International Business and Diplomatic Exchange

Impact of Sovereign Debt Crisis on World Markets

The City - London Embassies Series

March 2012, Venue: The Residence of the German Ambassador, London

Attendance is by invitation only. To register your interest please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it stating your name, position and affiliation.The events in this series are open to UK/EU policymakers, EU/G20 Heads of Mission, business leaders (CEOs, CFOs, senior board members, decision makers and strategists from blue-chip companies) and international economic & finance experts.

UK-Albania Business & Economic Forum

The international Business and Diplomatic Exchange and our partners, the British Embassy in Albania hosted a high level UK-Albania Business and Economic Reform Forum on 25 January 2012 in Tirana, Albania.

This high level, targeted event, with speakers including senior government ministers and international business leaders, aimed to identify and develop a set of Policy Recom-mendations and an Action Plan for business, government and other stakeholders. The goal of the Forum was to promote and develop the Albanian FDI/business environment while boosting the profile of UK business interests and expertise. In addition, the Forum provided the gateway for investors to explore and discuss business opportunities in the most attractive areas of investment in Albania with the added bonus of direct contact with local business leaders. One hundred and forty participants from government, business and other relevant institutions listened to various presentations and engaged in a lively discussion about opportunities in Albania. The event was part of the IBDE objectives in enhancing the socio-economic development of Southeast Europe.

The full report will be released in due course. Please visit back for updates. More photos here

Attendance at events in this series is by invitation only, but companies that are interested in investing or exploring business opportunities in Southeast Europe as well as those already operating and/or seeking local business partners are encouraged to register their interest. For more information on our future events in these series please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The conference was supported by the British Embassy in Tirana

EU-Balkans Ambassadorial Roundtable

24 November 2011, Europe House, London SW1P

Photo: Alban Bytyci

The economic and political reforms in the Western Balkans were under the spotlight at the recent conference organised by International Business & Diplomatic Exchange (IBDE) in partnership with the UCL European Institute and the European Commission Representation in the UK. The event was held at Europe House and gathered nearly ninety participants including ambassadors and other senior diplomats from the EU-Balkans as well as business people, politicians, academics and researchs. The Roundtable addressed the most pressing issues of the moment including the developments concerning the accession process of Western Balkans countries with the EU, the vulnerability of the region from the Eurozone crisis, the problems with regional cooperation, and the economic model adopted by these countries. Read the detailed report here

EXCHANGE: Issue 5 Autumn 2011
Inside AUTUMN 2011 issue: Exclusive interview with Jean-Marc Peterschmitt, Managing Director, Central and South Eastern Europe of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) EBRD Examines investment opportunities in South East Europe. Read article here	1^st Western Balkans Investment Forum London, 2012 Venue: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Sponsorship packages here
Doing business in South East Europe: A summary of the World’s Bank doing business in South East Europe 2011 report. Read article here	A global stimulus package: the potential economic returns of the British Council's international cultural activities. Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of British Council. Read article here
Uzbekistan: 20 years of political stability and economic growth. Exchange talks to His Excellency Mr. Otabek Akbarov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK. Read article here	Foreign direct investment in Egypt after the revolution: Prospects and policy recommendations. Guoyong Liang, Economic Affairs Officer at the Investment and Enterprise Division of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Read article here
Policy responses to the Arab Spring in the Gulf. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science. Read article here	Malta: A stable investment destination Alan Camilleri, Executive Chairman of Malta Enterprise. Read article here
A trade agenda for the 'Arab Spring': Global integration and the dangers of neoliberalism. Nasos Mihalakas, Assistant Professor of International Trade Law. Read article here	Inside SUMMER 2011 issue: Exclusive interview with His Excellency Dr Emil Brix, Ambassador of Austria to the UK. Austria Fosters Opportunities in the Western Balkans

Sixth EU-Balkans Discussion Group Luncheon, held at German Embassy - More photos here

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr Georg Boomgaarden and the Chief Executive of IBDE, Mr Rudi Guraziu, hosted a luncheon for the EU-Balkans Discussion Group at the German Embassy on 20 September.

Forty participants from the diplomatic and business communities listened to presentations by Ms Lin O'Grady from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Mr Carsten Conrad from Tirana Business Centre, and Mr Pierre Kahn from Deutsche Bank, and engaged in a lively discussion about opportunities for infrastructure development in South Eastern Europe. The event was the sixth in a series organised by IBDE in cooperation with the EU Embassies.

The luncheon was attended by the Ambassadors and other senior diplomats of the EU-Balkans (including Turkey) Embassies plus, FCO, EC Representation, City of London Corporation, HSBC, London Stock Exchange, Visa Europe, EBRD, Ernst & Young, ICC, BBC, Thomson Reuters, The Economist amongs others.

Attendance at events in this series is by invitation only. VIP Luncheons are open to the Ambassadors of EU-Balkans (including Turkey), EC, FCO, UKTI Directors and business leaders.

Invitations are extended to CEOs, CFOs, COOs, EDs, MDs, DGs, senior board members, decision makers and strategists from blue-chip companies interested in, or already investing in South Eastern Europe.

Read summary here

More forthcoming events here To register your interest please send your name, position and affiliation to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it