1. 20 Countries
181 million people
1 strategy
(Improving competitiveness of Eastern Europe)
Sunflower Consultancy
1 Team Members
Shtefi Mladenovska
Ankit Khandelwal
Picture courtesy: wikipedia.org

2. Assumptions
 In this study, Turkey and Russia are not taken into consideration.
 It is also assumed that Russia and Turkey, due to their robust economy will be
able to help the other 20 countries in putting up on growth trajectory.
 It is assumed that all countries (except Turkey and Russia) will become part of
the European Union (single market), if not, preferential trade agreements are
expected.
 Internet and telephone penetration will be 100% by 2022.
 More flexible mobility and increased transfer of knowledge and know-how.
 Decreased rate of brain drain and 100% literacy gained through active reforms
in education.
 Euro crisis will come to an end.
 Democratically stable governments in all countries with no political and ethnic
conflicts.

3. Eastern Europe: Current Economic Climate
(based on a survey done via professional groups and networks on LinkedIn
and Facebook)
Weaknesses
 Financial and regulatory discrepancies (tax evasion, corruption, shadow
economy)
 State dysfunctional ties (arbitrariness, high tax revenues)
 Low level of service quality provided compared to other economies
 Poor institutional environment (bureaucracy)
Strengths
 Highly qualified and relatively cheap labor force
 Favorable geographic location and developed infrastructure
 Investment incentives (special economic zones)
 IT know-how

4. Eastern Europe: Future Outlook (Survey findings)
Potential Sector to Focus Most Required Profession
Sector %
Information 40 10%
30%
15% Software developer (IT)
Technology
Engineer
Renewable Energy 25 20%
Services providers
25% Financial specialties
Healthcare
Strong Agriculture 20
Tourism 15
Bridging the gap between West & East
1. Converting the region into a logistics hub
2. Investment into production facilities to utilize low cost advantage

5. COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Sunflower Consultancy
Objective:
To help people and companies strengthen by providing them up-to-date information, state
of the art networking, financial advices and research analysis, courses and training for
particular skills which will help them bridging the excellence gap.
 We will address the root cause of the problem objectively.
 We will provide long term solution keeping subjective interests in mind.
Vision:
Sunflower Consultancy will inspire its employees to achieve perfection in a way it can be. We
will engage in sustainable practices and anticipate the needs of our customers. We will
maximize return to the stockholders while still maintaining quality in our services.
Mission:
Our mission is to turn business knowledge into values, to help the transition became a
transformation, to focus on regional development and youth empowerment.
To help Eastern Europe shine like the rising Sun.
Company location:
Initially It will be in one of the Balkan states (according to our Clustered approach quoted in
the following slide), with future intends to spread and cover the whole Eastern Europe region.

6. Clustered Approach (Region Wise Division)
Baltic Cluster
- Estonia
Central Europe
- Latvia
Cluster
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Belarus
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Croatia
Eastern Central
Cluster
Balkan Cluster - Ukraine
- Bosnia and - Bulgaria
Herzegovina - Romania
- Serbia - Moldova
- Albania
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Kosovo
Picture courtesy: about.com

7. Focus area: Renewable energy and sustainable development
 Environmental technologies and processes
(Recycling, Renewable energy sources, Rain-water harvesting, Sustainable transport, Energy
efficient housing)
Target groups: Reasons for investment
 Companies: reducing running costs, improving performance, a compliance with environment
standards
 Households: reducing the costs of household consumption, healthy indoor environment
 Community (municipality): reduction of pollution, reduction of waste, reduction of emission
related diseases, savings in healthcare
Picture courtesy: www.geenways.pl

8. Growth Projection For Sunflower Consultancy*
Step 1: Starting Phase Step 2: Expansion Phase
• Company will start in one country from the Balkan Cluster • Expanding in Eastern Central Cluster
• Initially will hire 2 experts from the area of business informatics, as • Working closely with the government and financial
well as an expert in the area of economics and social sciences institutions
• Capital will be invested in basic infrastructure • Opening a youth empowerment division & providing
skills development related training
• Web presence will be established
• Expected staff : 30-40
• Providing expertise consultancies and acting as a centre of
excellence for regional development
• Expected staff: 5-10 (including supporting people)
Step 3: Maturity Phase
Step 4: Final Phase
• Expanding in Central Europe Cluster
• Expanding in Baltic Cluster (presence in all countries)
• Investing in a professional training & research center to
• Focus on other sectors (Tourism etc.) fulfill the long term talent requirements of Eastern Europe
• Establishing a Public information centre for easy access of • Organizing events for better collaboration among people,
information to the general public public institutions and expertise
• Expected staff : 130-150 • Expected staff : 70-100
*Each phase timeline: 3-5 years

9. Other potential sectors: Focus during the expansion phase
 Following our Clustered approach of working: Areas needed more attention are:
Central Europe Cluster (China of Europe)
 Manufacturing hub
Baltic Cluster (A future region known for innovation)
 Development of ITC sector
Balkan Cluster (Cultural and touristic potential for high-end tourism)
 Potential for innovative cultural and touristic trip routes
Eastern Central Cluster (Agriculture basket)
 Modernization of agricultural practices

10. References
 www.globaledge.msu.edu
 www.economywatch.com
 www.cia.gov
 www.heritage.org
 www.theodora.com
 www.ilo.org
 www.ec.europa.eu
 www.worldbank.org
 www.wikipedia.org
 www.consensuseconomics.com
 www.linkedin.com (CEE Group for business professionals)
 www.facebook.com ( Corporation and Development Network, Eastern Europe)