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. 

Vienna Economic Forum – Lions Club Vienna Ostarrichi Get-Together Punch

Vienna Economic Forum is proud to have had the opportunity to support the Initiative of the VEF- Honorary President Dr. Günther Rabensteiner and the Lions Club Vienna Ostarrichi for a Get-Together Punch at the historical location of the Michaeler Platz in the heart of Vienna.

The collected amount shall be donated to support the many Lions Club´s charitable projects.

The Vienna Economic Forum Team is proud of the possibility to actively participate and is delighted to be a part of such a noble initiative.

NOVOMATIC also certified in Italy and Spain according to highest player protection standard

Vienna Economic Forum is pleased to be able to inform about the further successes of the VEF Cooperation partner NOVOMATIC AG, represented on the VEF Board by DI Ryszard Presch as VEF Vice-president.

Click here for the Press release. 

Working meeting with Ambassador Dragana Radulović, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Montenegro at Vienna Economic Forum 

On 25 October 2022, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva welcomed Ambassador Dragana Radulović, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Montenegro to a working meeting at the premisses of Vienna Economic Forum.

The discussion focused on current issues concerning the regional cooperation in the present situation, as well as on the upcoming 19. Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2022, which is to take place on 14 November 2022 dedicated to the highly current topic: "Economy Meets Politics in Difficult and Uncertain Times".

The VEF Founding Member country Montenegro is represented in the Board of Vienna Economic Forum by Dr. Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro. VEF is pleased to intensify the cooperation with the Embassy of Montenegro and with the Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Ambassador Dragana Radulović.

Working meeting with the new Ambassador of Moldova H.E. Michaela Mocanu at Vienna Economic Forum

On 4 October 2022 the new Ambassador of Moldova H.E. Michaela Mocanu and the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva met for a working meeting at the VEF premises.

In a very friendly atmosphere the possibility for a further, deepened collaboration was discussed. In view of the intensive preparations for the upcoming 19th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Future Dialogue 2022 which is to take place on 14 November 2022, the focus was placed on planning the high-level participation of the VEF Member country, Moldova.

Vienna Economic Forum wishes H.E. Ambassador Michaela Mocanu many successes during her diplomatic mission in Austria.

Vienna Economic Forum and the Fund of Funds (FoF) - Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 September 2022

The two sides, represented by the Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva and CEO and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Martin Gikov announced an intensive cooperation.

The signing took place in the ceremonial hall of the Fund in the presence of the Deputy Minister for Innovation and Growth, Mr. Stefan Savov.

Here is the link to the press release of the Ministry for Innovation and Growth.

In addition, you can find the press release from the Ministry of Innovation and Growth translated into English:

Vienna Economic Forum is pleased to inform that the Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva became a Member of the International Advisory Board of the EU Project TRANSIT : "TRANSITion to sustainable future through training and education".

The Project has received successful funding from the HORIZON EUROPE Topic “Sustainability and educational aspects for renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies”.

The project is expected to start on the 1 October 2022 with an official launch during the 13th Mediterranean Conference on Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Energy Conversions (MEDPOWER2022).

VEF Member Canon Austria launches new campaign for monthly printing flat rate

Vienna Economic Forum is pleased to announce the launch of the new monthly printing flat rate campaign by VEF member Canon Austria, represented by Mag. Anderl, Managing Director of Canon Austria and a long-time reliable member of Vienna Economic Forum.

Here is the press release.

Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva as a guest on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria's "In Development" program.

Bloomberg Television is an international news network specializing in business and finance. Since Bloomberg first launched TV news in the United States in 1994 and four years later in Germany, it now reaches over 310 million homes worldwide. It has its headquarters in New York, London and Hong Kong.

On 5. September 2022, the founder and Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva was invited to be a guest on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria in the highly acclaimed live program “In Development”.

The program was moderated by Mag. Delyan Petrishki (Делян Петришки), twice nominated for his publications as a winner of the “Club of Journalists AAA” and known as a news presenter on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.

The VEF Secretary General spoke about the founding, the goals and the visions of Vienna Economic Forum. The economic development of the 13 VEF member states and the economic consolidation of the entire VEF region “From the Adriatic to the Black Sea”, which also includes Bulgaria, as well as the plans for further VEF development as an International organization, seated in Vienna, in accordance with the international public law, were discussed.

Here is the broadcast in Bulgarian.

The Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva with a Video Statement at the Kazakhstan - North Macedonia B2B Forum in Almaty

On 5. September 2022 the first North Macedonia - Kazakhstan B2B Forum was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Organized by the Embassy of North Macedonia in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the national company KAZAKH INVEST, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the forum discussed issues of investment opportunities in such areas as the agro-industrial complex, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals.

