Become a member

Online Silk Road Spotlight & Pitches: Eurasian Balkan Series – 24.08.2026

Event Details

  • Date: Monday, August 24th, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 - 11:30 (Croatia time), 12:00 - 13:30 (UAE Time)
  • Location: Online

Welcome to the Online Silk Road Spotlight & Pitches: Eurasian Balkan Series, a premier digital event designed to bridge the gap between innovation and investment. This online event is the final installment in a series of three online events in 2026, serving as the ultimate countdown and gateway to the highly anticipated Eurasian Balkan Business Forum​ taking place in Dubai on September 24th, 2026.

As the “New Silk Road” continues to redefine global trade, this series provides a high-impact platform for businesses, startups, and government entities from across the UAE, GCC, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Balkans to showcase their potential before a global audience.

What to Expect?

  • Country Spotlights: Gain first-hand insights into the economic landscapes of participating nations. Discover emerging trends, priority sectors, and the incentives awaiting international investors.
  • The Pitch Arena: Watch curated businesses and entrepreneurs present their solutions and projects to a panel of seasoned investors and industry experts.
  • Strategic Pre-Networking: Identify key partners and begin the dialogue early. This online session is designed to facilitate the connections that will be solidified in person during the main forum in Dubai.
  • Expert Commentary: Hear from regional leaders on how cross-border collaboration is driving a new era of prosperity along the Eurasian-Balkan corridor.

Why Participate?

  • Visibility: Showcase your company or project to a network of influential decision-makers and investors from over 30 countries.
  • Market Intelligence: Stay ahead of the curve with exclusive updates on trade opportunities between the Gulf and the Eurasian-Balkan regions.
  • Road to Dubai: This series is your chance to build momentum. Successful participants and presenters will be fast-tracked for high-level engagement at the physical Forum in September.

Be Part of the Momentum

The Silk Road of the 21st century is built on innovation, AI, and strategic partnership. Whether you are looking to expand your footprint into the UAE and GCC or seeking to tap into the high-growth markets of the Balkans and Eurasia, this is where your journey begins.

Join us online and help shape the future of regional cooperation.

Tickets

Guest Ticket

If you are not a member of the EurAsia Gulf Business Platform, you can purchase a ticket here. Click on ‘Register now’ button below.

EurAsia Gulf Member Ticket

Only Individual and Corporate Members are eligible for this ticket.

Members must be logged in to receive member rate.

Sponsor Ticket

As a valued Sponsor, your organization will enjoy a suite of amenities designed to maximize your visibility and brand engagement:

  • Speaking Opportunity: A dedicated 10-minute presentation slot to showcase your business or investment project.
  • Recognition: Official acknowledgment as Sponsor from the virtual stage during the event.
  • Embassy & Consulate Invitations: Sponsor logo featured on invitations to Embassies, Consulates, and business communities across the region.
  • Social Media Post: Appreciation post on EurAsia Gulf social media as a valued Sponsor.
  • Event Listing: Your company name listed in the official event program and on the online event page.

Gold Sponsor Ticket

As a distinguished Gold Sponsor, your organization will receive premium visibility, exclusive engagement, and superior networking advantages:

  • Priority Speaking Slot: Opportunity to deliver a keynote speech or presentation (up to 15 minutes) during prime time.
  • Official Recognition: Distinct recognition as Gold Sponsor on-air by the moderator.
  • Embassy & Consulate Invitations: Large Sponsor Logo featured on official invitations sent to Embassies, Consulates, and trade missions.
  • Social Media Spotlight: Individual appreciation post on EurAsia Gulf social media channels as Gold Sponsor.
  • Brand Listing: Premium placement of your logo in the event program, on the official landing page, and in digital flyers.
Register now

Agenda

Speakers

Neven Roginić

Chairman at UAE - Croatia Business Club

Biography

Ida Pandur

Vice Chair at UAE-Croatia Business Club

Biography

Usama AlMalki

Chief Operating Officer at EurAsia Gulf

Biography

Ivan Mavrov

Executive Officer at Bulgarian Business Council in Dubai

Biography

Srećko Srđak

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Biography

Inayat Vastani

Dubai & UAE Real Estate

Biography

Kevin Fernandes

Head of Value Added Services at UAQ Plus

Biography

Dennis Gavrilin

Co-Founder and CFO of Comfi

Biography

Rayhan Aleem

Co-Founder and CEO at Tax Star

Biography

Aliona Zaleskaya

Board Director of EurAsia Gulf

Biography

Share:

