New Horizons for UK – Romania Trade and Investment Forum

Date:27/04/2023 8:00 am

Location: Grand Hotel Bucharest

On the occasion of celebrating 25 years of existence, BRCC proudly organises the third edition of New Horizons for UK – Romania Trade and Investment Forum in Bucharest. The long awaited event will take place on the 27th April 2023 at Grand Hotel Bucharest.

The conference will investigate potential investment prospects in Romania, as well as exhibiting the best practices of the UK and Romania to promote both business and economic ties. Participants will also discuss strategies for strengthening the local economy for the future and focus on top industries that have become more attractive now in terms of investments.

The BRCC draws on its 25 years’ experience and brings together its business acumen and expertise of the members’ network, both in Romania and in the UK, and leverages the strong strategic partnerships it has built across British Chambers of Commerce, media partners and private and public sectors. Our aim is to give local businesses a deeper understanding of the support available to help them succeed. We aim to bring together business leaders to share insight and best practices in their respective field.

The brightest minds in investment management will offer their insights on the local macro-economics at play bringing together top speakers for an exceptional conference that is recognized throughout the industry for the quality of its content and the caliber of its speakers.

Now, in its 3rd edition it continues to focus on thought leadership content spanning the world of investing in Romania and offering stimulating debates and informative discussions with C-suite executives and policymakers from Romania and the UK.

Benefits of attending:

Access to the latest investments updates
Divergent Investment views from our top experts
Industry Networking sessions
Local and International content provided by BRCC

Silver partner:

Noerr

Strategic partners:

Media partners:

Supporting partner:

Dacris

Duration & Agenda:

One Day Event (09.00-16.00)

08:00 — 9:00 – Welcome coffee & registration of participants

Moderator panel I and II:

Colin Lovering

Based in Romania for over 11 years now. Colin is International Business Partner for Brainovate Leadership Consultants as well as a well know Senior Advisor on Real Estate and Office design.

He is also a lecturer at the University of Bucharest plus a familiar face hosting and moderating major business events in Romania. As a Business performance Expert, Colin has trained CEO’s, Executives, Department Managers, Sales people and hundreds of professionals in North America, China, South Africa and right across Europe.

09:00 — 10:30 – PANEL I (Why invest in Romania now)

With an increase of over 44% in the first seven months of 2022, in the volume of British Investments reaching the historical maximum of EUR 5.5 bln compared to same period last year, Romania has a lot to offer to foreign investors – topics that will be addressed:

Growth opportunities for attracting investments in Romania in the new geo-political landscape and big players on the market from various fields
Excellent conditions for green and sustainable investments in order to combat climate change and achieve the net zero goal
Financial & State Aid: Available grants to support SME growth programs , greenfield investments and governmental programs both national and international in 2023 for a green and competitive Romanian market, PNRR digitalization 2023
Top fields and regions most attractive for investors in 2023

SPEAKERS:

Iulian Sorescu – Partner & State Aid Expert, Noerr

Iulian Sorescu is partner and head of Noerr’s Financial, State Aid & Management Consulting Departments in Romania. He coordinates the strategic advice offered to our clients in all business and financial issues such as financial advisory, financial due diligence, financial audit according to IFRS, US/German GAAP and Romanian standards, financial reporting and controlling, bookkeeping, payroll and management consulting. In particular, he helps our clients improve/maintain their financial performance by coaching and monitoring their internal activities and optimizing their structures. In 2008 Iulian has developed our State Aid Department. Since then our team has successfully assisted many international companies in view of obtaining the financing approval for state aid, by preparing the business plan, business model as well as by providing assistance in relation to the Ministry of Finances. The projects represented either extension of production/business of international companies, or Greenfield investments. Starting 2019 Iulian Sorescu is member of the Executive Committee of Amcor, using his expertise to help the association accomplish its mission effectively.

Adrian Dragomir – Deputy General Director at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects

Adrian Dragomir has managed and coordinated several departments in Government institutions and private companies. He has 10 years of public management experience in digitalization and information technology project management in different public service areas (employment and social services, training and labour, electoral services).

At present, Adrian is serving as deputy general director at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects coordinating the implementation of several investments in the within the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania. He is currently managing the implementation of investment measures in the digitalization of SMEs and creation of advanced technologies as well as other measures to support private sector investments.

Alexandru Mitroi – Senior Adviser Invest Romania

With a 20 years of experience in Foreign Direct Investment attraction in private and public environment, Mr. Mitroi is presently Senior Adviser with InvestRomania for the past 10 years. On this position he advised international investors in various industries ranging from Automotive, Aerospace or Agribusiness to IT, Outsourcing of Business Services and Energy. In this position he promoted Romania as an attractive location for investment, working with local authorities and other stakeholders that are also very important part of this process. Succesfully advised investors that decided for Romania, such as Clariant (Craiova) , B.Braun (Timisoara), Sogefi (Oradea), Sonaca, Estee Lauder IT center (Bucharest), CRF Health (Iasi), Nokian (Oradea) and many others. Previous to that, he worked as Business Development Manager for an industrial developer in Romania, working mostly on automotive projects. Graduate from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, with a degree in Business Administration (English-French department).

