8th Vienna Economic Forum

Dr. Erhard Busek, Former Vice Chancellor of Austria and President of Vienna Economic Forum, emphasized the opportunities of the EU-Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and reiterated the necessity of cooperation and harmonization of Southeast European countries in order to develop the long-term projects of the strategy.

In her welcome address, Dr. Elena Kirtcheva underlined the role of the 8^th Vienna Economic Forum as a milestone when many states of the region have to face the challenges of a highly difficult and uncertain business environment. In times when European integration is called in question, she is convinced that the willingness of all regional actors to intensify their cooperation for economic development is of the utmost importance. Therefore Vienna Economic Forum has the clear objective to pay close attention to the interests and the potential of economic development in the region of Vienna Economic Forum – extended to the countries along the river Danube and the Black Sea region – and continue to actively work towards those goals. European countries, both EU and non-EU-Members, are more and more being regarded as sub-regions, which enables Vienna Economic Forum to offer new horizons to its members and partners.

When H.E. Mr. Werner Faymann, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, opened the Austrian “Mini-Davos” for Southeast European Countries for the third time, he pointed out the importance of cooperation in the region and praised the positive and concrete results that can be achieved during and with the help of Vienna Economic Forum – a tradition he expects to keep up in the coming years.

Dr. Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, presented in a very insightful manner the consequences of the worldwide economic crisis, the perspectives of the region, and ways of acting to shape the future of Southeast Europe.

In the main statement of the second plenary session, H.E. Reinhold Mitterlehner, Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth of Austria, presented ways of developing the region with the help of the EU-Strategy for the Danube Region.

It was an honour for Vienna Economic Forum to welcome H.E. Mr. Nikola Gruevski, President of the Government of the Former Yugsolav Republic of Macedonia and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, as well as:

H.E. Prof. Dr. Vujica Lazovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro

H.E. Dr. Liliyana Pavlova, Minister for Regional Development of the Republic of Bulgaria

Ms. Andreja Jerina, State Secretary for Development and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

Mr. Domagoj Juricic, State Secretary for Investment of the Republic of Croatia

Ms. Dragijana Radonjic Petrovic, State Secretary for Regional Development and Entrepreneurship Promotion of the Republic of Serbia

Mr. Dorin Dragutanu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), Member of the Governors Committee of Vienna Economic Forum

Mr. Bojidar Danev, President, Industrial Association of the Republic of Bulgaria, Member of the Committee of the President of the Economic Chambers of Vienna Economic Forum

Ms. Daria Krsticevic, Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Croatia

Ms. Daniela Paul, Counsellor in the Foreign Relations Department, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania

Beside our honourable VIP-Guests, Presidents of Government, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers from the Member countries, high ranking representatives from the following international institutions were present:

• Energy Community Secretariat,
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),
• European Investment Bank (EIB),
• International Finance Corporation (IFC),
• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),
• Regional Cooperation Council (RCC),
• World Bank,
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The following partner organisations of Vienna Economic Forum were present:

• Southeast European CooperativeInitiative (SECI),
• The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK),
• Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM),
• EastEuroCo Executive Search Group, Budapest,
• Federation of Austrian Industries (IV),
• Business Advisory Council for Southeast Europe (BAC), Thessaloniki,
• European Center for Environmental Economy (ECEE), Sofia,
• Organisation for international Economic Relations (OiER)

We are glad to announce that the 9^th Vienna Economic Forum will take place on 19 November 2012, in the splendid Palais Niederösterreich, Vienna.

Vienna Economic Awards 2011

“For Contribution to the economic development at a national and regional level in the countries of Vienna Economic Forum”

In the traditional Annual Award Ceremony, Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva announced the winners of the year 2011:

At a national level and as representative of the Austrian Government:

H.E. Dr. Reinhold Mitterlehner, Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth of Austria and co-organizer of the 8^th Vienna Economic Forum

At a regional level:

H.E. Dr. Erwin Pröll, Governor of the Province of Lower Austria and long-term partner and supporter of Vienna Economic Forum

Members of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum who have contributed to further economic development for the region by their outstanding commitment:

Dr. Franz Wohlfahrt, Chief Executive Officer, Novomatic AG, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum

Mr. Stefan Szyszkowitz, Member of the Board, EVN AG Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum

High Representative of a Member State:

H.E. Mr. Nikola Gruevski, President of the Government of the Fromer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Patron of Vienna Economic Forum