5th Vienna Economic Forum (Program)
10 – 11 November 2008 in Raiffeisen Zentral Bank in Vienna
30 June – 1 July 2008
Vienna Economic Forum is further developing and grows, so that with Pleven Meeting the first conference of a new series of events began – Vienna Economic Talks.
Vienna Economic Talks – Pleven Meeting took place in the seventh largest city of Bulgaria, Pleven, a municipality with typical problems.
The Meeting was organised in cooperation with the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and H.E. Minister Herr Asen Gagauzov and with the kind hospitality of the Mayor of Pleven, Mr. Naiden Zelenogorski in cooperation with many representatives of municipalities and decision-makers on municipality level of different Bulgarian cities
The President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek and Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva were happy to welcome 30 Mayors of Bulgarian municipalities and 21 representatives of Austrian companies -Members of Vienna Economic Forum .
Topics included Regional development/municipal reconstruction, Support for the better and faster use of structural funds, the waste problem, the canalization of the outlying districts and water and waste water (new canalization, reconstruction and sewage plants. The successful first day of the conference was used for presentations and numerous discussions, while on the second day bilateral meetings between Austrian investors and Bulgarian municipalities took place.
Invest in Albania - Invest in the Region
8 – 9 June 2008
Sheraton Hotel Tirana
Vienna Economic Forum – Tirana Meeting under the Patronance of H.E. Prof. Dr. Sali BERISHA, Prime Minister of the Government of Albania has been a big success. The Forum has been visited by more than 250 people. Participants came from 20 countries, 33 companies from Austria and 140 companies from the region as well as from Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from The Energy Community Secretariat Vienna were present.
In his Welcome Address H.E. Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of the Government of Albania and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, gave a statement about the importance of investment in Albania as a means towards a successful preparation for European integration.
In his opening Statement the President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek has underlined the excellent economic development of Albania in the last years and the investment opportunities which are attractive to foreign investors.
The Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva underlined the important role of the regional cooperation as an important precondition for the economic development of the whole Region. Cooperation is of great importance also for the exchange of information on the economic interests and especially on the topics envisaged in the agenda of the Tirana Meeting.
Numerous Albanian Ministers and Government Members participated in the Vienna Economic Forum – Tirana Meeting, both with speeches and with participation in the bilateral meetings:
- H.E. Ms. Jozefina Topalli, Speaker of the Albanian Government
- H.E. Mr. Genc Ruli, Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy of the Republic of Albania
- H.E. Mr. Sokol Olldashi, Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunication of the Republic of Albania
- H.E. Minister Nard Ndoka, Minister for Health of the Republic of Albania
- Mr. Florjon Mima, Deputy Minister for Finance of the Republic of Albania
An Austrian Parliamentary Delegation participated with high-ranking Members:
- Dr. Michael Spindelegger, Second President of the Austrian Parliament
- Ms. Christa Kranzl, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology of the Government of Austria
- Mr. Wolfgang Großruck, Chairman of the parliamentary Group Austria-Albania of the Austrian Parliament
- Ms. Ursula Haubner, Member of the Austrian National Council of the Austrian Parliament
- Mr. Stefan Schennach, Member of the Austrian Federal Council of the Austrian Parliament
- Mr. Andreas Schieder, Chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Austrian Parliament
- Mr. Wolfgang Zanger, Member of the Austrian National Council of the Austrian Parliament
As an important part showing the intense cooperation between Albania and Austria, Vienna Economic Forum – Tirana Meeting hosted the Ceremony of Signing of the Agreement “Technology related cooperation in the health sector” between Austria and Albania with H.E. Minister Nard Ndoka, Minister for Health of the Republic of Albania and the State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria Mrs. Christa Kranzl. This is a practical result of the Austrian Albanian cooperation.
Three Plenary Sessions dealt with the topics
- Investment Policy: How to support and develop Investors Interests and Investment Projects in Albania
- The European Priorities in the Energy Sector for the Development of the Region
- Sustainable Economic Development in the Region – Cases of Problems, Needs and Solutions in different Sectors of the Economy
After two days of discussions and talks a lot of positive feedback from many participants from different countries and new ideas for further cooperation in the Region have arisen.
Invest in Montenegro - Invest in the Region
14 - 15 April 2008
Montenegro, Hotel Splendid Bečići
Vienna Economic Forum - Montenegro Meeting under the patronage of H.E. Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro, was a success. The Montenegro Meeting was held in Becici, which is situated on the Budva Coast. Vienna Economic Forum has welcomed more than 230 participants from 21 countries, and also from the South-East European Co-operation Process (SEECP), the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) from the Council of Europe, from EU Commission, from the OSCE, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), from International Finance Corporation - World Bank Group.
In his Welcome Address H.E. Mr. Milo ĐUKANOVIĆ, Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro and Patron of Vienna Economic Forum, gave a statement about the importance of investment in Montenegro as a means towards a successful preparation for European integration.
In his opening Statement the President of Vienna Economic Forum, former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek has underlined the excellent economic development of Montenegro in the last years and the investment opportunities which are attractive to foreign investors.
The Secretary General of Vienna Economic Forum, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva underlined the important role of the regional cooperation as an important precondition for the economic development of the whole Region. Cooperation is of great importance also for the exchange of information on the economic interests and especially on the topics envisaged in the agenda of the Montenegro Meeting.
Numerous Montenegrin Ministers participated in the Vienna Economic Forum – Montenegro Meeting, both with speeches and with participation in the bilateral meetings:
- H.E. Dr. Vujica LAZOVIC, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy of the Government of Montenegro
- H.E. Branimir GVOZDENOVIC, Minister for Economic Development of the Government of Montenegro
- H.E. Dr. Igor LUKSIC, Minister of Finance of the Government of Montenegro
- H.E. Dr. Andrija LOMPAR, Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Telecommunication of the Government of Montenegro
- H.E. Mr. Predrag NENEZIĆ, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Protection of the Government of Montenegro
- H.E. Mr. Jusuf KALAMPEROVIC, Minister of Interior Affairs and Public Administration
Three Plenary Sessions dealt with the topics:
- Investment Policy and Infrastructure Projects
- Investment Opportunities in Montenegro
- Investment Experiences and Investment Needs in Montenegro
The possibility to hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister, Montenegrin Ministers and with high representatives of Montenegrin companies was highly appreciated by the Members of Vienna Economic Forum. The results are a successful basis for a further cooperation, in which Austrian, Montenegrin and international companies are interested.
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