The Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans – again at the Vienna Economic Forum for a round of cooperation
The Members of the Board and Members of Vienna Economic Forum had the honor and the pleasure to once again welcome high-ranking round of Prime Ministers from the Western Balkans at the 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2018 which under the motto “Economy Meets Politics” took place at the House of Engineers, on 19 November 2018 in Vienna.
The 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum was held under the Patronage of H.E. Mr. Sebastian Kurz, Federal Chancellor of Austria und as official event of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
In the panel discussion on “Regional Cooperation as a Part of the European Integration. Digitisation – Bridging Gaps and Chance to Leapfrog “, together with H.E. Ms. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, the Prime Ministers of Albania, H.E. Edi Rama, of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Denis Zvizdic, of Kosovo, H.E. Ramush Haradinaj, of Montenegro, H.E. Duško Marković and Macedonia’s Vice Prime Minister, responsible for the economy, H.E. Kocho Angjushev, took part.
The positive economic development is a result of a cooperation between business and politics and in this regard, the Secretary General has extended a big thank you to the representatives of the regional policy in the Balkans, the Prime Ministers who, as VEF patron members of the Patronage Committee, support this cooperation.
In his greeting, the host Dr. Kari Kapsch, President of the Austrian Association for Electrical Engineering, spoke about the development of the electrical engineering and energy industries and the many years of good experience of the association.
The VEF President DI Dr. Günther Rabensteiner emphasized the development of the Vienna Economic Forum on THE European Economic Platform, based in Vienna, as a platform for confidence building, for exchange of ideas and concrete cooperation in the economic sector, together with state institutions and political circles! A platform where visionaries from the worlds of business and politics meet and one that offers support and practical assistance to VEF members and the many representatives from business and politics in the various member states.
In her impulse statement, the Austrian Federal Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs, H.E. Dr. Margarete Schramböck, stressed the importance and the advanced achievements of the Balkan countries cooperation in the area of digitisation and the important role of this cooperation.
In his External View Statement, Dr. Ivan Krastev, appointed for 2018-2019 as the Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress, USA, introduced the high ranking audience with his visions of the development of the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.
Under the moderation by Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director of AME International GmbH, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, the high-ranking representatives of the Austrian business community and members of the VEF Board DI. Peter Umundum, Member of the Board of Austrian Post and Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum, Mag. Stefan Szyszkowitz, Spokesman of the Executive Board, EVN AG and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, Mag. Hermann Anderl, Managing Director, Canon CEE GmbH and Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum, Dr. Gabriel LANSKY, Partner, LANSKY, GANZGER + partner, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum and Mag. Thomas Arnoldner, CEO, A1 Telekom Austria and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum discussed important aspects of regional cooperation in the digital industry.
Since VEF always sets concrete and pragmatic goals, the Secretary General reported on the positive results from the Vienna Economic Forum- Sofia Talks 2018 and, at the end of the 1st Session invited for a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a Digital ICT School for the young people of the VEF region.
At the Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Talks 2018, which was held on 18 May 2018 in Sofia, together with the 6 countries of the Western Balkans under the same motto “Economy meets politics”, the representative of A1 Telekom Austria Group informed the Prime Ministers of the Western Balkan countries about the serious need in the telecom industry to train a new generation of young people capable of “absorbing” the necessary knowledge in the rapid development of world digitization.
The Vienna Economic Forum took this vision which further became a VEF inspiration with the willingness and active commitment of the Rectors and Professors of 3 regional universities – New Bulgarian University (NBU) Sofia, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems and TITU MAIORESCU University of Bucharest who came to a joint Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed in the presence of EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, the CEO of A1 Telekom Austria Group Mag. Thomas Arnoldner, Member of the Board of the Vienna Economic Forum and other VEF Board members. With this initiative, Vienna Economic Forum continues to focus on the good economic development of the member states.
In the Afternoon Working Session “A Strong Europe Through a Strong Economic Connection: Building Bridges”, Ministers H.E Mr. Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, H.E. Dr. Lilyana Pavlova, Minister of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, H.E. Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi, Minister of Economy of Macedonia, H.E. Prof. Dr. Antony Anton, Minister of Energy of Romania and H.E. Mr Zdravko Pocivalshek, Minister for Economic Development and Technology of Slovenia, discussed how strong economic cooperation can contribute to a strong Europe. The moderator Amb. Victor Jackovich, president of Jackovich International LLC, USA and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum invited Dr. Daniel Thorniley, President of DT-Global Business Consulting to deliver his External View Statement and to share his visionary thoughts with the audience.
In his Impulse Statement, Mag. Harald Neumann, CEO, Novomatic AG, Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum and Honorary Consul of Romania with a Consular District of Lower Austria, spoke about building bridges in the transregional economy and the great opportunities of the Romanian economy. As further representatives of the regional and international economy with most interesting contributions, the members of the VEF Board Dr. Emmanuel Forest, CEO, BOUYGUES Europe, SA, Belgium and Dr. Ludwig Niessen, Member of the Management Board, COO / CTO, Wiener Börse AG, took an active part as Speakers.
The following Q and A session led to lively discussions and exchange of views with the high representatives of regional and European politics as well as the high-ranking representatives of the Austrian, regional, European and international economy.
At the traditional Annual Award Ceremony of the 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2018 the following were unanimously nominated and honored with the Vienna Economic Forum Award 2018: As Country Partner of the year 2018 the member country Bulgaria, for the great contribution to regional economic cooperation during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The award was accepted by H.E. Dr. Lilyana Pavlova, Minister of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. As cooperation partner of the year 2018 Novomatic AG for the great contribution to the economic development on international and regional level in the member countries of Vienna Economic Forum. The award was accepted by CEO Mag. Harald Heumann. As Vienna Economic Forum Special Appreciation Award 2018 – Penkov, Markov & Partners for the great contribution to regional common understanding and excellent cooperation. The award was presented by Vladimir Penkov, Senior Partner and Chairman, Penkov & Markov & Partners International Law Firm Received; and as Vienna Economic Forum Media Partner 2018 – Monitor TV for the long-standing great media representation of the Vienna Economic Forum and excellent cooperation and media support. The award was accepted by Mag. Thomas Ebner, Senior News Editor, MonitorTV Journalist & Media Trainer, main media partner of the Vienna Economic Forum.
Vienna Economic Forum would like to thank all members, partners and friends for the excellent and long-lasting cooperation, which motivates and inspires us for further activity! Special thanks go to all the cooperation partners: A1 Telekom Austria Group, AME International GmbH, Bouygues Europe SA, CANON CEE GmbH, DenizBank AG, EVN AG, Flughafen Wien AG, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, HYPO NOE Landesbank, Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), Jackovich International LLC, LANSKY, GANZGER + partner, Novomatic AG, Österreichische Post AG, Serbian Association of Economists, Siemens AG Österreich, Sopharma PLC, The Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Investment Office, Verbund AG, Wiener Börse AG, Wien Holding GmbH.
