REDI SUMMIT 2022
22 – 23 November, Skopje, North Macedonia
connect | learn | grow |
ROMA ENTREPRENEURS | NEXT GENERATION
About the summit
The second edition of the REDI SUMMIT aims to bring together key stakeholders, such as public institutions, non-profit organizations, European and International Institutions, social innovators and entrepreneurs, around the issue of the resilience of Roma communities faced during and after COVID-19 pandemic.
Sessions
Competent speakers will debate how Roma development priorities fit with the green and digital transformation agenda of the EU.
Side Events
The workshops and panels of the summit seek to foster the perfect environment for knowledge building and forging new and innovative approaches to promote Roma inclusion.
Poziv za trenere
Za potrebe projekta „EU podrška REDI-ju: Unapređenje romskih preduzetnika na Zapadnom Balkanu“ koji finansira Evropska Unija sa referencom 2021/423-718., otvaramo
REDI Summit 2022
Rising energy prices is renewable energy a solution for vulnerable consumers Distributed renewable power stations, solar farms and other microgrid
Timetable
REDI SUMMIT returns after the pandemic, with its first live event. The first REDI SUMMIT was held in December 2020 and it featured high level speakers from the European Commission, European Parliament, and SMEs.
10:00 – 10:30
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Opening of REDI Summit
Petrica Dulgheru
Speaker
Executive Director, REDI International
Fatmir Bytyqi
Speaker
Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs, Coordination
of Economic Sectors and Investments, North Macedonia
Ami Larsson Jain
Speaker
Ambassador of Sweden in North Macedonia
Georg Woutsas
Speaker
Ambassador of Austria in North Macedonia
Zeljko Jovanovic
Speaker
Director of Roma Initiatives Office, Open Society Foundations
The panel will discuss the needs and challenges of the informal waste collectors in North Macedonia. The organizers will present policy recommendations and key findings developed in field work carried out in the frame of projects implemented by REDI Recycling and REDI MK with international partners. The panelists will comment on how informal waste collector challenges are exacerbated by current context: rising energy prices and inflation and comment on possible solutions from different perspectives: government, international development, civil society or private / for profit.
10:30 – 11:45
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Waste collection and transport in North Macedonia: socio-economic inclusion of informal waste collectors in N. Macedonia
Sophia Kratz
Speaker
Project Director, Umweltdachverband, Austria
Hristina Odzaklievska
Speaker
Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, North Macedonia
Mikael Atterhog
Speaker
Counsellor Head of Development Cooperation, SIDA
11:45 – 12:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Ceremony for signing of Memorandum of Understanding between REDI, Skopje municipalities and REDI Recycling
During the November Berlin Summit, the EC President announced a substantial energy support package of €1 billion in EU grants to help the Western Balkans addressing the immediate consequences of the energy crisis and build resilience in the short and medium term. This amount will support households and small and medium sized enterprises to cushion against energy price increases and their impact. Over the short- and medium term, the Commission will provide another €500 million to advance in energy diversification, renewable energy generation and gas and electricity interconnections through the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The medium-term assistance (next 2-3 years) will include other investments contributing to the energy transition and security. The panel will discuss what does this mean for North Macedonia and other countries in the region, and how can the young and vibrant Roma communities play a role in green jobs.
13:30 – 15:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Western Balkan Green Agenda: Opportunity or threat for business and employment generation in vulnerable communities
Zeljko Jovanovic
Moderator
Director of Roma Initiatives Office, Open Society Foundations
Harald Fugger
Speaker
Attaché, Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria
Tatjana Boshkov
Speaker
Ph.D, Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics
Suzana Ahmeti Janjic
Speaker
Head of Inclusive Prosperity Unit within United Nations Development Programme UNDP
Distributed renewable power stations, solar farms and other microgrid solutions are key infrastructure needed to decrease the risk of energy poverty. But while mainstream society plans to use them to decrease their reliance on fossil fuels, they cannot be implemented in informal settlements. The scene setter would be a proposal for a business model in which solar panels can be implemented in informal settlements. The panel will discuss the potential to use renewable energy as both a source of cheap and easily available energy but also as a way to provide high added value jobs in the community. The speakers will share good practice examples and models of using green funding to create “green” jobs for vulnerable communities, especially the informal waste collectors.
15:30 – 17:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Rising energy prices: is renewable energy a solution for vulnerable consumers?
Petrica Dulgheru
Moderator
Executive Director, REDI International
Dr. Ilija Nasov
Speaker
Plasma, North Macedonia
Kujtim Deari
Speaker
Country Manager at ABKONS, North Macedonia
Ferenc Kis
Speaker
Energy and sustainability expert in CEE region
Bozidar Draganov
Speaker
CEO BODD Renewables
Dimitar Dimitrov
Speaker
Ph.D., Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering & Information Technologies
17:30 – 19:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 1: Roma Businesses in Green Economy
Evening performance and exhibition of goods produced by Roma entrepreneurs from Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia
Poziv za trenere
Za potrebe projekta „EU podrška REDI-ju: Unapređenje romskih preduzetnika na Zapadnom Balkanu“ koji finansira Evropska Unija sa referencom 2021/423-718., otvaramo Poziv za trenera/e za obuku
REDI Summit 2022
Rising energy prices is renewable energy a solution for vulnerable consumers Distributed renewable power stations, solar farms and other microgrid solutions are key infrastructure needed
REDI Summit 2022
Western Balkan Green Agenda: Opportunity or threat for business and employment generation in vulnerable communities During the November Berlin Summit, the EC President announced a
REDI Summit 2022
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between REDI, Skopje municipalities and REDI Recycling REDI and the social enterprise REDI Recycling, in the REDI Summit, in the
REDI Summit 2022
Waste collection and transport in North Macedonia: socio-economic inclusion of informal waste collectors in North Macedonia The panel discussed the needs and challenges of informal waste
Aleksandar Klashninovski – CEO of Brainster Next College & Chief People Officer of Brainster People need to learn how to use the digital tools before
The COVID pandemic showed the world the importance of the digital presence of the businesses. Looking at the issue locally, this need for a digital shift showed us that Roma entrepreneurs lack the knowledge and skills to use digital tools in their business. A very limited number of entrepreneurs are using digital platforms and smart work. The majority do not have access to educational sources on business digitalization. They are neither aware of the importance of using digital tools in scaling up their income and visibility on the market. This panel aims to discuss the importance of digital transformation of Roma owned businesses, digital trends in business and market requirements.
