTanks & academia. https://balkansblackseaforum.org/

Athens June 1,2025