Energy Security and Efficiency in the Summit Economic Forum 2009

Bucureşti - 05 noiembrie 2009 - The energy issues will be the focus during the SEF 2009 conference next week in Bucharest. Acknowledging Romania’s geo-strategic potential, the organizers will discuss about the energy security, energy efficiency and the climate changes, in two sessions.

The session Ensuring Energy Security: the Role of Central and South-Eastern European Countries, November 12, 2009, dedicated to the energy security issues, one of the international topics that is currently of high interest, will include representatives of the most important domestic companies in the energy sector (Transgaz, Transelectrica, Nuclearelectrica), as well as representatives of foreign companies which invested in the Romanian energy sector (ENEL and GDF Suez).

Tudor Serban, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, who is the lead speaker of this panel shall talk about the strategic objectives of the Romanian Government with regard to the energy. The main topics for discussions will focus on the importance of diversification of energy supply sources and energy supply routes, the efficient use of resources especially in the Central Europe, as well as on the regional energy projects.

Two presentations will place the energy in the context of regional development. Hence, Ambassador Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council shall discuss about the role of energy cooperation in SEE with regard to the economic development, and Michael Green, the EBRD representative will analyze the role or the organization in the energy supply project in the Region.

The same energy topic will be the focus of another session in the Summit Economic Forum, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change. In this session, the participants will debate on the implications of the climate change, the development of renewable energy sources and sustainable energy technologies, the efficient management of resources, support to innovation for the development of a clean industry. EIB and EBRD Representatives will discuss, together with reputed advisors in this sector, the actual challenges faced by Central Europe in the transition process to a low carbon economy.

About SEF 2009
Conference Summit Economic Forum (SEF) organized by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade and Business Environment and the Central European Initiative is part of the events organized during the current CEI presidency term held this year by Romania. SEF, that is to host over 1500 participants, will be followed by important political events, asuch as the Summit of the 18 Heads of Governments in the ICE/CEI Memebr States, on November 13.

SEF 2009 will come after the Round Table of the Ministers in the Economic Sectors of the 18 CEI States (on November 11) High Government Officials of the CEI states were invited to attend the event, as well as representatives of the business environment, international financial organizations – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, (represented by Mr. Erik Berglof, Lead Economist at the Round Table and by Mr. Enzo Quattrociocche, Secretary General at SEF); European Investment Bank (represented by Mr. Kollat-Ahnen, Vice President); International Monetary Fund; World Bank, as well as representatives of international organizations – Economic Cooperation and Development Organization; World Trade Organization; European Commission.


This 12th edition of the CEI Summit Economic Forum - SEF on November 12, 2009 includes 9 SEF sessions focused on topics such as energy security, energy efficiency and climate change, international financing programs, promotion of Romania’s advantages, small and medium-sized enterprises and the competitiveness in industry, trade, global financial situation.

About the CEI
The Central European Initiative (CEI) comprises 18 Member States. Membership extends over a territory of 2.4 million square kilometers with a population of nearly 260 million. From the verybeginning, the main aim of the Initiative has been to help transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe in their journey towards further integration with EU structures. Although the CEI is not a major donor organisation, it has several funds which are used to promote projects in a number of sectors. The accession of five CEI Member States to the EU in May 2004, and of Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007, has shifted the CEI focus towards those Member States remaining outside the EU. By developing and implementing various projects and programmes, the CEI assists its Member States in a concrete and demand-driven manner.

About the Ministry of Economy
The Ministry of Economy (ME) is an institution of the public central administration which is responsible, together with other institutions, for the development and implementation of the Government Strategy and Programme in the following sectors: industry, energy, mineral resources, defence and security, as well as of economic policies and policies in connected fields, such as: energy recovery and conservation, security of installations in industrial sector, recycling, or legal metrology. ME is responsible for the management of the Sector Operational Programme "Increase of Economic Competitiveness" which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The Programme aims to encourage Romanian companies to increase productivity in order to reduce the disparities vis-a-vis the EU level in four areas: the productive system, R&D, IT & Communications, and Energy. ME, through its specialized directorates, manages the priority axis IV "Increasing energy efficiency and security of supply in the context of fighting climate change". ME is also responsible for establishing medium and long term development strategies and finding solutions for the reforms in industry, energy, economy and trade sector.

About the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade and Business Environment
The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade and Business Environment is an institution of the central public administration which implements the Government policy in the SMEs sector, the cooperatist sector, as well as in the trade and business environment sectors. The establishment of the SME Project and Program Implementation Agency, a public entity under the coordination of the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade and Business Environment was aimed at the technical and financial implementation of projects and programs for supporting new business and development of SMEs, at a local and national level, according to the government strategies supporting the development of SMEs.

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Biroul de presa al Ministerului Economiei: birou_presa@minind.ro
Biroul de presa al MIMMCMA: comunicare_imm@minind.ro
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