Promoting regional economic cooperation has been the goal of Vienna Economic Forum since its foundation in 2004, and we are proud that the economic cooperation between entrepreneurs from the member countries of Vienna Economic Forum - Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine - has developed successfully over all these years.

Among the founding members of the Vienna Economic Forum are some of the most renowned Austrian companies and industrialists. The Prime Ministers of the states of the region are, together with the Austrian Federal Chancellor, Members of the Patronage Committee of Vienna Economic Forum. All accredited ambassadors in Austria of the VEF- Members countries take part in the VEF- activities as Members of the Ambassadors Committee. To the organs of Vienna Economic Forum also belong the Honorary Committee and the Cultural Committee of the countries of the region of Vienna Economic Forum.

Vienna Economic Forum, which has been granted the Status of an International Non-governmental Organization and the Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is constantly growing and developing.

Since 2015, Vienna Economic Forum has also been listed in the Transparency Register of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

In all these years, Vienna Economic has remained true to its founding goals:

• To popularize and promote investment opportunities in the region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea.
• To provide impulses and, based on research, the joint projects required in the region for short-term, medium-term and long-term realisation, and promoting their implementation
• Becoming a place of definition, encounter, and of realising the public and private interests in connection with the various projects in the region as part of a united Europe.

These goals incorporate the vision that led to the creation of the VEF in 2004: to follow a strategy that contributes to economic cooperation and development of the VEF member countries as a region that is growing together, a “VEF economic area”!

The implementation of this strategy is always in focus and determines the planning and execution of all the work of the Vienna Economic Forum team over the years!

Annual Board meeting of Vienna Economic Forum on 15. February 2021  

The annual Board meeting of Vienna Economic Forum in 2021 took place on 15. February at the Headquarters of the Österreichische Post in Vienna, hosted by VEF President DI Peter Umundum, Board Member responsible for Parcel & Logistics at the Österreichische Post AG.  

In accordance to the Statute, the VEF President guided through the Agenda, while the Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva reported on the VEF activities in a globally challenging, yet successful year 2020 for Vienna Economic Forum.  

Both the VEF office relocation in March 2020 in the Ambassadors district, in Prinz-Eugen Strasse 58, in the 4th district of Vienna, as well as the “Summer Cocktail in a Small Setting” organized instead of the 19th Traditional Garden Party with the participation of Ambassadors from the Member countries and VEF Board members, were accentuated. 

The VEF Secretary General particularly emphasized the great online success of the 17th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialoque 2020 that managed to reach over 1200 viewers from 32 countries.  

Deepest gratitude for his and the significant support provided by the Österreichische Post AG was expressed to VEF President DI Peter Umundum.  

The subsequent discussion led to the conclusion that it is now more important than ever to build bridges out of barriers, especially in times of restrictions. In this respect the Board members attached great importance to the advantages of digitalization. Therefore, it is to be expected that Vienna Economic Forum, as THE European Economic Platform based in Vienna, is to once again have a stronger hybrid/online presence in 2021.

The Board unanimously accepted the admission of new VEF members – as Cooperation partners, as Members-Legal entities, Members-Natural persons and Honorary members.

Furthermore, it was accepted that the agreed changes in the Board, the election, deselection and co-opting of Board members, as well as updates in the Patrons and Honour committees be proposed for a decision to the General assembly.

The Annual General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum will take place on 8. March 2021 at the Headquarters of Novomatic AG, Wiener Straße 158, 2352 Gumpoldskirchen.  

17^th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2020

Special online Edition
„Economic meets Politics in a Digital World“

The unique hybrid "Special Edition of the 17th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2020" took place on 16. November under the challenging circumstances of 2020. The President of Vienna Economic Forum, DI Peter Umundum, Board Member "Paket & Logistics" of Österreichische Post AG and the Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva invited to an exciting online discussion under the motto “90 minutes with EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel” with the aim to take into consideration the highly prevailing topics of the "new types of mobility in a digital world" and the "challenges and opportunities for the regional economy" from the perspective of high-ranking political and economic representatives from the VEF member countries. 

Vienna Economic Forum is delighted to announce that more than 1200 viewers from 32 countries worldwide were able to watch the live online broadcast of the main interactive discussion of EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, with portfolio for research, innovation, education, culture and youth, with H.E. Avdullah Hoti, Prime Minister of Kosovo, H.E. Denys Schmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, H.E. Fatmir Bytyqi, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, and Dr. Lilyana Pavlova, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). 

In her opening speech, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva pointed out the currency of the topics of the 17th Vienna Economic Forum by highlighting the role of youth in our digital future. In addition, she turned to the political leaders from the member countries of Vienna Economic Forum to be aware of both the challenges, but also the new opportunities, by striving now more than ever to balance public and private interests as the most important condition for good economic development.