MEPEI (The Middle East Political and Economic Institute) and EuroDefense Romania, in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Romania are organizing the Round Table “Kazakhstan: on the Way of Progressive Reforms. A New Chapter in Romania-Kazakhstan Cooperation”, to be held on Wednesday, the 15^th of May 2024, hours 11:00 – 13:00, at Opera Conference Hall (Second Floor), Grand Hotel Bucharest (former InterContinental Hotel, Blvd Nicolae BĂLCESCU, nr. 4).

The roundtable will address the topic of the current economic and political reforms of President Tokayev and their implications on Kazakh-Romanian relations. Over the past few years, Kazakhstan has undergone a series of progressive reforms designed to strengthen state institutions, accelerating economic growth and diversifying foreign policy. Increasing the common interests of Romania and Kazakhstan in expanding trade, economic, and investment ties and developing cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, education, and digitalization, will be the key topic of the talks.

We welcome representatives of Romanian society to the event, as follows: officials of Romanian public institutions, NGOs, academia (professors), think tanks (researchers and analysts), business persons, and mass media.

The working language is English (No Translation).

DRAFT AGENDA

10:30 – 11:00 Arrival of the Guests, Welcome Coffee and Networking

11:00 – 13:00 Plenary Panel: “Kazakhstan – on the Way of Progressive Reform. A New Chapter in Romania – Kazakhstan Cooperation”

Moderator: Flavius CABA – MARIA, President, MEPEI

Opening Speech: HE Ali YERLIK, Ambassador, the Republic of Kazakhstan to Romania

Speakers

1. Teodor MELEȘCANU, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
2. Iuliu STOCKLOSA, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bucharest
3. Victor VEVERA, General Director, National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics ICI-Bucharest
4. HE Viorel ISTICIOAIA-BUDURA, Former Ambassador to People’s Republic of China, Former Head of the European Union delegation to Japan, Managing Director, Head of Asia and Pacific Department, EEAS
5. HE Emil RAPCEA, Career Diplomat, Former Ambassador of Romania to Kazakhstan
6. Andrei RĂDULESCU, Member of Bretton Woods Committee, Senior Researcher, Institute for World Economy, Romanian Academy
7. Ecaterina MAȚOI, Program Director, MEPEI
8. Mihai SEBE, Head of Unit, European Affairs Department, European Institute of Romania
9. Corina PISC, Managing Director and co-founder of Smartlink Communications
10. Liviu MUREȘAN, President, EuroDefense Romania

Q&A Session

13:00 – 13:30 Coffee and Networking