DEAR MEMBERS OF VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM!
As Honorary President, it is a matter of particular concern to me to address all of you to congratulate you most warmly for your contribution to the success story of Vienna Economic Forum.
Born in 2004 as an idea of Dr Elena Kirtcheva, at this time Ambassador of Bulgaria to Austria, to offer an independent economic platform, based in Vienna, to the countries of South-East Europe, today Vienna Economic Forum is a widely recognized Non-Governmental Organisation, which has remained true to its founding objectives in all these years.
I am convinced – Vienna Economic Forum has to continue to enforce these objectives: although, in changed circumstances, of changing times, with new and to these times adapted initiatives.
The status as International Non-Governmental Organisation, the Consultative Status granted by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and the entry in the Transparency Register of the European Parliament and the European Commission are milestones of great recognition for all Vienna Economic Forum – activities in the region, which enable Vienna Economic Forum – to reach methodically and continuously new horizons.
I would like to thank all of you most warmly, dear Members of Vienna Economic Forum and longstanding as well as loyal supporters of our pioneering role in the region, for your trust and excellent collaboration, and to wish the extended Vienna Economic Forum-Board and my successor – the newly elected Vienna Economic Forum-President, DI Dr Günther Rabensteiner, Member of the Board of Verbund AG, to continue the prosperous contributions to this Vienna Economic Forum-success story.
Yours,
Dr. Erhard Busek
Former Vice-Chancellor of the Republic of Austria
Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum
DEAR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS OF VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM!
You can certainly imagine the feeling of gratitude when thinking of our common time together with the longstanding President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice Chancellor Dr Erhard Busek and we are pleased, that he will continue to support us as Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum in the future.
Allow me to assure you, dear Dr Erhard Busek, as well as all of you, distinguished Members and Partner of Vienna Economic Forum, that we continue to work unstintingly and specifically towards the further development of our collaboration and to harness the premises of the great recognition of all Vienna Economic Forum activities in the region, in order to disseminate the visions of Vienna Economic Forum as an International Non-Governmental Organisation and of all Vienna Economic Forum-Members, not only Europe-wide, but also worldwide.
By overview of the Vienna Economic Forum-success story during the “Dr. Busek-Era” in this brochure, we hope at the same time to count on the significant support of all members and partners to reach together new horizons in the changed circumstances of our world today.
With a growing foundation, Vienna Economic Forum has not only developed into THE economic platform, but into THE EUROPEAN economic platform in Vienna. We offer this platform to our members, various representatives from economy and politics from the Member Countries, but also to countries worldwide. A platform for trust – building, exchange of thoughts and concrete collaboration in the area of economy – together with state institutions and political circles! A platform where visionaries meet!
The ability to identify visions and having the determination to realise them – this is crucial nowadays.
This is a matter of fact: Vienna Economic Forum, an economic and non-political platform, based in Vienna, expanded in 2016 again its own European-wide and world-wide network in economy and politics. Vienna Economic Forum has been increasingly requested for more collaboration, and we are pleased to welcome new members and representatives from more and more countries: for the first time from the USA as well.
The market-based conditions in many countries of the world, of Europe and the Balkan region are influenced by great political uncertainty. We, from Vienna Economic Forum, continuously confront this uncertainty of our time with keeping up the pro-European collaborations in the area of economy, with actively developing proactive economic initiatives and realising them together with our Partners.
According to a European-wide survey, 72% of young people feel European! We from Vienna Economic Forum have to mediate and facilitate this feeling – to feel European – to the regional economy too!
Honoured Members,
Cooperation remains the keyword of Vienna Economic Forum!
We all know very well that there is no vacuum in the business world! Therefore, Vienna Economic Forum is always ambitious to not only increase the numbers of its members and partners from different countries, but also to support its cooperation partners and members in their economic endeavours and to motivate decision-makers from economy and politics to further strive for regional investment projects.
For all of this we can recognize new horizons for our engagement. A future without closer cooperation, especially in the area of economy, is hard to imagine.
A great thank you to all of you, Members and Partners of Vienna Economic Forum!
For your trust, for your consistent support!
And for your disposition to reach new horizons together
Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva
Secretary General