The VEF Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva greeted the forum with a Video statement accentuating the common goal of the Almaty B2B Forum and Vienna Economic Forum: strengthening regional economic collaboration between neighboring countries to promote investment opportunities in North Macedonia, as well as in the whole VEF region and contributing to economic consolidation of the region.

Ambassador Dr. Kirtcheva pointed to the investment talks held in Vienna and other VEF member countries that resulted in investments in the Republic of North Macedonia, a founding member of the Vienna Economic Forum.

In this regard, the Secretary General thanked H.E. Ambassador Sali Limani, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, Member of the Honorary Committee of Vienna Economic Forum and organizer of the First B2B Forum North Macedonia - Kazakhstan and underlined, that Kazakhstan and its companies have the capacity, resources and opportunities to become a key player in the economic cooperation with North Macedonia, as well as with VEF and all 13 member countries of Vienna Economic Forum in the region, defined as “The region From the Adriatic to the Black Sea”.

Video statement of the Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva

Here is the Press release.

Novomatic AG chosen as one of the most valuable brands in Austria

Vienna Economic Forum is pleased to be able to inform about the further successes of the VEF Cooperation partner NOVOMATIC AG, represented on the VEF Board by DI Ryszard Presch as VEF Vice-president.

Click here for the Press release.

Vienna Economic Forum - Cooperation partner NOVOMATIC AG with a successful third NOVOMATIC – Company Day

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is pleased to inform about the great response at the third NOVOMATIC Company Day and to congratulate on this successful and very important day for the employees!

Click here for the Press release.

Intensive talks about the future at the BAN KI-MOON CENTRE for Global Citizens in Vienna

On 13. June, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Member of the Board and Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, visited the former Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Heinz Fischer (2004-2016), Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, for a working meeting at the premises of the BAN KI-MOON CENTRE for Global Citizens in Vienna.

During an intensive exchange of ideas, the challenges of the time, revealing regional, European and global values of cooperation, were discussed.

Public Law, EU Law and Public International Law students from Law School Hamburg for an internship visit at Vienna Economic Forum

After the break due to the pandemic, Prof. Dr. Jörn Axel Kämmerer, Head of the Department for Public Law, Public International and EU Law at Bucerius Law School Hamburg, once again organized an internship trip to Vienna with a group of his students.

In the Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) premises, on 19 May 2022, the students in a very interested and engaged manner discussed various aspects of international law with the VEF Secretary General Ambassador Dr. jur. Elena Kirtcheva. Furthermore, the founding of Vienna Economic Forum and its development as an International Non-Governmental Organization (International NGO), as well as the possibilities of further development as a real International Organization (IO) based in Vienna – which is also a special topic of Professor Dr. Kämmerer’s teaching – were debated.

The lively academic discussion took place in a very friendly atmosphere, determined by a thirst for knowledge, for which the Secretary General Dr. Kirtcheva thanks Prof. Dr. Kämmerer very much.

The two sides look forward to possible future joint activities.

Talks about the future with the President of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Investment Office Mr. Ahmez Burak DAGLIOGLU at Vienna Economic Forum

After 2-days of successful events in Salzburg and Vienna on economic developments and economic opportunities in Turkey, the President of Invest in Türkiye Investment Office Mr. Ahmet Burak DAGLIOGLU, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, visited the Vienna Economic Forum premises at Prinz Eugen Straße 58, in the Vienna’s 4th district, on 27 April 2022 to discuss future cooperation.

During the intensive exchange of ideas, the Investment Office President Mr. Ahmet Burak DAGLIOGLU, a long-standing VEF Cooperation partner and Member of the VEF Board and Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, spoke about new impulses for further and even more active collaboration.

The forthcoming Vienna Economic Talks- Istanbul Meeting 2022 that are to be held on 16-17 May 2022, the 4th Istanbul event through the years that the two parties are organizing together were also the topic of the meeting.

Delegation of the Turkish-Austrian Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK) visiting Vienna Economic Forum

During a very constructive and analytical working meeting on 27 April 2022 at the VEF premises, a delegation of the Turkish-Austrian Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEIK), long-standing Strategic partner of VEF and Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, discussed in detail the current developments and the necessary initiatives for the VEF region. The forthcoming Vienna Economic Talks- Istanbul Meeting 2022 that are to be held on 16-17 May, as well as new aspects of further and more active future cooperation, were also the main topic of the conversation.

The Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva on a working meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye

On 15 April 2022, the Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva met the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Mr. Ozan Ceyhun for a working meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye.

The conversation focused on new aspects of further and more active future cooperation with the Embassy. During the intensive discussions, a special focus was placed on the organization of the upcoming Vienna Economic Talks - Istanbul Meeting 2022 on 16-17 May 2022 in Istanbul.

The Secretary General Amb. Kirtcheva sincerely thanks Ambassador Ceyhun for the shown hospitality and is looking forward to a further fruitful cooperation.

