Program
12 June, Wednesday
Arrival & Accommodation at Hotel Intercontinental Sofia – 4 Narodno Sabranie Sq., Sofia
(* Please, make sure to book your room in advance. There are special discounted rates under the above link subject to availability)
Participants have free program, in their welcome packages they will have tips for restaurants and interesting places to visit.
The hotel is located downtown just across the Parliament and main Cathedral.
13 June, Thursday
09:00 - 12:00 FICAC Board Meeting – Intercontinental Hotel Sofia, Parliament Hall
12:00 - 13:00 Press Conference of the FICAC Board and the Association of the Honorary Consuls in Bulgaria – Intercontinental Hotel Sofia, Parliament Hall
(Participants: President and Secretary General of FICAC, President and Vice-President of AHCB)
10:00 - 13:00 Sofia walking tour (complimentary)
– meeting and pick up point – the Intercontinental Hotel's lobby at 10:00 a.m.;
– lunch on the way at 12.00 (expenses to be covered by participants) –
Manastirska Magernitsa Restaurant, 67 Han Asparuh Str.
(Participants who do not take part in the walking tour are welcome to join the lunch)
(pre-registration required)
15:00-17:00 Visiting partners consulates (upon preliminary arrangement with each country representatives)
FICAC CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MEETING
18:45 Registration of delegates and welcome networking drink - Sofia Hotel Balkan, Serdika Ballroom
19:30 Gala Dinner FICAC and AHCB – Sofia Hotel Balkan, Serdika Ballroom
Keynote speaker – Madame Ekaterina Zaharieva – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
*Dress Code: Black Tie or Formal Business Look
14 June, Friday
9:00-12:30 FICAC CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE MEETING – Oborishte 5 Gallery and Hall, 5 Oborishte Str.
Program:
9:30 Opening and welcome speeches from:
o Mr. Tomislav Donchev – Deputy Prime Minister of Republic of Bulgaria
o H.E. Borislav Boyanov – President of AHCB, Honorary Consul General of Malta
o H.E. Aykut Eken– President of FICAC, Honorary Consul General of Jamaica in Turkey
9:45 Keynote speakers and topics of the conference (TBC):
o “Transforming Regional Connectivity” – Mr. Rosen Jeliazkov - Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of Bulgaria;
o “Macroeconomic outlook in the SEE countries” – H.E. Nikolay Vassilev, Deputy Prime Minister of Economy (2001-2003) and Minister of Transport and Communications (2003-2005), Honorary Consul of Slovenia, Managing Partner and Executive Director ExpatCapital;
o “SEE financial services and fin-tech for a competitive edge of the region” – Mr. Levon Hampartzumyan, former CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, Unicredit Bulbank;
o “Bulgarian Association of Honorary Consuls – good case study of perfect understanding, cooperation and innovative activities” – H.E. Maxim Behar, Honorary Consul General of Seychelles, VP and Spokesperson of the Bulgarian Association, Chairman of PR & Media Committee of FICAC;
o “Activities of FICAC – guidelines of the Honorary Consuls in the world” – H.E. Nikolaos Margaropoulos, FICAC Secretary General, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Greece
o “Invest in Bulgaria - empower your business” – Mr. Stamen Yanev, Executive Director of InvestBulgaria Agency
12:30-14:00 Lunch for all delegates and guests – Restaurant Nebo, 34 Shipka Str.
(5 min walk from the conference venue)
14:00 End of the official part of 3rd FICAC SEE Regional Conference
(Delegates are invited to stay for the weekend)
18:00 Wine tasting and snacks – Floret Restaurant and Bar /at Hotel Intercontinental/
15 June, Saturday
Two options for all participants of FICAC meetings
1. Walking tour to Asian cultural exhibition in Sofia Central Park (10 am–2 pm)
(approx. 4 h; organized with the support of AHCB)
or
2. Daytrip to the city of Plovdiv (10 am–4 pm) – Cultural capital of Europe for 2019
(pre-registration required)
– meeting and pick up point – the Intercontinental Hotel's lobby at 10:00 a.m.;
All options may include lunch covered by the individuals
16 June, Sunday
Optional individual programs and departures