October 3, 2012: the city of Varna, Bulgaria hosted the 23rd assembly of the
IBSC and the 10th meeting of the International Black Sea Club Business Council (IBSC BC) September 27-30, 2012. The city of Taganrog was represented by Oleg Demenev, First Deputy Mayor of Taganrog, Alexander Amerkhanov, President of
Taganrog Interregional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TICCI) and Chairman of IBSC Business Council and Olga Medlock, Vice-President of the
TICCI.
In the Assembly meeting participated representatives from 16 cities of IBSC, and namely: Azov, Burgas, Varna, Galati, Ilyichevsk, Kavala, Nikolaev, Rostov on Don, Sevastopol, Sukhum, Taganrog, Tiraspol, Trabzon, Tuapse, Kherson and Yalta. Sergey Bezdolniy, Mayor of Azov presided the assembly meeting.
Among the guests at the meeting were: Nikolay Apostolov, Chairman of Varna Municipal Council; Yuriy Soloviev, Consul-General of Russia in Varna; Victor Arkhipov, Chairman of Russian National Committee for Black Sea Economic Cooperation; Khristo Kirchev, ex-mayor of Varna and honorary president of IBSC; Vladimir Selivanov, Director General of the International Assembly of Capitals and Large Cities (MAG).
The main topic of the forum was the 20th anniversary of the IBSC's foundation. Mr. Radul Kovachev, Secretary General of IBSC spoke of the Club's history and achievements during this period of time.
International Black Sea Club is a non-government public organization that has an observer status at the BSEC (Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation), and a consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOS) of the United Nations. The club was founded in 1992 to strengthen and develop business cooperation between the Black Sea Region port cities. On the agenda of the meeting were new perspectives of the Club, development of a consolidated resort development at the territories of countries of Azov and Black Sea.
At the initiative of Mayor Bezdolniy, President of the IBSC, the assembly delegated voted to establish The Permanent Secretariat of the IBSC that would function regardless of what city presides the Club, and where the Executive Directorate is located. It was decided to locate the Permanent Secretariat in Varna, whose municipality will provide necessary rooms.
The 23rd assembly supported the following proposals made by the President of IBSC:
- Folklore festival;
- Investment forum exhibiting what IBSC cities have to offer;
- Environmental forum;
- Sustainable development forum;
- Jazz festival;
- Soccer contest among municipalities of IBSC cities.
Alexander Amerkhanov, President of
Taganrog Interregional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TICCI) and Chairman of IBSC Business Council presided the 10th Meeting of the IBSC BC, which was held within the framework of the assembly. Varna Chamber of Commerce became the new council member.
The next 24th IBSC assembly is set to be held in May 2013 in the city of Rostov on Don, Russia.
