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Sopharma - 85 years of success

Vienna Economic Forum congratulates one of its most important partners - the group Sopharma, which involves 97 companies and which employs more than 8000 people in 7 countries today. Sopharma celebrated this anniversary with a festive concert in the hall Armez in Sofia.

11000 people applauded the show staged for this occasion with famous Bulgarian actors, extraordinary musicians, popular singers and attractive dancers - under the motto

85 years of Sopharma. And keeps growing.

Dr. Ognian DONEV, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC and Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum welcomed the guests from Bulgaria and abroad

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Working meeting of the Presidium of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum Board 

Günther Rabensteiner, President of Vienna Economic Forum and Member of the Board of Verbund AG, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Member of the Board and General Secretary of Vienna Economic Forum, Mr. Peter Umundum, Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum and Member of the Board of Österreichische Post AG, Mag. Hermann Anderl, Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum and Managing Director, Canon CEE GmbH, Mag. Heinz Messinger, Member of the Executive Board and Financial Referent of Vienna Economic Forum and Managing Director, AME International GmbH and Mag. Stefan Szyszkowitz, long-standing Member of Vienna Economic Forum and Spokesman of the Executive Board of EVN, met on 25 September 2018 for their traditional lunch.

In a constructive and pleasant working atmosphere, they discussed the upcoming 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum and the planned activities of Vienna Economic Forum for the coming year.

The Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum, Mag. Hermann Anderl, reported on the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between Vienna Economic Forum, represented by the Secretary General and himself, and the International Foundation for Sustainable Peace and Development, represented by the Vice President and Secretary General, Prof. Dr. Eldar Hasanov, as well as the role of Canon AG in the region.

Mr. Mag. Heinz Messingen talked about the development of the idea of ​​VEF Members to establish a "European School for Digitisation". The objective of Vienna Economic Forum is to support the work of the three universities New Bulgarian University (NBU) Sofia, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, and Titu Maiorescu University, Romania and through that to prepare the young people from the Member States of Vienna Economic Forum, for the digital future of the region, Europe and the world.

Vienna Economic Forum is very pleased with the growing role and ever closer cooperation between the countries of the whole VEF region.

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Working meeting with H.E. Ms. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society

The Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH, Board member and Financial referent of Vienna Economic Forum, met on 25. September 2018 with H.E. Ms. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society in the House of the European Union in Vienna.

Within the framework of this meeting, the idea of Vienna Economic Forum to establish a "European School for Digitisation", through which three universities, New Bulgarian University (NBU), IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, and Titu Maiorescu University, Romania, would prepare young people from the Member Countries of Vienna Economic Forum for the digital future of the region, Europe and the world, was intensively discussed.

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Working visit to the IMC Fachhochschule Krems on 20. September 2018

In an intensive and constructive conversation, Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and Mag. Heinz MESSINGER, Managing Director, AME International GmbH, Member of the Management Board and Financial Referent of Vienna Economic Forum, Prof. (FH) Dr. Ing. Karl Ennsfellner, Managing Director of IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems and Mag. (FH) Florian Ruhdorfer, Head of Business & Career, discussed the idea of the members of Vienna Economic Forum, to found "European digital school" in cooperation with the New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia and other universities of the Vienna Economic Forum region.

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Vienna Economic Forum and International Foundation for Sustainable Peace and Development - new strategic partnership
 
In a constructive discussion on September 14, 2018 in Vienna, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and Prof. Dr. Eldar Hasanov, Vice President and Secretary General of the International Foundation for Peace and Development, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm cooperation in favor of the regional economic development of the VEF region.

In the presence of the Vice President of Vienna Economic Forum, Mag. Hermann Anderl, Managing Director, Canon CEE GmbH, it was stated that the purpose of this cooperation is to build the good relations between the two organizations and to develop further relationships and networks with the aim to promote the economic activity of both parties throughout the region.

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Working visit by Radosvet Radev, Executive President of the Bulgarian Industrial Association

During a constructive meeting on September 13, 2018 in Vienna, Dr. Radosvet Radev, the new Executive President of the Bulgarian Industrial Association and the Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, General Secretary of the Vienna Economic Forum discussed the further intensive cooperation.

In recognition of the good cooperation of recent years, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva received the Silver Coin of the Bulgarian Industrial Association by Dr. Radev and presented, in return and in the name of the board of the Vienna Economic Forum, the Gold Mask of Schipka to him.

