DEAR MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND FRIENDS OF VIENNA ECONOMIC FORUM!
HONOURED PRIME MINISTERS – PATRONS!
EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AMBASSADORS!
DISTINGUISHED HONORARY MEMBERS!
The year 2023 marked a significant milestone in the success story of Vienna Economic Forum
(VEF)!
On the 13th of November 2023, in the Festivity Hall of the Vienna City Hall, all of us – had the
excellent feeling of being an immanent part of this success story, by organising and celebrating
the 20th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2023!
Promoting international and intercultural understanding and supporting the development of
the regional economic cooperation has been the goal of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) since
its foundation in 2004. VEF was born in an enthusiastic era as a vision, incorporating the dream
of the peoples form “The Region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea” for a common life in peace
and prosperity.
Registered on 24th of April 2004, under Austrian Association Law, VEF has evolved remarkably
over the years. Remaining true to its founding vision, VEF has steadily progressed in its mission
and achieved several milestones. It has attained the esteemed Status of an International
Non-Governmental Organization (Int. NGO) as per Austrian law; VEF holds Consultative Status
with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN); VEF is registered
in the Transparency Register of the European Union (EU) and the European Commission (EC).
Today, VEF proudly flies its own flag at the VEF headquarters, located in the ambassador’s
quarter in Vienna. This emblematic presence symbolizes VEF’s commitment to its mission and
its esteemed stature in the international community.
We proudly stand today, reflecting on 20 years of progress since the beginning, observing the
successful development of economic cooperation among entrepreneurs from the member
countries of Vienna Economic Forum – Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and
Ukraine – throughout these years.
The recognitions received for VEF’s 20 years of dedicated work, acknowledging its longstanding
activities in the region and exceptional contributions to international and intercultural
understanding, serve as motivation for the VEF Team to persist in consolidating the VEF Region
“From the Adriatic to the Black Sea.”
Throughout these years, Vienna Economic Forum has remained committed to its founding goals
and encapsulates the vision that inspired the VEF founding in 2004:
– To popularize and promote investment opportunities in the region from the Adriatic to the
Black Sea.
– To provide impulses and, based on research, joint projects required in the region for shortterm, medium-term, and long-term realization, and promoting their implementation.
– To become a place of definition, encounter, and of realising the public and private interests in
connection with the various projects in the region as part of united Europe.
– To pursue a strategy fostering economic cooperation and the development of VEF member
countries as a cohesive region, forming a “VEF Economic Area”.
We express our gratitude to all VEF members and partners who have supported VEF over the
years, contributing to its growth and serving as a symbol of unity for the region. Many of them
joined the 20th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum, offering words of support and praise and
honouring the success story of Vienna Economic Forum – 20 years of active and remarkable
work, as well as its pivotal role in economic diplomacy over the past two decades.
A sincere thank you goes out to all of you, dear Members, Partners, and Friends of Vienna
Economic Forum, for your longstanding trust and support, for joining us in the work and in
celebrating all 20 Years and the 20th anniversary of Vienna Economic Forum! We invite you
to continue to be with us in all future activities and upcoming jubilees, as we strive for many
more successful years of collaborative work and achievement, for better international and
intercultural understanding in the Region “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea” and beyond.
Sincerely yours,
Amb. Dr. Emil Brix Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva
President Secretary General