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!

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) President Ambassador Victor Jackovich participated at the International Peace Institute´s Event

On behalf of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) on 12th September 2023 the VEF President Amb. Victor Jackovich participated on the International Peace Institute’s webinar, on the subject of “Multilateralism by the Numbers: How to Address Interconnected Challenges of Our Time.”

The event was co-sponsored by the International Peace Institute (IPI) and Open Society. It was held at the UN premises in New York.

For the report about the Conference given by Ambassador Victor Jackovich please click here.

Working meeting between the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and Mr. Svetoslav Lyubomirov, Chairman of the Board of Glavbolgarstroy Holding and CEO of 'GBS International

In a very friendly atmosphere at the headquarters of VEF- Cooperation partner Glavbolgarstroy in Sofia, on September 12, 2023, the Secretary General of the Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva met Mr. Svetoslav Lyubomirov, Chairman of the Board of Glavbolgarstroy Holding and CEO of 'GBS International,' responsible for the operational management of the entire Glavbolgarstroy Holding Group, as well as with Mr. Kalin Peshov, Chairman of the Management Board of Glavbolgarstroy Holding AD (GBS) and the GBS team, including Ms. Plamena Nenkova, Deputy Executive Director 'Strategies, Communications and International Affairs,' and Ms. Gabriela Alexieva, Corporate Lawyer at GBS HOLDING.

During the working meeting, the two cooperation partners discussed a wide range of topics related to future collaboration between Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) and Glavbolgarstroy (GBS), such as the upcoming 20^th Jubilee of the Vienna Economic Forum, scheduled for November 13 at Vienna City Hall, as well as specific initiatives of VEF in 2024.

Particular attention was given to the establishment of a Vienna Economic Forum- Sofia Branch Office at the GBS headquarters.

19th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2022

During the 19th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2022 which under the motto "Economy meets Politics in Difficult and Uncertain Times" took place on 14. November 2022 at the Raiffeisen Bank International in Vienna, the Board and the Members of Vienna Economic Forum had the honour and the pleasure to welcome the invited guests, high-ranking decision-makers from economy and politics from 22 countries.