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Appointment of VEF Vice-President Mr. Mag. Harald Neumann as Honorary Consul of Romania with consular district Lower Austria

On 1 August 2018, the official appointment of Mr. Mag. Harald Neumann, CEO of Novomatic AG and Vice-President of Vienna Economic Forum, as Honorary Consul of Romania with consular district Lower Austria, took place.

The Ambassador of Romania, H.E. Mr. Bogdan Mazuru and Mr. Mag. Neumann invited to the Novomatic Forum in Vienna, where Mag. Neumann was appointed by H.E. Mr. Dan Neculaescu, State Secretary of Romania, and in the presence of H.E. Ms. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria.

Vienna Economic Forum congratulates Mag. Neumann on his appointment and looks forward to the future cooperation, especially in view of the forthcoming Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Fotocredit: VEF

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Fotocredit: Thomas Meyer

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 Token of Gratitude to H.E. Dr. Lilyana Pavlova

As part of the Europa Forum Wachau, which took place on 15 and 16 June 2018, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, General Secretary of Vienna Economic Forum, awarded the Golden Burial Mask from Shipka to H.E. Dr. Lilyana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018. Schipka's gold mask was discovered by Bulgarian archaeologists in 2004 in the 2,400-year-old tomb of a Thracian king near Schipka, 200 km east of Sofia and, according to ancient Greek authors, was worn during royal ceremonies.

As part of Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Talks 2018, which took place on 18 May 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria, VEF Member Dr. Vladimir Penkov gave the mask as a gift to the six Prime Minister of the countries of the Western Balkans and to the Members of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum that participated at that conference.

 H.E. Dr. Lilyana Pavlova received the mask as a thank-you for the effective cooperation between her ministry and Vienna Economic Forum in the preparation and implementation of Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Talks 2018 and the great success of this conference, but also as a sign of future cooperation with the Minister and the Bulgarian government.

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Vienna Economic Forum Working Visit to the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) in Istanbul

In the frame of the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit on 11 and 12 April 2018 in Istanbul, the Vienna Economic Forum delegation comprised of Dr. Günther Rabensteiner, President of Vienna Economic Forum und Member of the Board of Verbund AG; Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum as well as Amb. Victor Jackovich, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, President of Jackovich International LLC, USA were invited by Mr. Arda Ermut, President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Companies (WAIPA) and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum to a meeting on the premises of ISPAT in Istanbul.

ISPAT is a long-standing Cooperation Partner of Vienna Economic Forum and the meeting discussed the deepening of the joint work of both organizations.

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 Vienna Economic Forum Delegation at the 21st Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul

Following the invitation of Dr. Akkan Suver, President of Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation, Strategic Partner von Vienna Economic Forum, a Vienna Economic Forum Delegation participated at the 21^st Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul on 11 and 12 April 2018.

DI Dr. Günther Rabensteiner, President of Vienna Economic Forum and Member of the Board of Verbund AG, Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, Amb. Victor Jackovich, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, President of Jackovich International LLC. USA, and Dr. Erhard Busek, Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum and former Vice-Chancellor of Austria (1991-1995) took active part and discussed together with other national and international high-level speakers the motto: “Dilemma of our Century – Technology vs. Politics” by sharing ideas as well as concerns and offering problem solutions.

Among the distinguished participants were H.E. Mr. Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of Turkey; H.E. Mr. Marinka Cavara, President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; H.E. Mr. Mladen Ivanic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina; H.E. Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of Macedonia.

 In her speech at the opening of the Summit, Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva praised the important and constructive longtime cooperation between Marmara Group Foundation and Vienna Economic Forum, and President Dr. Günther Rabensteiner and Amb. Victor Jackovich contributed with their statements to the main session by stressing the importance of Turkey in relation to the regional economic development and, by keeping in mind the motto, the influence and developments of the energy and economy sector.

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 General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum on 28 March 2018

On 28 March 2018, the annual General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum took place.

Host and Vienna Economic Forum Board Member Dr. Ludwig Nießen, Member of the Management Board, COO / CTO of Wiener Börse AG, welcomed the attendees for the second time this year in the Säulenhalle of Wiener Börse AG.

The present Members of the Board and Ordinary Members were welcomed by the Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, who informed about the activities of Vienna Economic Forum in 2017 and the planned events in 2018.

