Together we can help beat cancer - Join us for the Charity Run at Finsbury Park on Saturday 19th Sept 2009

Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has seen survival rates for cancer double in the last 30 years. But too many lives are still devastated by cancer. It's vital that their work, funded entirely by the public, continues.

EastEuro Link Ltd took part at BelRe 2009 - Belgrade Real Expo, held in Belgrade, Serbia, from 5th to 7th November 2009. This combination of real estate and investment exhibition and conference brought together local and international investors, developers, consultants, experts, landowners, designers, contractors, loan companies, banks, real estate agencies and end-users .

EastEuro Link presented the upcoming CEE and SEE Investment and Real Estate conferences, bringing its unique networking and learning platform closer to the BelRe visitors. The participation at the BelRe 2009 proved to be a step forward to finding new ways of strengthening regional integration, facilitating new business relationships and accelerating the process of transition in the economic growth of emerging markets of Southeast Europe.

South East Europe (SEE) is a central transit hub for energy supplies to Central and Western Europe. It also relies heavily on imported oil and gas making it an important centre of geopolitical importance for this industry. Following problems in the past few years facing security of supply, it has proven to be a significant time for Europe to review current Oil and Gas strategies. With an abundance of the world’s oil and gas reserves in Russia and the Middle East there is a demand from Europe who relies heavily on fossil fuels to connect to these markets and secure these valuable connections.

In a market that remains virtually untouched, the sky is the limit for the untapped potential wind energy brings in Central Eastern Europe (CEE). Poland represents a major success story for CEE wind energy and lessons learned here can be addressed to other neighbouring countries that have yet to capitalise on this opportunity. Many view CEE as the natural successor for the Western European wind energy market. Several CEE countries will struggle to reach their renewable energy targets set for 2012 and 2020 as they rely heavily on fossil fuels. These countries are currently assessing the geographical potential for implementing wind energy amongst other renewable energy sources. Wind Energy is an important pillar in the European Renewable Energy structure.

The CEE region has stayed in everyone’s focus during the recession. With the downturn easing off, the CEE now more than ever has become the place to pay attention to for deal-making opportunities in 2010. With the biggest deal of the year in its portfolio and ever improving fundraising climate, widening deal financing options and exit opportunities, the region clearly offers high return potential with extensive range. To provide you with the latest information and valuable insights you need to profit from the upcoming opportunities in Central and Easter Europe, EastEuro Link is pleased to announce the date for its 2nd annual CEE Private Equity 2010 conference. Following the success of the 2009 event which attracted high industry professionals from the region, the upcoming 2010 event will take place on 11 June in Warsaw. This event is the ONLY international private equity conference taking place in Poland, by which it is offering the opportunity for increased attendance by local businesses.

The financial crisis has in the first place concentrated on investors causing huge loses. However, the crisis has opened investors’ eyes to the wide possibilities of structured products. Structured products are investments providing capital growth or income whilst also offering full or partial protection of the principal. Volumes of structured products in the European market have grown immensely over the past couple of years. Their entrance into the CEE markets was stormy and surrounded by hectic discussion as sales of these products has doubled in the first quarter of 2007 in comparison to the same period of the previous year. According to market participants, structured investments are extremely competitive products and high growth is expected within coming years.

It’s time to drive home a green agenda for the transport industry and Clean Transport 2010 will provide a platform to do just that! With the turbulent economic environment there have been significant changes to the transportation landscape that must be addressed. New opportunities in the market must be reviewed and strategies for the future must be arranged. Developing clean transportation methods poses as one of the most vital and significant potential for all market players.

In the current economic climate, it is clear that access to affordable trade finance has become more difficult. The costs involved are significantly higher than they were prior to the crisis. Under these circumstances, trade finance is not that cheap for exporters as it used to be. There has been a rapid decline in trade since 2008. Credit requirements have become more rigorous and many banks have stopped new lending, and are asking for credit to be repaid when contracts expire. Clearly many companies in the CEE region have already experienced or are still expecting difficulties with financing their businesses. Many corporates have been left with huge foreign currency debt. The liquidity gap remains vast and companies are desperate for financing. The CEE region is the key export market. Although, the region is seen as high-risk, it is also perceived as highly rewarding. The positive and comforting fact is that countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia are in a much better position than those in Western Europe. The reason for it is the highest level of consumption in Eastern Europe and an easy access to the CIS region. Fortunately, the first signs of recovery are noticeably there. The level of trade is starting to increase. Another positive fact is that trade and export finance activities are now more focused on emerging Europe and the CIS. The time has come to turn attention back to trade, export and commodity finance. ...

As the markets in Western Europe becomes over-saturated, solar market professionals eye the potential of their neighbours to the east. The Czech Republic and Bulgaria are already experiencing a surge in their electricity production from Solar Energy, Poland's growth in the Solar Thermal market cannot be ignored, and countries such as Slovakia and Slovenia offer excellent potential for market deployment. The Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal markets are forecasted to expand in the CEE (Central Eastern Europe) for a number of other important reasons...

