Strategic Economic Talks 2024: Shaping the Future in Southeast Europe

Savudrija / Croatia – From May 23 to 25, 2024, the Strategic Economic Talks took place for the fourth time at the Kempinski Hotel Adriatic (Savudrija, Croatia). Leading figures from business, politics, and society gathered to discuss the future of the region. The renowned event, organized by the international tax consulting firm TPA together with SEEBDN, aimed to present investment and market trends in Southeast Europe, connect high-ranking decision-makers, and promote new investment, trade, and business opportunities. From digitization in healthcare to sustainable agriculture The topics were very diverse, for example, Dominic Gantner, CEO of Allianz Partners Austria & SEE, highlighted the challenges and opportunities of digitization in the healthcare sector in an interview. In the high-profile panel discussion, the participants addressed the question of how the EU agricultural reform affects agriculture and food systems in Southeast Europe. Panelists were (among others): Elisabeth Köstinger, former Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Fritz Kaltenegger, Managing Director café+co International Holding GmbH, and Elisabeth Hirschbichler, VP Strategy, Marketing, and Transformation at dsm-firmenich. Dieter Althaus, former Prime Minister of Thüringen and Vice President for Governmental Affairs at Magna Europe gave a captivating interview on future developments in the field of mobility. Lucanus Polagnoli, founder of Calm/Storm Ventures, spoke about the future of digital healthcare. The conversation was moderated by Clemens Mayr-Harting, Head of the Cabinet of the Federal Minister for EU and Constitution, Karoline Edtstadler. Another panel discussion highlighted the realities of the energy transition in Southeast Europe. Participants included Maximilian Mauthe, expert for climate, energy, and environment, and Aleksander Gerbec, Managing Director of ECUBES. “Europe Today and Tomorrow” was the title of the exciting political discussion round. The conversation revolved around European challenges, opportunities, and visions for tomorrow. Participants were Sandra Bencic, member of the Croatian Parliament, Domagoj Milosevic, entrepreneur, investor, and former Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Martin Engelberg, member of the Austrian Parliament. The Strategic Economic Talks again offered a unique platform for the exchange of ideas and networking of decision-makers this year. Thomas Haneder, partner and member of the management team at TPA, emphasized the importance of the Strategic Economic Talks and their potential to further strengthen the interconnection between Southeast Europe and the German-speaking area: “The Strategic Economic Talks are an engine for closer economic cooperation in Southeast Europe. We will not solve the global political and economic crises of this time, but we can promote and strengthen networking and cooperation in the region. My heartfelt thanks go to all participants for their committed and constructive discussions.” An excerpt from the guest list: Dorothea Gros, Country Sales Manager Intramural Austria at B. Braun Austria GmbH; Marina Hadrovic, Managing Director East Adriatic markets and Bulgaria at Mondelēz International; Josef Stoppacher, Managing Director Weitzer Parkett Vertriebs GmbH; Gerhard Kornfeld, Owner and Managing Director Kornfeld Industriebeteiligung und Beratung GmbH; Harald Luchs, Managing Director for the Sales Department at AON-Austria GmbH; Franz Maier, Director General Austria, Hungary and Southeast Europe at Atradius; Zvonimir Mrsic, Operating Partner at Spitzberg Partners LLC; Thomas Narbeshuber, Vice President, Central & South Eastern Europe, BASF; Boris Nemsic, Industry Advisor at KKR; Kruno Obrovac, Chief Operating Officer at Greiner Bio-One; Nusa Pavlinjek, Managing Director Roto Group; Gerhard Schlattl, Economic Delegate in Croatia; Dominique Sigros, Head of the Vienna International Desk for Central and Eastern Europe & the CIS · Crédit Agricole CIB; Sascha Smets, Managing Director at Smets Technology GmbH; Kalina Trifonova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Management Board at EVN Bulgaria; Klaus Tutschek, Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at A1 Telekom Austria Group; Jakob Zenz, Entrepreneur and Advisor to the President of Uganda for Agricultural Modernization; Katerina Zenz, Head of Austria & CEE at Mutares SE & Co.

About TPA:

Numbers and Facts TPA is one of the leading tax consulting firms in Austria. The offer includes tax consulting, accounting, and business consulting. 850 employees in fifteen Austrian branches are at your side. The TPA Group is – with around 2,050 employees – active in eleven other countries in Central and Southeast Europe in addition to Austria: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. For more information, please visit our websites: www.tpa-group.at and www.tpa-group.com.

Press Contact:

Mag. (FH) Gerald Sinabell | Head of Corporate Communications T. 01 588 35-428 gerald.sinabell@tpa-group.at Mag. Isabel Segrelles | Corporate Communications T. 01 588 35-217 isabel.segrelles-vaello@tpa-group.at