Chaired by the President, DI Dr. Günther Rabensteiner, Member of the Board of Verbund AG, the following new members have been confirmed by the General Assembly:

New Members of the Board:

• Mr. Alejandro Plater, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, A1 Telekom Austria Group
• Dr. Aleksandar Vlahovic, President of the Serbian Association of Economists

Changes in the Board:

• New Vice President DI Peter Umundum, Member of the Board of Österreichische Post AG and longtime VEF Member of the Board

New members of the Patrons Committee:

• H.E. Mr. Ramush Haradinaj, Prime Minister of Kosovo
• H.E. Mr. Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of Macedonia
• H.E. Mr. Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of Moldova
• H.E. Mr Duško Marković, Prime Minister of Montenegro

New members of the Ambassadors Committee:

• H.E. Mr. Victor Osipov, Ambassador of Moldova
• H.E. Mr. Mehmet Ferden Carikci, Ambassador of Turkey
• H.E. Ms. Ksenija Škrilec, Ambassador of Slovenia
• H.E. Mr. Željko Perović, Ambassador of Montenegro

New members of the Honorary Committee:

• Dr. Karl Stoss, CEO Casinos Austria (2007-2017), President of the Austrian Olympic Committee, founding member and long-time active supporter of the Vienna Economic Forum
• Dr. Erwin Pröll, LHM of Lower Austria (1992-2017) and long-time active supporter of the Vienna Economic Forum
• Dr. Milan Parivodic, President Parivodic Advokati, previous VEF Member of the Board, long-time active supporter of the Vienna Economic Forum

Following this year's general meeting, Wiener Börse AG, together with the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, invited to a Cocktail Reception. Present were the Members of the Ambassadors Committee H.E. Mr. Roland Bimo, Ambassador of Albania; H.E. Mr. Tomislav Leko, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Representatives of the embassies of Romania and Montenegro; the newest Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, Mr. Alejandro Plater as well as arbitrators and honorary members of the Vienna Economic Forum.

The team of Vienna Economic Forum would like to thank all Members and Partners for their excellent support of the numerous activities of VEF in Austria and abroad in the year 2017 and for their constant trust!

The success story of this development motivates us further to conquer new horizons!

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 Panel discussion on the future of Europe in the context of the current Bulgarian and subsequent Austrian EU Presidencies

On 26 March 2018, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva; Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum, Chair of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) and former Vice-Chancellor of Austria Dr. Erhard Busek as well as the Head of the Task Force for the Austrian EU-Presidency, Mag. Regina Kothmayr, discussed the question: "Which Europe do we want?"

The panel discussion on "Austria's EU Presidency and the Challenges for the Future of a United Europe" was moderated by Mag. Sebastian Schäffer (IDM) and organized by IDM in cooperation with the European Commission - Representation in Austria and the Information Office of the European Parliament Austria and took place in the House of the European Union in Vienna.

Following Bulgaria's first EU-Presidency, Austria will take over the six month Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the third time on 1 July 2018, after 1998 and 2006. The panel discussion on 26 March 2018, was the first ever to address the third Austrian EU-Presidency. The Secretary General and former Bulgarian Ambassador to Austria (Vienna), Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, informed the audience about the activities of the Bulgarian EU-Presidency and the importance of building bridges between the Bulgarian and Austrian Presidencies, which will be supported by Vienna Economic Forum through the organisation of various conferences.

Under the auspices of the Bulgarian EU-Presidency Vienna Economic Forum – Sofia Talks 2018 will take place under the motto "Politics meets Economy" on 18 May 2018, in which all six Prime Ministers of the Western Balkans have announced their participation; and, under the same motto "Politics meets Economy", the 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2018 will take place on 19 November 2018 at Novomatic Forum in Vienna.

The discussion highlighted the active and important role of the Bulgarian government during the Bulgarian EU-Presidency. The audience was very interested in the discussion and participated with many relevant questions.

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Vienna Economic Forum congratulates Dr. Akkan Suver, President of Marmara Group Foundation 

On 26 March 2018, Dr. Akkan Suver, President of Marmara Group Foundation and longtime Strategic Partner of Vienna Economic Forum was granted the rank of an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania by Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania. For this occasion, an investiture ceremony was held at the Royal Palace in Bucharest.

Vienna Economic Forum congratulates Dr. Suver, who was award with the Royal Medal for his dialogue and peace studies at the Marmara Group Foundation in Istanbul.

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Delphi Economic Forum is new Strategic Partner of Vienna Economic Forum

As part of the third Delphi Economic Forum in Delphi, Greece, held on 1 to 4 March 2018, the Secretary-General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, and the Founder and Chairman of the Delphi Economic Forum, Mr. Symeon G. Tsomokos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm the cooperation in favor of the regional economic development of the VEF-region.