Oana Ozmen – Deputy – PARLIAMENT OF ROMANIA – CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES

Oana Ozmen is a PNL deputy, secretary of the Industry Commission in the Chamber of Deputies. She is the Rapporteur of the Hydrogen Working Group in the Industries Commission.

During this legislative session, she dealt with several subjects in the economic field, especially in the field of energy efficiency.

She had numerous working trips abroad, to document the best practices energy efficiency and hydrogen in other countries.

10:30 — 11:00 Coffee Break & Networking

11:00 — 12:30 PANEL II (Going global and doing business internationally – UK & Romania). – topics that will be addressed:

Trade opportunities between UK & RO. What ingredients need to be added for the UK and Romania to boost trade to reach its full potential?
Double taxation treaty in the new context – a necessity in Romania?
Perspective of Romanian Investment in the UK- case studies from Romanian business working in the UK
Is Romania ready to become a regional logistics hub for British companies to access the EU market, Ukraine and the Balkans?

SPEAKERS:

Mihai Precup – Secretary of State within the Ministry of Finance

Mihai Precup is responsible for the relationship with International Financial Institutions, the management of state participations and the public investment management division. Mihai is an experienced investment and development banker with an exceptional career in Luxembourg and France. For 5 years, he was a teacher at the Sorbonne University in Paris where he taught a course on Monetary Policy and a course on private equity. Mihai Precup graduated from a doctoral program in private equity that was conducted jointly between the Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University and the West University of Timișoara. Mihai also graduated from the bachelor program of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and followed a master’s degree in financial engineering at the Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University. For several years, he was an adviser to the vice-president of the European Investment Bank, his responsibilities being related to South-Eastern Europe (Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania and FYROM). In this capacity, he supported financing worth over 10 billion euros for the development of public projects and local companies. Mihai Precup has extensive connections with the financial and business world at the EU level and beyond, and is passionate about Romania’s long-term development. Mihai was nominated in Forbes 30 under 30 as a rising leader in the financial-banking sector.

Michael McNeir is the CEO of FORUM Financial Advisory & Training Solutions SRL based in Bucharest, Romania

His business focuses on corporate compliance and auditing according to the client’s pain points, Investigations, Anti – money laundering compliance and Background Intelligence Checks plus mandatory business training in Financial crime such as anti-money laundering, corporate fraud, anti-bribery & corruption, asset recovery and dirty money and the links to Art and the London Property Market.

FORUM Financial Advisory & Training Solutions SRL is also working in collaboration with a prestigious Romanian boutique lawyers based in Bucharest.

Dan Schwartz – Managing Partner RSM Romania

Dan Schwartz is the co-founder and the leading partner of RSM Romania, one of the most reputed professional services companies in Romania. Dan is a certified Tax Adviser, Financial Auditor, and a Romanian CPA, and he specializes in Transfer Pricing and International Taxation.

He has an in-depth understanding of the Romanian business environment, having experienced first-hand, as an entrepreneur, the challenges of sustainability, scalability, and stability. He has honed his expertise as a tax adviser and as a business leader through education programs completed at HIID-Harvard University, Washington State University, George Washington University, and the Paris Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers.

Matei Repan – Senior Government Relations Associate – Public Affairs Solution

Matei Repan has joined the firm in April 2021, as Research Associate. Matei specializes in Financial Markets and the Energy Business having an extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. During his tenure at Public Affairs Solution, Matei successfully implemented several important public affairs campaigns in the fields of taxation, energy and employee benefits, having a significant impact on the clients’ operations worldwide. Previously, Matei worked for one of the largest due diligence and corporate intelligence firms, drafting complex reports and assessments. Matei’s public sector experience includes tenures in International Cooperation and Development organizations, within the European Parliament and the Romanian Ministry of European Funds. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vienna.

12:30 — 13:30 Networking Lunch

13.30 – 15.00 PANEL III (Getting more renewables into the mix)

With an increase of 31% of renewables by 2030, most power generation is 100% state-owned in Romania. On the positive side, energy prices remain below the EU averages, despite significant increases in recent years. Total energy consumption increased by 5% in 2021, country is counting on new oil and gas fields, as well as new power and gas interconnections to improve its supply (a new nuclear unit could be commissioned in Cernavodă for 2031).

The country has a lot to offer to foreign investors – topics that will be addressed:

Steps to secure affordable and sustainable energy in Romania and CEE countries
Matching renewable supply with demand: leveraging data-driven results
Finding the right approach by leveraging investments in onshore wind
Initiatives in infrastructure investment
Securing public and private funding
What political and economic drivers are influencing Romania’s energy economy in 2023?
Large-scale green hydrogen production for industrial use

SPEAKERS:

Bogdan Pletea – ESG Risk & Sustainability Strategist

Having a strategic and solution-oriented approach to risk management, Bogdan works with organisations to integrate ESG & climate-related risks into strategy. By translating sustainability strategies in practice, Bogdan helps large companies to improve their operational resilience and ESG & climate data disclosure in accordance with current regulations and sector best practice. Bogdan has an extensive expertise in management consulting, risk management and sustainability strategy, gained in over 20 years of international practice in the UK, Spain, Austria and Romania, in energy, tourism, insurance and banking sector. He is a member of the Institute for Risk Management (IRM) in London, has an international degree in Risk Management and has completed an MBA program at the International Institute of Management in Paris. He is also vice-president of Climate Change Special Interest Group (SIG) of IRM London an co- published in September 2021 the first IRM climate risk management guide designed to support boards of directors and risk managers in all sectors of activity.