A central and unified platform for Power, Oil, Gas, Coal, and Emissions Trading in the regions of Central and South Eastern Europe is currently being established. It is essential that all market participants acknowledge this and conform to this change. This opportunity to enter into these emerging markets and gain influence with local and developing companies will be very important to those eyeing opportunities in new areas. New policies have been set in place in order to diversify Europe's energy supply routes and to find multiple energy resources. With CEE and SEE in desperate need of liberalisation in order to generate competitiveness in the market new centralised power auctioning offices will be opened to facilitate trade.

In recent years internal audit has become a very significant part of every business in the CEE region. However, the influence of the Communist Era places obstacles ahead of internal auditors, as the perception of their role is still quite different from that of Western Europe. Sadly, many well established businesses managed by the older generation see the presence of the internal auditors as something negative. They are perceived not as a source of a valuable recommendation but controllers who are only looking for faults in the organisation. Recently internal auditors have received the right attention. Managing bodies look to internal auditors for business improvement recommendations. After recognising the importance of the internal audit the time has come to meet new challenges. The EastEuro Link CEE Internal Audit and Compliance 2010 will help you to clarify the role and position of the internal audit and compliance within an organisation, participants will be given an exclusive opportunity to explore different approaches of internal auditors to challenges of the current economic backdrop. The event gives an exceptional chance to benefit from practical expertise of experienced practitioners from financial, public and industrial sectors. We have decided to deliver to you an international topical conference that will tackle the most current issues the internal auditors face in Central and Eastern Europe in this very difficult period of crisis.

There has been a significant upward movement in the Bulgarian and Turkish private equity and investments by foreign and local investors increased over the past few years. Same goes for most countries in South-East Europe: Hungary, Greece, Romania, Croatia and others. This growth came as a result of the improved business climate and the harmonization of legislation with the relevant EU regulations. The financial crisis established a unique investment environment in the region. Having noticed this improvement, EastEuro Link will present to you SEE Private Equity conference and the opportunity where you will see presentations on everything you need to know about the impact of the macroeconomic performance on investments, and you will get a chance to interact at our networking breaks, ask questions in our panel discussions and build upon your business networks.

Corporations in Central and Eastern Europe play a very significant role in boosting the regional economy. Many Western European companies have suffered as the result of the recent economic crisis. Surprisingly, economies of Central and Eastern Europe have turned out to be more resilient to the global financial crisis. Of course, the slowdown has been experienced but corporations in the CEE region are in a winning position during this difficult time. The reason for it is the highest level of consumption in these countries.

Covering the latest developments and practice in cash management, risk and liquidity management in corporations across Central and Eastern Europe, CEE Corporate and Cash Management 2010 will present the best practices for cash management, financial risks management.

We have decided to deliver to you an international topical conference that will tackle the most current issues the industry participants face in Central and Eastern Europe in this very difficult period of crisis and offer solutions to the most intriguing and burning issues.

It is evident that even during times of economic gloom there are still many factors pushing the expansion of the Renewable Energy market in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) forward. However, it would be naïve to ignore how the Credit Crunch has led to some stalls in the market, and lack of funding is not the only problem. Many countries in the CEE are also behind in the Renewables market due to unadjusted national and municipal laws and an outdated power transmission network. But, with a saturated market in Western Europe, the incentive to secure multiple energy supplies, and national targets set for 2020 now is the time for the CEE market to flourish.

The recession affected energy consumption in all SEE countries which in turn delayed the improvement and modernisation of electricity grids and the construction of the nuclear plant reactors in Romania and Bulgaria. The gas crises in January 2009 exposed the extent of the EU's reliance on external energy resources. It also reminded energy authorities and decision-makers that Europe needs a rational and synchronized international policy for energy. Apart from addressing current issues in the electricity and oil and gas sectors, this conference has registered a strong interest in Biomass and Solar energy for the SEE region. You will see presentations on successful renewable energy projects in Bulgaria and Romania and hear case studies of feasible use of Biofuels, Biomass and Biogas. Financing nuclear plants to produce clean and affordable energy in South East Europe will be another topic to be discussed, as well as the revival of coal plants and CCGT projects. Turkey will also be a country in focus.

Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing at a very rapid pace and the global climate will suffer if immediate action is not taken. Bringing Carbon, Capture, and Storage (CCS) to a commercially viable level is necessary in order for Europe to comply with 2020 Kyoto protocol targets set to reduce these emissions. As a world leader in Renewable Energy, Europe is striving to contribute to providing clean and sustainable technologies that will secure energy supplies while also reducing carbon emissions for the future. But, it is also a well known fact that Renewable Energy projects will take some time to provide the results expected.