 Vienna Economic Forum is looking forward to the upcoming cooperation with Delphi Economic Forum at the forthcoming Vienna Economic Forum - Sofia Talks 2018 on 17./18. May 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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Work Meeting with DI Dr. Franz Fischler, President of the European Forum Alpbach

In a constructive meeting on 20 February 2018 in Vienna, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum and DI Dr. Franz Fischler, President of the European Forum Alpbach and European Union's Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries (1995-2004) addressed the potential of a future cooperation between the European Forum Alpbach and Vienna Economic Forum.

The European Forum Alpbach takes place since 1945 every year in August in the Tyrolean mountain village Alpbach. International speakers and participants from science, business and politics, as well as experts and students discuss current topics in order to find interdisciplinary solutions.

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First official visit of H.E. Željko Perović, Ambassador of Montenegro at Vienna Economic Forum

On the occasion of a first official visit on 20 February 2018, H.E. Željko Perović, Ambassador of Montenegro, and Secretary General Amb. Dr Elena Kirtcheva discussed a further intensive cooperation.

On behalf of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, the Secretary General welcomed H.E. Željko Perović, Ambassador of Montenegro among his colleagues in the Ambassadors Committee of Vienna Economic Forum and awarded His Excellency with the Vienna Economic Forum Badge of Honour.

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Ordinary Board Meeting of Vienna Economic Forum on 29 January 2018

The annual Ordinary Board Meeting of Vienna Economic Forum took place on 29 January 2018 in the Säulenhalle of the Wiener Börse AG.

Host and Vienna Economic Forum Board Member Dr. Ludwig Nießen, Chief Operating & Technology Officer at Wiener Börse AG, welcomed the attendees and explained the significance of Vienna Economic Forum and the VEF region for Wiener Börse AG:

“As operator of stock exchange infrastructure within Central and Eastern Europe, the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly appreciated worldwide for its unique know-how. The Vienna Stock Exchange cooperates with over ten markets in the area of real-time data dissemination, index calculation and operation of trading infrastructure. Our success in the establishment of this network is rooted in our ability to build bridges. We are looking forward to exchanging ideas and know-how within the Vienna Economic Forum,” says Ludwig Nießen.

The Members of the Board were informed about the activities of Vienna Economic Forum in 2017 and the planned events in 2018 by Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum.

Chaired by the VEF President DI Dr. Günther Rabensteiner, Member of the Board at Verbund AG, the following additions and changes to the Board and various Committees of Vienna Economic Forum were announced:

New VEF Board Members:

• Mr. Alejandro Plater, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, A1 Telekom Austria Group
• Dr. Aleksandar Vlahović, President of Serbian Association of Economists

Changes in the VEF Board:

• New Vice President DI Peter Umundum, Member of the Board of Österreichische Post AG and longtime Board Member of VEF

New Members of the Patrons Committee:

• H.E. Ramush Haradinaj, Prime Minister of Kosovo
• H.E. Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of Macedonia
• H.E. Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of Modova
• H.E. Duško Marković, Prime Minister of Montenegro

New Members of the Ambassadors Committee:

• H.E. Victor Osipov, Ambassador of Moldova
• H.E. Mehmet Ferden Carikci, Ambassador of Turkey
• H.E. Ksenija Škrilec, Ambassador of Slovenia

New Members of the Honorary Committee:

• Dr. Karl Stoss, General Manager of Casinos Austria (2007-2017), President of the Österreichisches Olympisches Comité, founding member and active supporter of Vienna Economic Forum
• DI Dr. Erwin Pröll, Former Governor of Lower Austria (1992- 2017) and longtime active supporter of Vienna Economic Forum
• Dr. Milan Parivodic, President of Parivodic Advokati, until January 2018 Board Member of Vienna Economic Forum and longtime active supporter of Vienna Economic Forum

All changes will come into effect after confirmation by the meeting of the General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum, which will take place on 28 March 2018 in the Säulenhalle of the Wiener Börse AG.

Following this year's board meeting, Wiener Börse AG, together with the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, invited to a Cocktail Reception, which was attended by members of the Ambassadors Committee H.E. Roland Bimo, Ambassador of Albania; H.E. Ivan Sirakov, Ambassador of Bulgaria; H.E. Victor Osipov, Ambassador of Moldova and H.E. Mehmet Ferden Carikci, Ambassador of Turkey next to various members of the VEF Honorary Committee, diplomats of VEF member countries and the VEF Arbitrators.

The team of Vienna Economic Forum would like to thank all Board Members, Members and Partners for their excellent support of the numerous activities of VEF in Austria and abroad in the year 2017 and for their constant trust!

The success story of this development motivates us further to conquer new horizons!