Agenda

The Three Seas Initiative was launched to accelerate the development of regional cross-border energy, transport, and digital infrastructure across Central and Eastern Europe. As the Initiative enters its eighth year, economic and geopolitical turbulence underscores the important role it has in driving forward growth, strengthening economic resilience, and fulfilling the vision of a truly single European marketplace.
 
Opening Remarks by:

H.E. Mr Krišjānis Kariņš Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia

Ms Kristalina Georgieva Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (video message)

Amidst geopolitical and economic volatility, the Three Seas Region is in the right position to take up the role of a global change maker, driving breakthroughs via innovation and focused investment. The opportunities of the region with a population of 111 million and a projected GDP growth rate of 3.2%, as well as the infrastructure deficit well exceeding €500B, are yet to be fully seized. How are these opportunities affected and shaped by today’s geopolitical and geo-economic challenges? Why is today an opportune time to invest in the Three Seas? What can be done to make the region even more attractive for international investment? How to ensure future-proof investment projects that are sustainable?

Moderator:

Mr Lionel Barber Journalist, Author, and the Former Financial Times Editor

Keynote:

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis Executive Vice President of the European Commission

Mr Mathias Cormann OECD Secretary-General (video message)

Panellists:

Mr Scott A. Nathan Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

Ms Beata Daszynska-Muzyczka President of the Polish State Development Bank (BGK) and Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund

Mr Joe Phillipsz Head of Three Seas Investment Fund Investments, Amber Infrastructure Group Ltd.

Mr Jean-Christophe Laloux Director General, Head of Lending Operations at the European Investment Bank

Mr André Küüsvek President and CEO of Nordic Investment Bank

Mr Yusuke Iseki Resident Executive Officer, Regional Head for EMEA, Japan Bank for International Cooperation

Mr Mārtiņš Kazāks Governor of the Central Bank of Latvia

The development of cross-border infrastructure is key for robust and sustained regional growth, economic and security resilience, and fulfilling the vision of truly single European marketplace.  Leaders of the Three Seas region and their strategic partners will discuss the ways the Initiative contributes to the accomplishment of those objectives and to the transatlantic community’s efforts to address the global economic slowdown and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
 
Moderator:

Mr Lionel Barber Journalist, Author, and the Former Financial Times Editor

Speakers:

H.E. Mr Egils Levits President of the Republic of Latvia

H.E. Mr Rumen Radev President of the Republic of Bulgaria

H.E. Mr Andrej Plenković Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia

H.E. Mr Miloš Vystrčil President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

H.E. Mr Alar Karis President of the Republic of Estonia

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis Executive Vice President of the European Commission

H.E. Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier President of the Federal Republic of Germany

H.E. Ms Katalin Novak President of Hungary

H.E. Mr Gitanas Nausėda President of the Republic of Lithuania

H.E. Mr Andrzej Duda President of the Republic of Poland

H.E. Mr Klaus Iohannis President of Romania

H.E. Mr Borut Pahor President of the Republic of Slovenia

Venue: ‘ Hanzas perons’, Terrace

Opening Remarks by:

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis Executive Vice President of the European Commission

By underscoring the vulnerability of Europe’s energy resilience, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted energy as a top national security concern.  A key objective of the Three Seas is the diversification of energy sources in the Central and Eastern Europe. The new energy landscape must address energy security, energy sustainability, and behavioural changes through energy efficiency. Successfully expediting the energy transition requires a well-orchestrated, diversified, and regional approach.
 
The panel will look at the prospects of a cross-sectoral approach in both conventional and sustainable energy. How will the existing energy carriers and infrastructure be integrated to both ensure energy security today and support energy transition in the future? What cross-regional projects can facilitate a more cost-effective and larger-scaled energy transition? How can the Three Seas Initiative contribute to more sustainable and efficient sources and uses of energy?  What near-term opportunities could materialize from a Three Seas region’s joint response to new energies and carbon neutrality?
 
