Dear Jeremy,,
Welcome to the September edition of the EMEA E-update. As we turn now to the autumn, (or spring for our Southern Hemisphere members) we will see our Business Development Group meetings start up again – VAT and Global Mobility in September – details are below, and of course we look forward to our Worldwide Conference which will be in Washington at the end of October.
Over the summer you will have seen the publication of the BKR Story. I commend it to you as a way to focus on what BKR is all about. Those three key words, Business, Knowledge and Relationships, will be at the core of the association moving forward.
Our Worldwide conference is a great chance to build the relationships that are at the heart of the association and this year, it will provide the forum to discuss progress on the strategy work being driven by the WW Board. More details of progress so far will be published shortly. It will not offer all the solutions, but should at least set the direction and offer opportunity for debate in Washington.
Another highlight in Washington will be the launch of the new website, complete with the new rebranding. The website will be a step change from what we have today. Details will of course follow, but one feature will be the ability to run Groups which will allow open conversation among experts and collaboration through direct messaging to other members. I hope it will be a popular feature.
In preparation for the website change the current site will move to a fixed holding page from the 13 October. We will make sure there are clear links to event registration and details of how to contact the association.
The new website will go live on the 30th October.
Future Leaders will take place in December and will again tie in with the Tax and Audit Groups and we are just working on running Global Mobility and M&A Groups in person at the same time.
Finally, if you have any concerns, comments or thoughts, please do get in touch.
I look forward to seeing you all in Washington.
Best,
Alistair
What is in the e-update?
Upcoming Meetings
Member news & Articles
Membership
Worldwide BKR Update
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UPCOMING PRACTICE GROUP MEETINGS | |
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Sept 15, 2023
We are pleased to invite you to the first 2023 EMEA Region VAT Business Development Group Meeting.
Hosted by Joachim Brunen of WWS, this meeting will be held VIRTUALLY on Friday 15th Sept 2023 11 a.m. CET
Click here for more details and to register
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Sept 27, 2023
Following the July face-to-face meeting in Chatou we will continue to expand further collaboration within the GM group. In particular this meeting will look at the depth of services on offer in member firms.
Hosted by Paul Tucker of UNW, this meeting will be held VIRTUALLY on Wednesday, 27 Sept 2023 10 a.m. (London Time)
Click here for more details and to register
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ANNUAL WORLD WIDE CONFERENCE | |
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JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC
Please note that the deadline to register for the meeting is Friday, October 13, and the deadline for hotel reservations is Friday, September 29.
Early Bird pricing ends at 12:00 AM ET on September 12.
| Members requiring visas to attend the Worldwide Meeting are requested to contact Belinda Rivera at memberservices@bkr.com as soon as possible for a letter of invitation to support their visa. | |
SAVE THE DATE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GROUPS
DECEMBER 4, 2023
Hilton Hotel Schiphol, Amsterdam
EMEA Audit Group Meeting
Full details to follow.
EMEA Tax Group Meeting
Full details to follow.
EMEA Global Mobility Business Development Group Meeting
TBC
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INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE LEADERS | |
December 5th 2023.
This year our theme for our Future Leaders conference is ‘The DNA of Leadership'.
This DNA comprises of 4 distinct sections:
- Mindset
- Impact
- Data
- Commerciality
An international leader/speaker has been selected to deliver each of the four sections.
For FULL details and to register click HERE.
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BKR at EUFIN's 18th Workshop on European Financial Reporting at the University of Piraeus in Athens. | |
Iulia Lascau, BKR EMEA's vice-chair and Managing Partner of Argus Audit SRL, Romania was joined by our Executive Director, Alistair Bryant MBE to listen to part of the proceedings at this year's EUFIN Conference in Athens on September 1st.
We asked Iulia to share her thoughts from the session on ‘Sustainability reporting: What do we expect for sustainability reporting in the EU and the world following the adoption and implementation of the CSRD?’, which highlighted the critical importance of sustainability in today's business landscape.
Here is a brief review of the key points:
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Emphasis on Sustainability: Sustainability is no longer optional but a crucial imperative for organizations. This assertion aligns with the global shift towards responsible and ethical business practices.
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Beyond Financial Reporting: Reporting goes beyond financial reporting is spot on. In the modern business world, stakeholders, including investors and consumers, increasingly demand comprehensive reports that include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.
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Indispensable Role of Governance and Auditors: Iulia aptly underscores the pivotal role of governance structures and auditors in ensuring the success of contemporary businesses. Governance sets the tone for sustainability efforts and establishes a strategic direction, while auditors provide the necessary assurance and verification to build trust among stakeholders.
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Trust-Building and Accountability: Auditors play a vital role in building trust not only with stakeholders but also with society at large. This trust is built through accountability, transparency, and internal controls for sustainability purposes.
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Complex Landscape of Sustainability: The statement acknowledges the intricate and multifaceted nature of sustainability. In today's world, businesses must navigate a complex landscape of environmental and social responsibilities, and the partnership between governance and auditors is crucial in achieving this.