Corneliu Bodea – CEO Adrem & President of Romanian Energy Center

The Romanian entrepreneur Corneliu Bodea is a shareholder of the international ABBC Group and CEO of Adrem. A brand with 30 years of history on the Romanian market, Adrem consists of three companies active on the entire value chain of the energy sector – Adrem Invest, Adrem Engineering, Adrem Link.

Corneliu extended his engineering education with management studies and an MBA from the Open University, UK, and most recently with the Board Director’s Programme at Henley Business School.

Since 2014, Corneliu Bodea was elected President of the Romanian Energy Center (CRE), a non-governmental organization active in the energy industry, effective both in Romania and Brussels.

With significant experience in the energy industry, in managing complex projects and over 1000 employees, Corneliu is very committed to contributing to all initiatives that foster the Romanian entrepreneurial environment and to actively supporting economic, environmental, and social sustainability, through his involvement in the projects carried out by CONAF, where he is a board member, Leaders Foundation, Romanian Business Leaders and ReThink Romania organizations.

Mihai Toader-Pasti – Founder towards0 & ÎntreVecini, Global Shapers

Having 12 years experience in sustainability, Mihai Toader-Pasti is the founder of towards 0 – company that accelerates ESG transformation for companies and cities and founder of IntreVecini, a non-profit working to build a decentralized network of sustainable urban micro-communities throughout Romania focused on implementing SDG-based projects.

In the past, Mihai co-founded and led Romania’s most awarded sustainability NGO – EFdeN, that designed and built Europe’s most sustainble home (LEED, 105p) and energiaTa, the community that determined the policy change to make energy prosumers a reality in 2019 in Romania and created the Prosumer Guide.

Mihai is part of World Energy Council Communication and Strategy Committee, he is an Obama Leader 2023, Forbes Europe 30 Under 30, JCI 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World and Aspen Intitute Romania fellow.

Mihai believes that the future of cities resides in a symbiotic relationship between the built environment, humans and nature, which connects technology with culture & social emotions, for a sustainable and happy living experience for all.

SILVIA VLĂSCEANU – Executive Director – Electricity Producers Association – HENRO Romania

Silvia Vlăsceanu is a graduate of Power Engineering Faculty of Bucharest Polytechnic University and of the Faculty of Commerce from the Academy of Economic Studies. She also holds a PhD degree in the field of power engineering, conferred by the Polytechnic University of Bucharest in 2012.

The professional path includes, among others: junior engineer at a company in the energy sector, expert at Investment Directorate of Chamber of Deputies, competition inspector at the Competition Council, Parliamentary counselor at the Committee for Industries and Services of Chamber of Deputies, general director of the Federation of Associations of Energy Utility Companies – ACUE (2008 – 2021) and executive director of HENRO – Association of Electricity Producers, starting September 2021.

She continuously improved her expertise by following post-graduate professional training and by being an active participant at various conferences, workshops and seminars at national and international level. Mrs. Vlăsceanu has been since more than 13 years a member of Advisory Board of Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), member of the Economic and Social Council of Romania, and she was also vice-president of Employers Confederation CONCORDIA.

In parallel, she has also teaching experience, for the last few years has taught at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, and has also collaborated with various authorities, organizations, research institutes (ICPE, Romanian Academy, UNDP, Romanian Committee of WEC etc.) in conducting studies, assessments and reports related to energy sector and the impact concerning the economic sector.

Frederic Aubet – Romcim Managing Director

Frederic Aubet has been working in the cement industry for over 20 years and has a vast experience in the CEE markets both EU (Austria, Hungary) and non EU (Ukraine, Republic of Moldova). He joined Romania this year after 5 years in Ukraine.

His professional journey started in FMCG, working 7 years for P&G and continued with a couple of years in big 4, with EY.

Moderator panel III:

Adela Jansen is member in several boards and advisory boards in companies and business organizations, private investor, strategy and development consultant and associate professor. She has over 25 years of multinational and local top management experience in business launches and development, strategy roll-out, restructuring and transformation processes in high-demand regulated industries and listed company. Adela accumulated expertise in several industries (financial services, telecom, supply chain, hospitality) within the areas of business development, stakeholders’ management, strategic management, advocacy, human resources, operations.

15.00 – 16.00 – Concluding Remarks and Networking

!BRCC members benefit for free entrance, while non members shall pay a ticket fee of 350 RON (VAT included). You can pay it HERE.

!You can register here for this event:

Registration