"Preparing for the Upturn". How can Greece manage the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities of the changing global environment? Will the Greek government and businesses mitigate the impact of the economic challenges and turn the crisis into opportunity to stimulate and sustain medium and long-term growth and development? This will be the focus on the one day conference "Preparing for the Upturn" organized by FT Global Events in association with the Athens Chamber of Commerce and C&C International Group of Companies in Athens on 2nd April 2009. Leading speakers from government and the private sector, both locally and internationally will participate in this forum for debate and dialogue on key issues.

A few weeks later, senior governmental officials, corporate leaders, financiers and energy experts from across Europe will gather in the Athens Summit 2009 to prepare for the forthcoming UN Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. The Athens Summit, hosted by FT Global Events in association with the Institute for Climate and Energy Security and C&C International Group of Companies will focus on the issue of managing climate change and energy security in Southeast Europe and beyond. Expert speakers, such as Yuriy Prodan, Minister of Fuel & Energy of Ukraine, Henri-Luc Thibault, Director of Plan Bleu, Dr. Richard A. Bradley, Head of Energy Efficiency & Environment Division of the International Energy Agency and Nandita Parshad, Director, Power & Energy Utilities of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are part of the roster of speakers in this unrivalled forum which will take place on 12-13 May 2009 at the Athens Hilton.

FT Global Events and C&C International Group of Companies, in association with the Institute for Climate and Energy Security are already planning ahead for the Athens Summits of 2010 and 2011, as climate change and energy security will dominate the international agenda in the years to come.