VEF Annual Brochure 2012

Vienna Economic Forum is proud that the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations at its Substantive Session of July 2012 adopted the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to grant Special consultative status to Vienna Economic Forum. The Special consultative status of Vienna Economic Forum enables us to actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies in a number of ways.

In 2012 we organized „Vienna Economic Talks – Sofia Meeting“ under the motto „Liberalisation of Markets in the Region South-Eastern Europe“ in cooperation with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in April, „Vienna Economic Talks – Meet Turkey in Vienna 2012“ under the motto „Turkey – Important Player in the Regional Economy“ in cooperation with Vienna Insurance Group, Ray Sigorta A.S. Turkey and Verbund AG in June, and our 9th Vienna Economic Forum „Quo vadis, Europe? Regional Cooperation for European Integration“ in November 2012 in Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna, Austria.

This year our 11th Traditional Garden Party „Culinary and musical journey through the partner countries of Vienna Economic Forum“ took place in the garden of the Embassy of Ukraine. According to our motto „for a better understanding“ we had the reason to celebrate one event together, which also unites all people around the world, entrepreneurs, politicians, artists and sportsmen – the European Football Championship, which took place in this year both in Ukraine and in Poland and we want to thank the Ambassador of Ukraine and the whole VEF Ambassadors Committee for our outstanding and intensive good cooperation.

The 9th Vienna Economic Forum was another successful event of the year. We had the great pleasure to welcome in the wonderful location of Palais Niederösterreich around 480 participants from 36 countries throughout the world together with H.E. Dr. Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, H.E. Mr. Werner Faymann, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, H.E. Dr. Erwin Pröll, Governor of Lower Austria, H.E. Dr. Maria Fekter, Federal Minister of Finance of the Republic of Austria, and several more Prime Ministers, Ministers and high-ranking participants from the whole region took part actively.

Let us congratulate Dr. Georg Pölzl, CEO of Österreichische Post AG, to the Nomination of Österreichische Post AG with the „Vienna Economic Forum Award for the Partner of the Year 2012“.

Thank you again and we are looking forward to another successful year and to the Jubilee 10th Vienna Economic Forum on 24-25 November 2013 in Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna!

Yours

Dr. Erhard Busek                                                                                        Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva
President                                                                                                        Secretary General