CEE could become Europe’s new economic powerhouse – Highlights from the CEE Business Summit 2025
“Let’s make international trade great again.”
These were just two of the standout statements that resonated during the CEE Business Summit 2025, held on May 28 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bucharest and streamed live online.
Powered by iBanFirst, the Summit explored the central theme: “How can CEE-born companies expand internationally?”
Participants from across the region shared a common belief: Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has the potential to become a significant economic center on the global stage, if countries invest in technology, energy sustainability, and new models of international cooperation.
FX Markets and the Eurozone Outlook
In a dedicated keynote, Dr. Valentin Marinov, Global Head of FX Strategy and UK Research at Crédit Agricole CIB, shared insights into currency trends and geopolitical pressures: “We are witnessing a trade war that is forcing investors to reconsider the dollar and explore alternatives such as the euro. All eyes are now on Bulgaria, which has a real opportunity to join the Eurozone — a move that would bring significant economic benefits.”
East Meets West: Global Collaboration vs. Protectionism
During the discussion “East Meets West: Global Collaboration vs. Protectionism” moderated by Veronika Deniziova, News Anchor at Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, leading voices emphasized the urgency of expanding beyond national borders.
Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, Founder and CEO of iBanFirst, stated: “Our motto is: Let’s make international trade great again. When countries and companies engage in trade, they don’t go to war with each other. That’s why we believe in empowering companies to look beyond borders. At iBanFirst, we provide a robust platform that enables global transactions — offering transparency, competitive rates, and real-time tracking. I’m especially proud of how agile our clients are. Their ability to adapt and thrive amid waves of economic volatility gives me genuine optimism about the
future.”
Elena Marinova, Co-founder of Musala Soft and IOAI, added: “It’s far easier to be a global company today than it was 25 years ago. If you want to compete globally, you’ll face global players. The market doesn’t care where you’re from, it cares about the value you deliver. Know the environment you’re entering — the culture, competitors, and business norms. Many say you need a local partner, but in our experience, that’s not always the case. We’ve always operated from Bulgaria, serving clients worldwide”.
The New Rules of Risk: Navigating Complexity in a Volatile World
A compelling and timely conversation about navigating business risks in an increasingly unstable global economy. The discussion moderated by Cristian Hostiuc, Editorial Director at Ziarul Financiar, covered a range of critical topics, including risk assessment — both global and regional — as it pertains to businesses operating in Central and Eastern Europe. Panelists emphasized the importance of embedding resilience into corporate strategies through agile and forward-looking planning. They also explored how periods of crisis can serve as catalysts for innovation and growth, urging companies to view volatility not just as a threat, but as a strategic opportunity.
Dragos Dinu, Senior Non-Executive Board Member and Investor at SunWave Pharma:
“When private equity funds became shareholders, we created a 7–8 year plan. Then the war in Ukraine started, and we shifted to 3–5 years. Then came the Trump era — down to 1–3 years. Today, the best tool is continuous forecasting.”
Andrei Gemeneanu, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Morphosis Capital:
“If you look at global private equity returns from 2000 to 2023, the average net return was 12%. But funds launched between 2009 and early 2011 doubled that. Volatility creates opportunity. As my former corporate boss used to say: ‘Don’t waste a good crisis”.
Dinna Temelkova, Executive Director at Telelink Infra Services, focused on the strategic importance of energy:
“There’s great potential in the energy sector. We all remember the recent power network disruptions in Portugal and Spain. Europe needs to wake up. Chinese companies dominate this space. Europe must act to ensure stability”.
Langmár Péter, Chief Investment Officer at STRT Holding Plc, emphasized the CEE opportunity:
“The shift in U.S. behavior creates a rare opportunity for Europe to build tech companies that focus solely on serving this continent. Our mission is to support regional entrepreneurs — because we want to live here, not escape to Western Europe”.
A Smart Regional Growth Story
Another inspiring moment of the Summit was the presentation of Vidor Kis-Márton, CEO at Continest Technologies Plc, who shared a powerful business case for regional scaling:
“I’m an economist, and my business partner is a communications expert. We run a container manufacturing company that we acquired from a Dutch engineer. The innovation is that our containers can fold — reducing costs, emissions, and storage needs by 80%. We load five times more units into logistics platforms than anyone else in the world.”
The CEE Business Summit 2025 confirmed that Central and Eastern Europe is not just ready to participate — it is ready to lead in the new global economy. Success will depend on businesses that think globally but act locally, and on countries that dare to build their future right here in the region.
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This article was published in SeeNews.com.