News

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.

Working visit of the Ambassador of Albania to the Republic of Austria, H.E. Prof. Fate Velaj, at Vienna Economic Forum

On May 24, 2024, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva welcomed the designated Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Austria, H.E. Prof. Fate Velaj for a working visit at the premises of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF).

In a very friendly atmosphere, ideas about further in-depth cooperation with the Embassy of Albania were exchanged. The focus of the discussion was on the preparations for the upcoming 21^st Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2024, which will take place on November 4th, 2024 at Haus der Ingenieure, Beletage, Eschenbachgasse 9.

The concrete initiative was discussed to organize Vienna Economic Forum - Tirana Meeting 2025 in May 2025 in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Albania.

Vienna Economic Forum is pleased to welcome H.E. Prof. Fate Velaj as a new member of the Ambassadors Committee of Vienna Economic Forum and wishes him a lot of success in implementing his important diplomatic mission in Austria.

Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Meeting 2024

The Board of Vienna Economic Forum and „Glavbolgarstroy Holding“ (GBS) VEF-Sofia Branch had the pleasure to invite high-ranking participants - representatives of regional politics and the global economy to the Official Opening of the Vienna Economic Forum - Sofia Meeting 2024 followed by Welcome Cocktail on on Sunday, 21 April 2024 in Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia.

Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Meeting 2024 took place on 22^nd April 2024 in the Trijadiza Hall of the state-owned Boyana Residency, in Sofia. Vienna Economic Forum is proud to have had co-organised the event together with the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria under the Motto "Continuing to build economic bridges during difficult times". 

Please find hereby the links to the Media Release:

Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA)

Invest Bulgaria Agency (IBA), Main Cooperation Partner of VEF

Explore the VEF - Sofia Meeting 2024 gallery by clicking 'view more'.

20^th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum in the Diplomacy & Commerce Austria Magazine

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is pleased to share information about the successful 20^th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum, which took place on November 13, 2023, in the Festive Hall of the Vienna City Hall. An article about the 20^th VEF, also featured on the magazine's front page, was written by Ms. Svetlana Nenadovic Glusac, CEO of Diplomacy & Commerce Austria Magazine.

The link to the online version please find here.

Working meeting between the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa 

On 29 December 2022, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Member of the Board and Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum had the honour and the pleasure to be received by H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for a working visit during her trip to Addis Ababa. 

Various possibilities and concrete initiatives and ideas for future cooperation between Ethiopia and Vienna Economic Forum were discussed during the intensive discussion and in a friendly atmosphere. 

The Vienna Economic Forum Member - TPA Group - with an exciting study on the topic: Quantifying personnel costs as a factor for choosing a business location

In their daily advisory activities, which the TPA Group has been carrying out for decades in 12 countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe, the highly respected Member of Vienna Economic Forum is currently observing the massive management trend towards relocating (nearshoring) in the corporate decision-making processes.

Please find here the extremely interesting comparative labour cost study deriving from these observations: " Quantifying personnel costs as a factor for choosing a business location ".

Intensive Talks between VEF and Kosovo 

During his working visit H.E. Mr. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, who was also to take part as a high-level guest speaker at the 18^th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2021, held several discussions with VEF Board members and cooperation partners. 

With the Member of the Management Board, Parcel & Logistics, Österreichische Post AG and VEF President DI Peter Umundum, and in the presence of the CEO of Österreichische Post DI Dr. Georg Pölzl, Honorary Member of Vienna Economic Forum, in view of the increasing interest of the Österreichische Post AG in Kosovo, next steps for the cooperation were discussed. 

New perspectives for cooperation with the Chairman of the Board of VERBUND AG, DI Wolfgang Anzengruber 

In a very friendly atmosphere at the Headquarters of the VEF Cooperation partner Verbund AG, on 21. December 2020, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva met with DI Wolfgang Anzengruber, Chairman of Board of VERBUND AG, founding member of Vienna Economic Forum and member of the VEF Honorary Committee. 

The conversation, which was focused on the scope for design of future further cooperation, allowed new perspectives to be identified.  

The VEF General Secretary presented DI Wolfgang Anzengruber with the "Decoration of Honor of Vienna Economic Forum", expressing great gratitude for his services in the successful development and realization of the joint project - Vienna Economic Forum. 

Intensive discussions about the future in the premises of Vienna Economic Forum

The Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum Hermann ANDERL, the new Managing Director of CANON AUSTRIA and his successor as Managing Director of CANON CEE (Central Eastern Europe) Wilbert VERHEIJEN met on 13 December 2019 in the premises of Vienna Economic Forum with the Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva to discuss future collaboration over the next few years. Ideas and possibilities for further development of the excellent cooperation were discussed in a very friendly atmosphere and the planned VEF activities in 2020 were coordinated.

Vienna Economic Forum visits Novomatic AG

The President, DI Günther Rabensteiner and the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, met with the CEO of Novomatic AG Mag. Harald Neumann, Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum on 11 December 2017 at Novomatic AG in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria.

Mag. Othmar Karas speaker of Bürgerforum Europa invited to the event “Europa-Lunch”

Member of the European Parliament and speaker of Bürgerforum Europa – Mag. Othmar Karas set a new input for the regional political and economic cooperation of Vienna by the “Europa-Lunch”, which took place in the framework of Bürgerforum Europa.

14th Traditional Gardenparty of Vienna Economic Forum on 19 June 2015

On 19 June 2015 the Board of Vienna Economic Forum together with the Ambassadors of the Member Countries invited to the 14th traditional meeting of the friends between Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea.