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, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Türkiye and Ukraine - has developed successfully over all these years.

Among the founding members of Vienna Economic Forum are some of the most renowned Austrian companies and industrialists. The prime ministers of the states of the VEF region, defined as "The region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea", form the Patronage Committee of Vienna Economic Forum. All accredited ambassadors of the VEF- Member countries in Austria take part in the VEF- activities as Members of the Ambassadors Committee. The organs of Vienna Economic Forum also include various Committees, with special support being provided by the members of the VEF Honorary Committee , well-known personalities and visionaries.

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), which was granted the status of an International Non-governmental Organization primarily on 7 January 2011 and then again on 1 January 2022, is constantly growing and developing. On 27 July 2012, VEF was granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). Since 2015, Vienna Economic Forum has been entered in the Transparency Register of the European Parliament and the European Commission. VEF has received the right to wave the VEF flag from the Austrian authorities.

These recognitions, which VEF has received for all the long-standing activities in the region and for the exceptional contribution to international understanding, motivate the VEF team to continue and tirelessly contribute to the consolidation of the VEF region "From the Adriatic to the Black Sea".

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!

Working Visit of the New Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Mrs. Victoria Roșa

On October 3, 2024, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, welcomed the new Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Mrs. Victoria Roșa, for a working visit.

In a very friendly atmosphere, thoughts were exchanged on further deepening cooperation. In the course of the intensive preparations for the upcoming 21. Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2024 scheduled for November 4, 2024, the planning for the high-level participation of the promising VEF- Founding Member Country Moldova, was placed in the foreground.

Vienna Economic Forum Forum wishes H.E. Ambassador Victoria Roșa much success in fulfilling her highly responsible diplomatic mission in the Republic of Austria.

Mr. Frank Schuster, Head of the EIB Group Office in Austria, at a Working Meeting with Vienna Economic Forum (VEF)

On October 3, 2024, Ambassador a.D. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Frank Schuster, Head of the EIB Group Office in Austria, at the premises of Vienna Economic Forum.

The Secretary General emphasized the importance of the long-standing cooperation between Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) — both with the headquarters of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg and the EIB Office in Vienna.

The discussion with Mr. Frank Schuster, as the new Head of the EIB Group Office in Austria, also covered the support of the European Investment Bank Group (EIBG) for the upcoming 21^st Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2024, which will take place on November 4, 2024, in Vienna, as well as the active participation of senior representatives of the EIB in the program.

The conversation was held in a very friendly atmosphere and explored further opportunities for a future and even more active collaboration.

Vienna Economic Forum looks forward to continuing to contribute to regional cooperation and the important promotion of mutual understanding, in partnership with the EIB Office in Vienna.

Vienna Economic Forum - Cooperation Partner Novomatic AG places emphasis squarely on employee health and safety

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is pleased to report, that the VEF- Cooperation partner Novomatic AG, with its annual Health and Safety Day for the approximately 1,300 employees at the company head office in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria, emphasizes its strong commitment to promoting workplace health and safety.

During this year’s Health and Safety Day, the company once again focused on the topics of health, nutrition, sports and exercise, as well as workplace safety, thereby sending a strong signal about the great importance of workplace health and safety at NOVOMATIC.

Vienna Economic Forum wishes the entire Board of NOVOMATIC and all employees continued success in the future.

Click here for the press release.

Vienna Economic Forum - Cooperation Partner Novomatic AG is Austria's second most valuable brand company

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is pleased to report, that the VEF- Cooperation partner Novomatic AG, with over 25,300 employees worldwide and operations in more than 120 countries, has secured top positions in both brand value and the Sustainable Brand Ranking of the EBI.

With a significant increase in brand value, VEF cooperation partner Novomatic AG has achieved an outstanding second place in the brand value study and has also recorded the largest value increase within a year among the top 10 companies in the country.

These top positions in the Austrian Brand Value Study and the Sustainable Brand Ranking underscore Novomatic AG's standing as one of Austria's leading brand companies, once again demonstrating the gaming technology group's strong commitment to sustainabilty.

VEF congratulates its cooperation partner Novomatic AG on this success and wishes them many more achievements in the future.

Click here for the press release.

Working visit of the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, to H.E. Mr. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Patron of Vienna Economic Forum

On 15 June 2024, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, was welcomed by H.E. Mr. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, at the Office of the Prime Minister in the VEF-Member Country Kosovo.

The focus of the discussion was the next steps to further develop the role of VEF and promote companies from Kosovo in the VEF- Economic Area as a measure towards economic development of The Republic of Kosovo inthe VEF- Region.

Furthermore, the focus was also on establishing a VEF- Branch Office in the Republic of Kosovo, which will be agreed upon through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VEF and the Prime Minister's Office.

The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to close cooperation with VEF and both parties together will work further on promoting economic cooperation and intenarional understanding among the 13 VEF- Member Countries.

Please find here the link to the official website of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo: Official Website of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.