VEF Annual Brochure 2014

In April this year we had the pleasure to cooperate and organize together with the Central European Initiative on behalf the Austrian Presidency 2014, 25 years CEI and 10 years Vienna Economic Forum the “Vienna Economic Talks – Building Bridges in a Challenging Time” at the premises of Raiffeisen Bank International in Vienna. The Synergy of one private, like Vienna Economic Forum, and one governmental body, like CEI, that showed us the importance of these good cooperation especially in turbulent times as today. Special thanks are due here to the host Dr. Herbert Stepic, founding father and supporter of Vienna Economic Forum since its beginning.

In May Vienna Economic Forum organised together with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) the BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT FORUM ALBANIA. The Albanian high-ranking delegation was lead by H.E. Prime Minister Edi Rama, Patron of Vienna Economic Forum and this conference was a further step in the already excellent and fruitful business relation between Austria and Albania.

A very important event in June 2014 was certainly the very timely “Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014”, under the patronage of the Premier Minister of Moldova H.E. Iurie Leanca. Following the Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014, the European Commission organised on the next day the “EU – Moldova International Investors’ Conference”, with the participation of the President H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, with an important point on the agenda: an overview on the Conclusions and Recommendations of Vienna Economic Forum after the Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014.

The much loved summer event of Vienna Economic Forum, the 13th Traditional Garden Party “Culinary and musical journey through the partner countries of Vienna Economic Forum”, with its unique atmosphere showed once again how much people from the region have in common and how important the good economic development and the peaceful relations between neighbouring countries from the Region of Vienna Economic Forum are for all.

For the 11th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Summit 2014 we had the pleasure to welcome 400 participants from 44 countries at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. Under the motto “Visions and responsiblities in a changing time” we were delighted that high-ranking participants such as the H.E. Federal President of the Republic of Austria Dr. Heinz Fischer, the Patrons of Vienna Economic Forum: H.E. Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Werner Faymann, H.E. Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, H.E. Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski, H.E. Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria Tomislav Donchev, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, contributed to the great success of the 11th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Summit 2014. The importance of the Information technology, Energy efficiency, the economy cooperation in Danube and the Black Sea Region, the Role of the Turkish Economy for the development of the regional economy were the topics.

Let us cordially congratulate Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO of Telekom Austria Group, to the nomination as laureate as Partner of the Year 2014; and Dr. Akkan Suver, President of Marmara Group Foundation as Strategic Partner of the Year 2014.

We want to thank you – members, partners and friends of Vienna Economic Forum, for yours continuous support and active participation and can ensure you, that Vienna Economic Forum will continue the good cooperation for further economic development in and between the member countries, in all directions of the region, in Europe and worldwide.

Looking forward to meet all of you at the 12th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Dialogue 2015, on 23 November 2015 in Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna!

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