The Interregional Economic Forum (IEF) has been conceived by CFC Consulting in response to the fast-growing economic performance in the countries of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The proposed investment conference is intended as a platform for establishing fruitful partnerships between Eastern European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine) and their counterparts in the GCC, which will help bringi together governmental and regulatory body officials, major businesses and investment companies and high profile international economic analysts.
The organization of the Forum has been initiated by CFC Consulting, a major Ukraine-based consultancy providing integrated services in strategic communications, government relations and investment consulting. Since its inception in 2002 the company successfully organized and managed international investment conferences and international image-building events in more than 20 countries worldwide.
CEC Government Relations is the leading independent public affairs agency in the EU’s new Central European member states, offering a full range of professional public affairs and strategic communications services.
Myrmidon’s Group LLC is a consultancy advising business entering the East Central European Market. Managing Partner is Adrian Karatnycky, who for over 12 years, served as President of Freedom House, a non-governmental democracy group that operated with annual programs in 15 countries. He is a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations and a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Newsweek International, and Foreign Affairs magazine.
A proactive global advertising campaign, designed to promote the Interregional Economic Forum and its host country and involving leaders of the international media market, is envisaged to be the key component of the project. The campaign will assist the host country with attracting international financial services institutions and multi-national corporations and will position it as a reliable, progressive and forward-looking member of the global financial community. The international promotion of the Forum will engage both printed media, namely the Financial Times, the Economist, the Gulf Times, and TV channels, such as BBC, CNN International, CNN Headline News, Euronews, Al Arabia and Al Jazeera, etc.
The organization process of the IEF “Eastern Europe – Gulf Cooperation Council” has already started. In April-September 2007 CFC Consulting conducted 10 business visits to the countries of Eastern Europe and the GCC, during which it has built the awareness about the proposed project between the respective region’s key policy and decision-makers, received feedback from the government officials and businessmen and established a network of participating countries. The business tours consisted of numerous presentations that were organized through the support of CFC’s partner organizations: CEC Government Relations and Myrmidon Group LLC. During the presentations representatives of CFC Consulting introduced the concept of the Interregional Forum to political leaders, members of parliaments and leaders of business communities. As a result, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of all GCC and Eastern European countries expressed their interest and will to support the organization of the Forum.
In addition, CFC Consulting has developed and launched a new internet resource Arab Gateway to Ukraine, the purpose of which is to provide comprehensive information on Ukraine’s economy and investment in the Arabic and English languages. This first and only Ukrainian project in the Arabic internet (http://www.ukraine-arabia.ae/) is intended to promote cooperation between Ukrainian businesses and potential partners in Arab countries.
The organizers and the prospective participants of the Forum are firmly convinced that its successful realization will be a significant step towards the creation of a fundamental basis for the strategic economic cooperation between the countries of the two respective regions.