For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Mark Branov

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TORONTO, June 3, 2010 – After months of preparation, UMD GC2010 opened today with a variety of key events designed to give our participants a chance to introduce themselves to each other, and events that give UMD a chance to introduce Macedonia to the world.

The day’s events began with an Opening Plenary, introduced by UMD President Metodija A. Koloski, and Macedonian Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Ljuben Tevdovski, followed by a keynote address by Mr. Thomas S. Caldwell, C.M., Chairman of Caldwell Financial, and former Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange on the topic of the World Financial Crisis: How Did We Get There and Where To From Here – A Broad View.

The next major event was “Doing Business in Macedonia – A Unique Business Gateway to Southeast Europe” – a wide-ranging panel discussion moderated by UMD Director Ivona Grimberg.  Panelists included well-known entrepreneur John I. Bitove, InvestMacedonia CEO Victor Mizo, high-ranking corporate executive Mike Zafirovski, and Renato Dicenza, of Invest Toronto.

The next panel was “Success Stories and Building Partnership,” moderated by UMD Canada Liaison Officer Goran Saveski.  Panelists included Mr. Tim DiScipio, founder of ePals, a protected, internet-based classroom community, where children from countries around the world can communicate with each other; Mr. Chris Temovsky, founder of Ddrops, an innovative natural pharmaceutical company producing vitamin D products; and Mr. Robert Lomauro, the President and CEO of the Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, one of the premier YMCAs in the United States with operations in Macedonia.

Hosted by H. E. Ambassador Tevdovski, the conference participants enjoyed an excellent evening reception - an ideal opportunity to network with fellow Macedonians from around the world.  This was followed by a special exhibit opening of the fine art of Macedonian artist Dimce Isailovski, who had 40 fine paintings on display, and a speech by Macedonian MP Aleksandar Nikoloski, who presented President Koloski with a replica of a beautiful golden mask artifact from the Ohrid region, dated from the 6th century BC.

Finally, the evening was capped by a screening of the brilliant documentary A Name is A Name by Icelander Sigurjon Einarsson.  The moving and informative film, which has played to packed audiences around the world, is set up a road movie. The director travels by motorcycle to every corner of Macedonia, interviewing people from all walks of life about what it means to be Macedonian; from the very famous, such as Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski, the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s Archbishop Gospodin Gospodin Stefan, to ordinary citizens such as fishermen, shepherds, artists, and students.  Attended by over 300 people, the screening was followed by a Q&A session with producer Jason Miko.

Tomorrow, participants are looking forward to a host of new panels, as well as the debut of world-renowned folk-fusion sensation Synthesis, with its unique brand of traditional Macedonian music mixed with modern rhythms, at aLIVE – A Macedonian Cultural Celebration.