Annual General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum on 14. March 2022 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vienna Economic Forum Strategic Partner Marmara Group Foundation
bids farewell to former Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek
Founding Father and Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum

Here is the link to the press release on the MARMARA GROUP FOUNDATION website:

Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek

Founding Father and Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum

(* 25. März 1941 in Wien; † 13. März 2022)

We are all stunned that our dear friend, founding father and Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek was torn from our midst last night - a few days before his 81st birthday.

With the loss of Dr. Busek Austria loses a great European and a visionary statesman. Committed to European issues to the end, he acted as a political driving force and as a critical thinker. With his work, he shaped both the People's Party and all of Austria. His exceptional political commitment is respected far beyond Austria's borders, and it was his tireless commitment to democracy and the European path of the VEF member countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe that made him one of the co-founders and a loyal companion of Vienna Economic Forum.

Dr. Busek was the federal party Chairman of the ÖVP from 1991 to 1995. From 1991 to 1995 he was also Vice-Chancellor in the grand coalition with the SPÖ and at the same time Federal Minister for Science and Research, from 1994 Minister for Education. From 1995 he was Chairman of the Managing Board of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe, from 2005 to 2016 President of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) and since 2017 VEF Honorary President.

Vienna Economic Forum will always hold him in fond memories as a great personality. We are all grateful for the many years of cooperation, for the great passion he brought to his political work and for the time we were able to spend with him.

We will miss Dr. Busek as a highly valued companion and a real friend who always stood by his convictions and ideals and was therefore a role model for all of us.

Our thoughts and sympathy go out to his family at this difficult time.

On behalf of all Members of Vienna Economic Forum.

Vienna, 14th March 2022

In Memoriam Dr. Erhard Busek

Dear Members and Friends of Vienna Economic Forum,

We deeply regret to announce that the founding father and Honorary President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek passed away on the night of 14. March 2022.

The whole VEF team and I personally would like to express our deepest sorrow.

We will miss Dr. Busek as a highly valued companion and a real friend who always stood by his convictions and ideals and was therefore a role model for all of us.

His political dedication and his love for Austria and Europe, but also his tireless commitment to democracy and the European path of the countries from the VEF focus region, from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, shall remain unforgotten.

Grateful for everything he has done for us, we say goodbye.

Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva  

Founder and VEF-Member of the Board 

Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum 

Annual Board Meeting of Vienna Economic Forum 21. February 2022

The Annual Board Meeting of Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) in 2022 took place on 21. February at the Vienna Headquarters of the VEF founding member Vienna Insurance Group AG (VIG).

Upon the warm welcome by Mag. Peter Höfinger, Member of the VIG Board and nominated VEF Vice- President, to all of the participants on the top floor of the Ring Tower, the VEF President DI Peter Umundum, Board Member for Parcel & Logistics at the Österreichische Post AG took over and led through the agenda.

As an essential part of the meeting, the VEF Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva reported on the activities of Vienna Economic Forum in the past year 2021 - another special and volatile year, nevertheless a year offering fertile ground for even more successful VEF activities.

Through organizing and co-organizing, as well as by actively participating in many, mostly hybrid/online, events, VEF was able to reach an even wider international audience. The focus of Vienna Economic Forum last year was on the greatly accelerated transformation processes in key areas such as Energy, Infrastructure, Finance, etc., as well as on increased mediation for exploiting the enormously increased potential of the so-called "nearshoring", which has meanwhile become a central common denominator in the economic development strategies of the VEF member countries in the region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea.

In the background of the economic policy talks organized by VEF in 2021 at the highest state level, the annual report highlighted the proud fact that Vienna Economic Forum was granted the honour by the official Viennese authorities to display and wave the VEF flag in the Prinz-Eugen-Street 58, in the heart of the Embassy district. With this highly symbolic act, Vienna Economic Forum reaffirmed its high status and international reputation as the European economic platform based in Vienna!

The Board unanimously accepted the admission of new VEF members as Cooperation partners and Members-legal entities.

Furthermore, it was accepted that the voted changes in the VEF Board, as well as the updates in the Patrons, Ambassadors, Honorary committee were to be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Assembly for resolution.

The Annual General Assembly of Vienna Economic Forum will take place on 14. March 2022 at the Headquarters of the VEF Cooperation partner EVN AG in EVN Platz, 2344 Maria Enzersdorf.

A big Thank you for the constant support in the past year 2021 goes to all dedicated VEF partners and friends.

Vienna Economic Forum – Cooperation Partner Novomatic AG honoured as Austrian Leading Company for the fourth time in a row

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is pleased to report, that the VEF Cooperation partner Novomatic AG, which employs around 21,000 people at more than 45 locations worldwide, was once again recognized as a leading company by the independent, cross-industry excellence platform "Leitbetriebe Austria" for its group-wide sustainable business strategy, high innovative strength and promotion of youth talent.

