The official Ceremonial Opening of the 22nd Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), followed by the traditional Welcome Cocktail, took place on the eve before the 22nd VEF, on 16 November 2025, in the historically significant and noble Hotel Imperial in Vienna.

In her Opening Words, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Founder and Member of the Board of VEF, conveyed a warm welcome to H.E. Ms. Claudia Plakolm, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family of the Republic of Austria, who delivered her welcoming words on behalf of H.E. Dr. Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), as well as to H.E. Mr. Aleksandar Nikolovski, Deputy President of the Government and Minister of Transport of the Republic of North Macedonia, and to Dr. Severin Gruber, Secretary General, Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Austria.

In his Greeting Words, Ambassador Dr. Emil Brix, President of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), warmly welcomed the high-ranking representatives of economy and politics of the VEF Member Countries, of European and international organizations and institutions, and the participants at the 22nd Vienna Economic Forum, taking place on 17 November 2025 in the Festive Hall of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).

The Greeting Words by H.E. Ms. Claudia Plakolm, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family of the Republic of Austria, focused on impulses for strengthening the regional economic cooperation with and between the Member Countries from the VEF-Region “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea.” Minister Plakolm informed about her recent visit to six West Balkan countries in six days, as a clear sign of the goals of the Government of Austria, which match the goals of the 21 years of successful work of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF).

H.E. Mr. Aleksandar Nikolovski, Deputy President of the Government and Minister of Transport of the Republic of North Macedonia, greeted the high-ranking representatives of economy and politics and informed about the signing of the European Transport Corridor 8 cross-border tunnel agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. This signing is a clear example of a practically oriented economic action between two founding VEF Member Countries.

In her Welcoming Words, Ms. Tzvetanka Kroumova, First Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board, BC Moldindconbank SA, Moldova, Cooperation Partner of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), highlighted the active cooperation between Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) and BC Moldindconbank SA, the second large and important bank in Moldova.

Photo Credit: Diplomatic Society Magazine, Main Media Partner of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) @Richard Pobaschnig