Moderator:

Mr Karlis Vasarais Executive Vice President of Valent Low-Carbon Technologies (Canada / Latvia)

 
Keynote:

Ms Kadri Simson European Commissioner for Energy

Panellists:

Mr Joshua Volz Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy (US)

Mr Ian Brown Head of Baltics at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Mr Gerald Koch Senior Advisor Climate Change Impact of Digital Engineering Ltd. and Shareholders’ Representative in the Investment Committee at Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund (Germany)

Mr Uldis Bariss Chairman of the Board of Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia)

Ms Anna Łukaszewska-Trzeciakowska CEO of ORLEN Neptun I, CEO of BalticPower (Poland)

Mr Alastair Evans Director of Government Relations and Corporate Affairs of Rolls Royce SMR (UK)

The development of a multimodal transport infrastructure is a critical component in delivering connectivity that effectively catalyses sustainable long-term economic development in the Three Seas region and beyond. High-profile cross-border transport projects provide unprecedented opportunities to unlock simultaneous infrastructural synergies along the backbone transport corridors, including through co-delivery of complementary digital, energy, industrial and defence interconnections. It is equally important to highlight how regional transport megaprojects can facilitate the development of a well-functioning regional market for connectivity services and investment. Moreover, how can emerging technological game-changers bridge that gap between transport hubs and regional accessibility, including last-mile integration and micro mobility options? How can the Initiative help synchronize public and private investment to unlock new opportunities for joint value creation in regional connectivity infrastructure?

Moderator:

Mr Kaspars Briškens Development Economist and Multimodal Connectivity Expert, Former Board Member at Rail Baltica and Air Baltic Corporation (Latvia)

Panellists:

Mr Jan Klasen First Vice President of KfW’s Secretariat General and Head of the Department for Strategic Participations and EU Affairs (Germany)

Mr Warwick Lowe Rail Planning Director of Atkins (UK)

Mr Mikołaj Wild CEO of Solidarity Transport Hub Poland (Poland)

Mr Vilmantas Mažonas Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Air Baltic Corporation

Mr Stefano Maio Business Development Manager, Balkans, Bechtel Civil Infrastructure (USA)

Mr Patrick Folley Divisional Director, Aviation at Jacobs (UK)

Dr Viktoriia Betina Transport and Mobility Consultant at Ramboll Deutschland GmbH (Germany / Ukraine)

The panellists will address the issues of European digital security and strengthening technological value chains as well as using new technologies in economic growth and promoting safe and secure commercialization of digital innovations. They will discuss the necessary elements to build a successful future for European society, including policy frameworks for digital infrastructure, data governance, interoperability, and skills for citizens of the digital age. Are there regional solutions to digital challenges that the Initiative should embrace? What are the incentives for international investment into the region’s digital future? What are the digital projects that the Three Seas Initiative should give highest priority?
 
Moderator:

Mr Mark Boris Andrijanič Former Minister for Digitalization (Slovenia)

Panellists:

Mr Karan Bhatia Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google

Ms Renāte Strazdiņa Customer Transformation Lead CEE / Healthcare and Life Science Lead EMEA at Microsoft (Latvia)

Mr John Tully CEO of MikroTik and President of AmCham Latvia (Latvia)

Mr Üllar Jaaksoo Founder & Partner at Digital Nation Ltd., Founder of Greenergy Data Centers (Estonia)

Mr Linas Dičpetris Government and Infrastructure Market Leader in CESA Region at EY (Lithuania)

Mr Michal Kanownik President of the Board of Digital Poland Association (Poland)

Recognising the complex nature of contemporary challenges, a purpose-oriented and cross-sectoral strategy, also known as the mission approach, is of growing notoriety around the world. Panellists will consider the new mission approach as a tool to solve regional challenges and enable new collaboration models for industries, governments, and communities.
 
Moderator:

Mr Kaspars Rožkalns Director General of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

Panellists:

Dr Piret Tõnurist OECD Lead on Anticipatory Innovation Governance and Missions, Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, Public Governance (Estonia)

Mr Neville Reeve Head of Sector – Missions, European Commission, DG Research and Innovation

Prof Rainer Kattel Professor of Innovation and Public Governance at Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London (Estonia / UK)

Ms Joanna Franzén Programme Manager at Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency (Sweden)

Mr John Abel Technical Director, Office of the CTO, Google Cloud Platform (UK)

Speakers:

Mr Tony Housh President of AmCham Poland

Mr John Tully President of AmCham Latvia

Mr Edgars Bondars Ambassador-at-Large for Preparation of the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Riga

Speakers:

Mr Karan Bhatia Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google

Ms Evika Siliņa Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Latvia

Ms Anna Andersone CEO of Riga TechGirls