INTRODUCTION
Dear Members of Vienna Economic Forum!
Ladies and Gentleman!
It is a special pleasure to rapport to you about the year 2011: It was an important and successful Vienna Economic Forum year! Allow us to thank you cordially for that, because we owe this success you, our members!
We are proud that the Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria as Authority according to § 1 of the Federal Law on the Grant of Privileges to non-governmental international organizations, BGBl. Nr. 174/1992, BMeiA-N9.8.19.12/0036-1.2/2010 has decided that Vienna Economic Forum has received the status INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION by the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs, as a recognition for our years of activities in the region above all of South-Eastern Europe.
This year we celebrated the 10th Jubilee of our Traditional Garden Party „Culinary and musical journey through the partner countries of Vienna Economic Forum“ and we are proud of the growing interest of ever more countries: beside our member countries also Romania, Hungary and Kazakhstan were presented.
The 8th Vienna Economic Forum, our annual meeting in November, in cooperation with the Ministry for Economy, Family and Youth of the Republic of Austria and H.E. Federal Minister Dr. Reinhold Mitterlehner, took place in Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna, where we had the honour to welcome H.E. Mr. Werner Faymann, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and H.E. Mr. Nikola Gruevski, President of the Government of Macedonia, 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 of the Industrial Association of the Republic of Bulgaria, Member of the Committee of the President of the Economic Chambers of Vienna Economic Forum, Amb. Daria Krsticevic of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Mr. Hidajet Biscevic, Secretary General of Regional Cooperation Council, Ms. Daniela Paul of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania.
The 8th Vienna Economic Forum has been a great success, we have welcomed around 400 participants from 32 countries throughout the world, from 8 international organisations and 10 partner organisations and we are very proud that Vienna Economic Forum is growing further.
We want to thank all members, partners and guests of Vienna Economic Forum for their support and active participation in 2011! We are grateful to our Board members for their engagement in the region of Vienna Economic Forum! We are grateful to all our Members for their confidence and contribution to our common events.
Thank you!
Your
Dr. Erhard Busek Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva
President Secretary General