Since its establishment in 2004, the vision of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) has been to promote and expand regional economic cooperation among entrepreneurs from the member countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. This is the main direction in which VEF is developing. Our vision encompasses more than just economic goals for the region “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea.”
It also involves intercultural learning, bringing the countries in this region closer to each other and to the EU, contributing to mutual understanding among nations. Prejudices and borders are overcome, and VEF forms an excellent foundation for unity in diversity.
The founding members of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) include some of Austria’s most renowned companies and industrialists, and we are proud that our vision is implemented as a mission with clear objectives and through annual action plans.
The Prime Ministers of the states in the VEF region form the Patronage Committee of Vienna Economic Forum. All ambassadors accredited in Austria from the countries in the VEF region participate in the work of the Forum as members of the Ambassador Committee. The bodies of Vienna Economic Forum also include various committees, with special support provided by the members of the VEF Honorary Committee, who are notable personalities and visionaries.
Promoting regional economic cooperation has been the goal of Vienna Economic Forum since its foundation in 2004, and we are proud that the economic cooperation between entrepreneurs from the member countries of Vienna Economic Forum has developed successfully over all these years.
Among the founding members of Vienna Economic Forum are some of the most renowned Austrian companies and industrialists. The prime ministers of the states of the VEF region, defined as “The region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea”, form the Patronage Committee of Vienna Economic Forum. All accredited ambassadors of the VEF- Member countries in Austria take part in the VEF – activities as Members of the Ambassadors Committee. The organs of Vienna Economic Forum also include various Committees, with special support being provided by the members of the VEF Honorary Committee, well-known personalities and visionaries.
Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), which was granted the status of an International Non-governmental Organization primarily on 7 January 2011 and then again on 1 January 2022, is constantly growing and developing. On 27 July 2012, VEF was granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). Since 2015, Vienna Economic Forum has been entered in the Transparency Register of the European Parliament and the European Commission. VEF has received the right to wave the VEF flag from the Austrian authorities.
These recognitions, which VEF has received for all the long-standing activities in the region and for the exceptional contribution to international understanding, motivate the VEF team to continue and tirelessly contribute to the consolidation of the VEF region “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea”.
In all these years, Vienna Economic has remained true to its founding goals:
- To popularize and promote investment opportunities in the region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea.
- To provide impulses and, based on research, the joint projects required in the region for short-term, medium-term and long-term realisation, and promoting their implementation.
- Becoming 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 a united Europe.
These goals incorporate the vision that led to the creation of the VEF in 2004: to follow a strategy that contributes to economic cooperation and development of the VEF member countries as a region that is growing together, a “VEF economic area”!
The implementation of this strategy is always in focus and determines the planning and execution of all the work of the VEF’s team over the years!
- Free participation of up to three individuals at all activities of Vienna Economic Forum in Austria and abroad throughout the year
- Priority submission of sponsorship packages to actively present your company according to your own interests at the events in Austria and abroad (e.g. logo, materials, stand, speaker)
- Submission of all information and materials of the events in Austria and abroad
- Access to the network of the “Vienna Economic Forum – Family” – our partners from business, politics and diplomacy in Austria and abroad – which Vienna Economic Forum has built in all the years of active engagement in the region South-East Europe
- Invitation to the General Assembly
- Invitation to the annual Garden Party, the big social event of Vienna Economic Forum, every June