VEF congratulates its Cooperation partner Novomatic AG, one of the largest employers in Lower Austria, on both this important recognition, as well as on the other important awards for their employee-friendly working climate and wishes them many more successes.

Please find here the Press release.

Working visit of the Vienna Economic Forum Member of the Board - former Minister of Economy of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vlahovic, President of the Serbian Association of Economists

During an analytical and constructive working meeting on 8 February 2022 in the VEF premises, the former Minister of Economy of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vlahovic, President of the Serbian Association of Economists and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum and Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, discussed in detail the current development and the necessary initiatives for the VEF region, talked about the new aspects of further and more active cooperation and set the course for their development in the period 2022/2023.

VEF Delegation visits Moldova

This year's international activities of Vienna Economic Forum commenced with a high-level working visit of the two VEF Vice-Presidents Dr. Ognian Donev, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC, Bulgaria and Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH, to the VEF Member country Moldova.

Photo right: H.E. Mrs. Natalia Gavrilița, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, left: the VEF Vice-Presidents, Dr. Ognian Donev, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC, Bulgaria and Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH

Due to the excellent cooperation between VEF and the representatives of the Moldovan Government, a series of high-level working meetings were held on site as part of the 2-day visit program (25 - 27 January 2022).

During the first meeting with H.E. Mr. Sergiu Gaibu, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Moldova and Mr. Stelian Manic, Director of the Investment Agency of the Republic of Moldova, the VEF Vice-Presidents presented the milestones of economic projects implemented in the country by Sopharma PLC and AME International GmbH, and discussed prospects for investment expansion.

In an additional meeting with H.E. Ms. Ala Nemerenco, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova, and taking into consideration the current challenges, focal points in the further development process of the health system, withing the interest areas of the two VEF cooperation partners, were discussed.

At the meeting with H.E. Mr. Dumitru Budianschi, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Moldova, focus of the talks was on the domestic banking sector as well as the current status of financing options for foreign investment projects. In a concluding meeting, the two VEF Vice-Presidents, accompanied by Mr. Nikolay Borissov, CEO of Moldindconbank S.A. met with H.E. Mrs. Natalia Gavrilița, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova and Member of the VEF Patrons Committee. During the talks with the Prime Minister the investment climate in Moldova was discussed, including the good practices of financing for interested investors based on the intensive intergovernmental cooperation between Moldova and Austria. 

As a member of the VEF Patrons Committee, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița was presented with the VEF agenda for 2022 and invited to participate in the 19th Vienna Economic Forum in November this year. In addition, possible steps towards Moldova-oriented economic talks in Vienna Economic Talks format were considered.

For the excellent cooperation between VEF and the Republic of Moldova, the delegation, on behalf of the VEF Board, presented H.E. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita with the "Badge of Honour of Vienna Economic Forum" for her support as a member of the VEF Patrons Committee.

The VEF Vice-Presidents Dr. Ognian Donev, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC, Bulgaria and Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH, presenting to H.E. Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita the "Badge of Honour of Vienna Economic Forum"

Photo right: H.E. Ms. Ala Nemerenco, Minister of Helath of the Republic of Moldova, left: VEF Vice-President, Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH

Photo left: Mr. Stelian Manic, Director of the Investment Agency of the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Sergiu Gaibu, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Moldova, right: VEF Vice-Presidents, Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH and Dr. Ognian Donev, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC, Bulgaria

Photo left: VEF Vice-Presidents, Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH and Dr. Ognian Donev, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, Sopharma PLC, Bulgaria with H.E. Mr. Sergiu Gaibu, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Moldova and Mr. Stelian Manic, Director of the Investment Agency of the Republic of Moldova

Reaffirmed granting of the Status of an International Non-Governmental organization (INGO) to Vienna Economic Forum by the legal authorities

Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) is highly pleased and honoured to announce that it has been re-listed in the new decree on granting the Legal Status of an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO), coming into force on 1 January 2022.

The regulation currently enacted by the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs in agreement with the Federal Minister for Labour and the Federal Minister for Interior continuously confirms the INGO status of VEF, which Vienna Economic Forum was originally granted with the official decision of the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs on 7. January 2011.

The long-standing state recognition of Vienna Economic Forum as INGO stands as witness to the numerous VEF successes in supporting cross-border interaction between economy and politics, which are based on strict adherence to the principle of neutrality and the gradually created international basis of trust.

For Vienna Economic Forum it is an honour to be able to further strengthen Austria as a business destination through its activities, and to continuously contribute to the economic cooperation and development of all VEF member countries as an economic region that is constantly growing closer together.