Investment Possibilities from the Adriatic to the Black Sea and the Caspian Region.
Take the Real Chance
10 – 11 November 2008 in Raiffeisen Zentral Bank in Vienna
Topics:
- Financing of Investments. Assistance from the EU and International Finance Institutions
- Energy: Responsibility for the Future
- Connecting and Linking: Transport Corridors, Post, Telecommunication
- Corporate Responsibility in the field of Education – Challenges for the Investors in the Region
At this year’s 5th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum on November 10 and 11, 2008 President Dr. Erhard Busek and Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva had the great pleasure to welcome around 500 participants from 37 countries throughout the world. Beside our honourable VIP-Guests, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers from our Member countries, high ranking representatives from OPEC, Energy Community Secretariat, IETI Europa (Institute for European Training and Information), South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Regional Cooperation Council located in Sarajevo and UNIDO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization) took part in the meeting.
The Opening Speech was held by Former Vice Chancellor Dr. Erhard Busek, President of Vienna Economic Forum who pointed out the growing importance of the South-East European region despite the present financial situation, and underlined the necessity of regional cooperation.
A welcome Address was given by Dr. Herbert Stepic, Chairman of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG, Vice Chairman of RZB AG and Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, who hosted the Forum again this year. Dr. Stepic mentioned that the countries from the region can and will handle the financial crisis, and that a fast action of the local governments and central banks would be necessary.
Congratulations came from H.E. Dr. Martin Bartenstein, Austrian Federal Minister of Economy and Labour and Dr. Veit Sorger, President of the Federation of Austrian Industry and Founding Member of Vienna Economic Forum. H.E. Minister Bartenstein in his statement saw the European perspective and a future EU membership as the driving force for the political and economic development of South-East Europe.
Further speakers during the first Plenary Session were Mr. Hidajet Biscevic, Secretary General of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and Regional Cooperation Council and Mr. Theodore Ahlers, Director of Strategy and Operations of the World Bank.
Dr. Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, CEO of OVM AG and Founding Member of Vienna Economic Forum and H.E. Dr. Vujica Lazovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy of Montenegro, introduced the audience to the Energy topic of the Round Table on the first day.
The first plenary session after the opening speeches carried the name “Energy: Responsibility for the Future” and was chaired by Director Slavtcho Neykov. The panel included Members of the Board from the leading Austrian energy companies, OMV, EVN, Verbund and Siemens.
The high interest during the conference in the finance topic, and the presence of some Finance Ministers induced the organisation of a special Q and A MINISTERS SESSION with:
· H.E. Mr. Vjekoslav BEVANDA, Minister of Finance, Bosnia and Herzegovina
· H.E. Mr. Aleksandar DZOMBIC, Minister of Finance, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
· H.E. Dr. Trajko SLAVESKI, Minister of FinanceMacedonia
· H.E. Mr. Musa Xhaferi, Minister of Local Self Government, Macedonia
· Mr. Valentin IVANOV, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy, Bulgaria
· Mr. Iurie MUNTEAN, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade, Moldova
· Mr. Oleksandr Kupchyshyn, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine
It was a pleasure for Vienna Economic Forum to welcome so many important Ministers, Deputy Ministers and high-ranking representatives from companies in Austria and in the region.
Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva stated she is glad to see Vienna Economic Forum grow to be a useful platform and distinguished place for meetings and exchange and to support and develop common projects in the Region of South-East Europe as a part of a united Europe. And this with the help of the most important economic capacities of today - with confidence. In addition, Ambassador Dr. Kirtcheva extended the motto of Vienna Economic Forum: “Go South East – Go Ahead”.
30 Juni – 1 Juli 2008
Das Vienna Economic Forum entwickelt sich weiter und wächst beständig, sodass mit dem Pleven Meeting die erste Konferenz der neuen Veranstaltungsreihe begann – Vienna Economic Talks.
Vienna Economic Talks – Pleven Meeting fand in der siebtgrößten Stadt Bulgariens, Pleven, statt, ein Ort typisch für die Probleme von mittelgroßen Städten.
Das Meeting wurde in enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem bulgarischen Ministerium für Regionale Entwicklung und Bauwirtschaft und S.E. Minister Herr Asen Gagauzov, mit der freundlichen Gastfreundschaft des Bürgermeisters von Pleven, Herrn Naiden Zelenogorski, in Kooperation mit vielen Gemeindevertretern und Entscheidungsträgern auf Gemeindeebene verschiedener Städten Bulgariens veranstaltet.
Der Präsident des Vienna Economic Forum, Vizekanzler a.D. Dr. Erhard Busek und Generalsekretärin Botschafterin a.D. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva freuten sich, 30 Bürgermeister von bulgarischen Munizipalitäten und 21 Vertreter der österreichischen Firmen - Mitglieder des Vienna Economic Forum zu begrüßen.
Die Themen umfassten Regionale Entwicklung / Städtesanierung, Transportprobleme, das Müllproblem sowie die Situation von Wasser und Abwasser. Der erfolgreiche erste Konferenztag wurde für Präsentationen und zahlreiche Diskussionen genutzt, während der zweite Tag Raum für bilaterale Gespräche zwischen österreichischen Investoren und bulgarischen Munizipalitäten bot.
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.
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