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Integral Components of Corporate Strategy: Environmental and social responsibilities should be integral components of corporate strategy. This reflects the growing recognition that sustainability is not a standalone initiative but must be integrated into an organization's core operations and decision-making processes.
"Overall, the essence of the discussions at the EUFIN Conference, emphasizes the necessity for strong governance and auditing practices in promoting sustainability and responsible corporate behavior", says Iulia, "these insights are highly relevant and provide valuable guidance for organizations aiming to thrive in a world where sustainability is paramount.”
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An update from Cape Town and Young Hearts Africa | |
You will remember, that thanks to your generous contributions, we raised over 10,000€ for the charity Young Hearts Africa (YHA) at our last conference in Cape Town. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the incredible impact of our recent charity auction. Your support is making a significant difference in the lives of children in need.
YHA has achieved remarkable milestones. So far, they have assisted over 30 children at the Red Cross Children's Hospital, providing vital cardiac care. Plans are underway to expand their efforts to Groote Schuur Hospital and the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital in the coming year. This expansion will increase their reach and impact, touching the lives of even more young patients in Africa.
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In their determination to create lasting change, YHA is now working toward building a specialized Paediatric Cardiac Unit for Africa at the Red Cross Hospital. This ambitious project aims to be completed within the next three years, offering hope and brighter futures for countless children across the continent.
Donovan Fraser, and Bruce Boake of BKR member firm Boake Inc. in Johannesburg attended the prestigious Conscious Companies Awards Ceremony last night which saw Dr. Wilhelm Lichtenberg, the founder of Young Hearts Africa honoured with the NGO/NPC category award in recognition of the outstanding work of the charity. This award highlights the significance of their mission and the impact they have made.
Your participation in the charity auction has directly contributed to these achievements. Your generous support has provided life-saving medical care, giving vulnerable children a chance to thrive.
Thank you once again for your compassion and commitment to this worthy cause.
Together, we can change lives and build a brighter future.
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Cyprus: The New Hybrid Financial Centre | | |
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Cyprus is continuing to impress not only international investors but the locals as well.
We are in 2023, several years after the termination of the successful Cyprus Investment Program and the island is still strong, development is “off the roof” in all cities and overseas relocation is at its pick!
What a year for Cyprus, who would have seen this coming!
So what is going on?
In simple terms, it seems that Cyprus has much more to offer than just a passport. Limassol, the beautiful seaside city with more than 120,000 expats, continues to shine, new towers continue to emerge and life is enjoyed at a premium. Amazing hotels and restaurants support the needs of our most VIP individuals and business persons who relocated to the island or are simply on business for a few days.
Similarly, Larnaca is becoming a hub of Israel and Lebanese investors who seek to buy the relatively low priced apartments for yields exceeding 5%. New proposed developments as well as the enhancement of the new Larnaca Marina Port provides an investment safety, as it evidences that the city is growing both via big commercial and residential development projects as well as by expats relocation who enjoy Cyprus tax and relocation benefits!
Paphos was and continues to be the peaceful city of amazing landscapes and wild beauty, combining exotic mountains on the seaside; very attractive for the elderly and persons who want to live a calm lifestyle. The amazing sunsets and pieceful quality of life embraces it even further. Residential development projects in Paphos are also continuous, at a lower pace though than the other cities.
Last but not least, Nicosia seems to be taking its turn, at last. Literally last but not least !!!
The full article is available to read on the CYAUSE site here
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Cyprus Join the Schengen Zone | |
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During the past few decades, Cyprus has been under assessment to be able to enter the Schengen Information System (SIS).
Cyprus has finally been given the green light to join the SIS (joining on 25th July 2023), which means that the Cyprus authorities will be better positioned in identifying and preventing security risks to Cypriot citizens.
Joining the SIS is a significant step towards the imminent final step of Cyprus joining the Schengen Zone.
SIS is a public security initiative through which Member States created a shared database to accommodate a few purposes such as: border control, policing, public security. The database which includes data for over 90 million individuals is being heavily used to identify criminals, missing persons as well as stolen high value goods.
The above news will be a boost to Cyprus’s economy both from a tourism (all year) perspective as well as a corporate perspective, as it enhances the feel of security both for tourists visiting the island, as well as for businesses that aim to relocate their offices to Cyprus.
Having been engaged in multiple global tax mobility projects for many years now, Eurofast team with over 35 high-skilled professionals are in position to facilitate relocation of executives and/or companies to Cyprus and handle the whole process at our best.
For further information or assistance, please contact Mr. Fanos Pavlou Manager of Advisory and Corporate Services, at our Eurofast office in Nicosia, Cyprus at nicosia@eurofast.eu
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Membership Status
We are seeking Member Firms in these countries. If you know of any potential candidates or have contacts in the countries, please get in touch (Alistair Bryant).
Denmark
Poland
Czech Republic
Finland
West Africa
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EMEA Executive Director
Alistair Bryant
BKR International
London
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 7828 73 48 40
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EMEA Regional Chairman
Rui Pinho
Esteves, Pinho & Associados
Portugal
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