More Posts

See all news

Neven Roginic

Chairman at UAE - Croatia Business Club

Neven Roginić is the President of the UAE-Croatia Business Club and founder of Format 3D and L33T Digital Agency. With a strong presence in the Middle East, Neven has positioned Format 3D as a leading architectural visualisation company working with the best real estate developers and investment firms. The company has offices in Europe and Dubai and serves clients worldwide with advanced 3D visualisation and architectural solutions.

In addition to Format 3D, Neven is co-founder of Advising Solutions, a global consulting firm with over 50 experts specialising in industries such as healthcare, finance and technology, helping companies achieve sustainable growth through tailored strategies.

Neven’s academic background includes master’s degrees in civil engineering and agriculture from the University of Zagreb. He was also enrolled in a doctoral programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which has contributed to his expertise in innovation and global business.

At Format 3D, Neven has led projects for high-profile clients across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. Through his work with L33T Digital Agency, he has helped international brands such as Rolex, Apple, SAP and Audi achieve their digital marketing goals.

As President of the UAE-Croatia Business Club, Neven is committed to promoting bilateral trade and cultural co-operation between Croatia and the UAE. The club actively promotes Croatia as an attractive destination for Emirati investment and supports Croatian companies entering the UAE market, with a focus on sectors such as real estate, tourism, energy, agriculture and food production.

With over 20 years of experience in managing international projects and building global partnerships, Neven will continue to create opportunities and facilitate co-operation between Croatia and the UAE.

H.E. Rauan Zhumabek

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates

H.E. Rauan Zhumabek is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates. Born on August 24, 1981, he graduated in 2003 from the Ablai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages. He began his diplomatic career in 2004 as a referent in the Department of Asia and Africa at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later serving in various roles at the MFA headquarters and in Kazakhstan’s missions in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. From 2014 to 2019, he worked in the Presidential Administration’s Foreign Policy Center as an inspector and head of sector. He served as Consul General of Kazakhstan in Dubai from 2019 to 2024, and, prior to his ambassadorial appointment, was Director of the MFA’s Department for the Near and Middle East and Africa from February 2024. He holds the diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Class II and speaks Arabic and English.

Ida Pandur

CEO of NEAR Protocol

Ida Pandur is a dynamic entrepreneur and a leading voice in the digital and Web3 landscape, currently serving as the CEO of NEAR Balkans and Tekuno.app, and a Supervisory Board Member at Alice in Blockchains. Based in Dubai, Ida is dedicated to building innovative teams and businesses, leveraging her expertise in digital strategy, marketing, and cutting-edge technology. She is a passionate advocate for the ethical integration of blockchain and AI, actively shaping the future of the Web3 ecosystem in the Balkans and globally.

Usama AlMalki

Chief Operating Officer at EurAsia Gulf

  • Visit Official Website

Ivan Mavrov

Executive Officer at Bulgarian Business Council in Dubai

With a decade of experience spanning Front Office Operations, Sales and Marketing, Destination Development, and Client Experience Management, he brings a holistic view of how to create and deliver exceptional travel experiences. His career journey bridges frontline guest engagement with global strategy, positioning him as a versatile leader in the international hospitality and tourism sectors.

Currently serving as Business Development Manager at Concierge ONE Tourism, he specializes in building international partnerships, driving market expansion, and curating unique, high-value journeys across key global destinations. His background combines operational excellence with strategic vision, ranging from managing VIP delegations and global exhibitions to training teams and designing market entry strategies.

Based in Dubai, his work sits at the intersection of diplomacy, travel, and strategic networking. He serves as Executive Officer of the Bulgarian Business Council in Dubai, working to strengthen economic ties, support entrepreneurs, and connect Gulf and European markets through a collaborative platform for business leaders across the UAE and Bulgaria.

Driven by a passion for innovation, he is also the Founder and Creative Director of “Time Traveler’s Table” — a culinary storytelling project that blends gastronomy, history, and interactive experience design to create an entirely new kind of cultural journey. Whether through luxury tourism, business councils, or culinary ventures, he offers a practitioner’s approach to cross-border growth, focusing on building networks that enable dialogue, encourage collaboration, and translate relationships into real opportunities.