10:10 – 11:30
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 2: Digital Transformation and Access to Finance of Roma Businesses
Digital Transformation of Roma Businesses
Marta Garcia Fidalgo
Speaker
Roma Policy Adviser, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations for Western Balkans in European Commission (Zoom)
Marin Piperkoski
Speaker
CEO Advisor, Clearing House KIBS AD Skopje, North Macedonia
Aleksandar Klashninovski
Speaker
Executive Director of Next College Brainster
In the last quarter of 2022, the governmental institutions from North Macedonia that provide public funding opportunities are preparing their new operational plans. In order to facilitate the access of vulnerable communities to public funds, this panel will discuss the commitment of the institutions to ensure the socio-economic inclusion of Roma communities. The panelists will discuss the strategic position of the government and the public institutions on the accessibility of the vulnerable communities to their programs, measures and subsidies.
12:00 – 13:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 2: Digital Transformation and Access to Finance of Roma Businesses
Use of Public Funds as grants and guarantees to enable job creation in poor communities
Bekim Murati
Speaker
Director of the Agency for Employment, North Macedonia
Katarina Kreceva
Speaker
Fund for Innovation and Technological Development
Jasmina Useinovic
Speaker
Postal Saving Bank, Serbia
Darko Marjanovic
Speaker
Job Placement Methodology Officer – Development of Relations with Employers, National Employment Service, Serbia
The vast majority of Roma entrepreneurs are using quick loans to finance their business. This type of financing is not enabling their business growth or to explore other funding opportunities. The aim of this panel is to expand the views of the Roma entrepreneurs when it comes to raising capital for their businesses. The speakers in this panel will share certain alternative ways of financing, business models that are stepping out of the traditional bank loans or governmental subsidies system. The focus will be on financing models like microcredits, equity funding, crowdfunding and business angels’ investments.
14:00 – 15:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 2: Digital Transformation and Access to Finance of Roma Businesses
Alternative finance contribution on financial inclusion
Andrea Limone
Speaker
President at Permicro, Italy
Pavol Kapsdorfer
Speaker
Network and Partnership Manager, Microfinance Centre, Poland
Vase Davaliev
Speaker
Executive Director, Microcredit Foundation Horizonti
15:00 – 16:00
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 2: Digital Transformation and Access to Finance of Roma Businesses
Hackathon: project presentations and awards
16:00 – 16:30
Limra Room 1 & 2
DAY 2: Digital Transformation and Access to Finance of Roma Businesses
Closing remarks
Benefit from the opportunity to learn from reputable representatives from the European Commission, EU member states, representatives of the Western Balkan countries, International Financial Institutions, and representatives of the private sector.
Speakers
Petrica Dulgheru
Executive Director of REDI International.
A chemist by training, Petrica has extensive experience in academia as well as having worked extensively in the private and non-profit sectors. Petrica has a B.Sc. from the University of Bucharest (2006), and a Ph.D. from University College Dublin. Petrica is an outcome-driven Research and Innovation Executive recognised for 10+ years of defining innovative roadmaps, strategies, & policies.
Zeljko Jovanovic
Director of the Open Society Roma Initiatives Office
Before joining the Open Society Foundations in 2006, Jovanovic worked for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Catholic Relief Services. He also led a grassroots Roma organization, a community radio, civic and political campaigns, and mentored and trained managers, advocates, and leaders. Zeljko graduated in law at the University of Belgrade and in governance at the University of Oxford.
Fatmir Bytyqi
Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs, Coordination
of Economic Sectors and Investments, North Macedonia
Bytyqi is an international expert in the field of managing economic processes and reforms with over 20 years of experience in over 100 different programs and projects aimed at developing sectors, state institutions, chambers of commerce and companies.
Hristina Odzaklievska
Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, North Macedonia
Hristina Odzaklievska is the author of a large number of studies and is a participant in domestic and international projects in the field of environmental protection and natural heritage. She became a doctor of geographical sciences in 2017 at the Institute of Geography at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics at the University of “St. Cyril and Methodius”.
Jeton Shaqiri
Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia
In the period 2008 to 2016 he was a member of the organizing board of several international scientific gatherings. He participated in many professional trainings and conferences. Mr. Shaqiri is the author of several professional papers in the field of economics and finance.
Ami Larsson Jain
Ambassador Sweden in North Macedonia
Ami Larsson-Jain is currently a ministerial adviser and deputy head of authority at the embassy Skopje. She has previously worked as acting deputy head and group manager at the Africa Unit (AF), at other units in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the embassy in London.
Sophia Kratz
Project director, Umweltdachverband, Austria
Ms. Kratz deals with the topics of the circular economy, degrowth and environmentally sustainable living. Her focus is on the clothing sector and sustainable waste management.
Francesca Montevecchi
Environmental Agency of Austria
Francesca Montevecchi is an environmental expert and policy analyst. She has extensive experience in preparation of environmental reports, strategies, and studies for governmental bodies.
Sponsors & Parteners
Sponsors