Srećko Srđak

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Srećko Srđak is a healthcare entrepreneur, founder and operator with a clinical background in dentistry and extensive experience in building, scaling and integrating healthcare businesses.

A Doctor of Dental Medicine and Specialist in Periodontology, he built Croatia’s largest premium dental clinic from the ground up, establishing the clinical, operational and patient-experience model that later became the foundation for broader expansion.

He subsequently co-founded and scaled Adria Dental Group into one of Southeast Europe’s leading Dental Service Organisations, growing the platform to 15 clinics, more than 200 dentists and over 750 employees. His work included acquisition strategy, integration of clinical and non-clinical operations, governance, digitalisation and the development of scalable operating systems across the group. This growth ultimately resulted in a successful private equity exit.

Today, Srećko is focused on the next phase of healthcare innovation in the United Arab Emirates. As Founder and Platform Builder of UAE Dental Group, he is developing a next-generation dental platform that combines doctor-led clinical excellence with centralised operations, governance, technology and data.

In parallel, he is Co-Founder and CEO of an AI Chairside Copilot for Dentistry, designed to bring clinical knowledge and intelligent workflow support directly into everyday dental decision-making. Through these initiatives, he is combining his experience in clinical dentistry, healthcare platform development, private equity value creation and artificial intelligence to help shape the next generation of dental care.

Inayat Vastani

Dubai & UAE Real Estate

Kevin Fernandes

Head of Value Added Services at UAQ Plus

Dennis Gavrilin

Co-Founder and CFO of Comfi

Dennis Gavrilin is Co-Founder and CFO of Comfi, a UAE-based B2B fintech platform helping SMEs access working capital and grow their businesses without the usual cashflow hassle.

With more than 16 years of experience across banking, consulting and fintech, Dennis brings a practical perspective on building and scaling a technology company in the UAE. At Comfi, he leads the company’s capital strategy, fundraising, liquidity management and risk, helping build the financial infrastructure needed to scale across the region.

Having been part of Comfi’s journey from its early stages to raising $65M in funding and supporting over 1,000 SMEs across the region, Dennis has firsthand experience of the opportunities and challenges that come with building a fintech in the UAE.
His experience spans fundraising, working with institutional investors, building teams and navigating the UAE and wider GCC markets, giving him a practical perspective on what it takes to turn a growing startup into a scalable business.

Rayhan Aleem

Co-Founder and CEO at Tax Star

Rayhan is the CEO and co-founder of Tax Star, an e-invoice service provider approved by the UAE Ministry of Finance. He is also the founder of Alpha Pro Partners, an Accounting firm based in Dubai which he grew to became the biggest reseller of Xero in the GCC. Rayhan is a qualified Accountant, hosts the Alphapreneurs podcast and has been a Dubai resident for 10 years.

Aliona Zaleskaya

Board Director of Eurasia Gulf

Aliona Zaleskaya is a media professional who has Co-Founded all women’s media group, Prickly Pear Production; As Director at WeTel World, hosts television and media programs ranging from WeTel TV’s weekly talk show “Flair For Flaws” and Blockchain Coffee Talks, the UAE’s first and only show dedicated to this area of expertise. She is known for her interviews on Yalla TV and Sustainable Times Magazine; glamorous modeling work on the catwalk and being the subject of multiple fashion photography work.

In 2022 she was featured as CIO Times’ Most Significant Business Leaders Everyone Should Know in 2022.

Aliona is a sought after Master of Ceremonies and a frequent MC of business events both locally and internationally; a number of African Emirati Conferences; TechKogo Conferences, Deal Makers, UAE – Singapore International Business Matching Summit, BIGO LIVE, as well as a host of others. She is the winner of her native Belarus’ first ever reality television program; and in 2022 was awarded the UAE Media Influencer Award.

She is frequent panel Speaker and Moderator at C Level events, to name few – MALT Congress, De Montfort University Dubai, Derivia Middle East.

With a career spanning both sides of the lens, she possesses a rare understanding of the intricacies of media production. From scripting to shooting, directing to editing, she has honed her craft with precision and passion, earning accolades and admiration along the way.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.