11th Vienna Economic Forum - Vienna Summit 2014

Visions and Responsibilities in a Changing Time
24. November 2014 
Palais Niederösterreich, Wien

Am 24. November 2014 durften Herr Vizekanzler a.D. Dr. Erhard Busek, Präsident des Vienna Economic Forum und Botschafterin a.D. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Generalsekretärin des Vienna Economic Forum, 500 Teilnehmer aus 44 Ländern im Palais Niederösterreich in Wien begrüßen.

Unter dem Motto “Visions and responsibilities in a changing time” diskutierten die hochrangigen Teilnehmer wie S.E. Herr Bundespräsidenten Dr. Heinz Fischer, Herr Bundeskanzler Werner Faymann, S.E. Premierminister von Albanien Edi Rama, S.E. Premierminister von Mazedonien Nikola Gruevski, S.E. Preminierminister von Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, S.E. Tomislav Donchev, Vizepremier von Bulgarien sowie den Präsidenten der Europäischen Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung (EBRD) Sir Suma Chakrabarti,stellvertrendende Generalsekretärin der Zentraleuropäischen Initiative (CEI) Botschafterin Dr. Margit Wästfelt in der ersten Session über die Themen wie Wirtschaft im Adria- sowie Schwarzmeerregion, Energie, Aufgaben und Verantwortungen der jeweiligen Ländern. 

Herr Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO der Telekom Austria Group und Vorstandsmitglied des Vienna Economic Forum führte die Moderation der Second Plenary Session, in der Frau Mag. Bernadette Gierlinger, Sektionchefin im Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft und der Vizepräsident der Europäischen Investitionsbank (EIB) Vizekanzler a.D. Mag. Wilhelm Molterer, zusammen mit S.E. Arben Ahmetaj, Wirtschaftsminister von Albanien und den Vorständen des Vienna Economic Forum Herr Mag. Stefan Szyszkowitz, Vorstandsdirektor der EVN AG, Herr DI Dr. Günther Rabensteiner, Mitglied des Vorstandes der Verbund AG und Herr Dr. Gabriel Lansky, Partner, LANSKY, GANZGER + partner, sowie Herrn Ing. Gerald Sturm-Ofenböck, General Manager AT/CEE, Siemens Industry Software, Mitglied des Vienna Economic Forum, über den Ausbau der IT-Infrastruktur und die Energieeffizienz diskutierten.

Die dritte Session “As long as the Danube and the Black Sea connect us – responsibility for today and for the future. Cooperation is on demand!” war dem Donauraum und der Schwarzmehrregion gewidmet. Unter der Moderation des Präsidenten des Vienna Economic Forum Herrn Vizekanzler a.D. Dr. Erhard Busek diskutieren neben S.E. Botschafter Miklos Lengyel, Vizepräsident der Donaukommission, Herr Alain Paic, Head of the Investment Compact for South East Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Herr Mihai Daraban, Präsident der rumänischen Wirtschaftskammer, Mitglied des Vienna Economic Forum Komitees der Wirtschaftskammerpräsidenten, Dr. Boris Vujcic, Gouverneur der kroatischen Nationalbank, Mitglied des Vienna Economic Forum Komitees der Gouverneure der Nationalbanken der Region, Univ.Prof. Dr. Helmut Habersack, Universität für Bodenkultur und Dr. Stahil Karapchanski, Vizebürgermeister von Russe, über interessante Projekte entlang der Donau und in der Schwarzmehrregion.

Über die wachsenden Rolle der türkischen Wirtschaft in der Region wurde in der vierten Session diskutiert. Dieseals COUNTRY FORUM TURKEY organisierte Session in Kooperation mit der Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) wurde von DI Peter Umundum, Vorstandsmitglied der Österreichische Post AG und Vorstandsmitglied des Vienna Economic Forum moderiert. Neben dem Vizepräsidenten der Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) Herrn Arda Ermut, diskutieren auch der CEO von ThyssenKrupp Turkey Dr. Cetin Nazikkol, die Vorstandsmitglieder des Vienna Economic Forum: Mag. Heinz Messinger, CEO, AME International GmbH und Dr. Willibald Plesser, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, sowie der Präsident der Anatolian Businessmen Association (ASKON), Herr Mustafa Koca, Herr Halil Kulluk, Präsident der Intekno Group und Chairman des Business Advisory Council for Southeastern Europe and Euasia (BACSEE), Strategischer Partner des Vienna Economic Forum und Frau Prof. Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis, Präsidentin der Biopolitics International Organisation, Strategischer Partner des Vienna Economic Forum, über die erfolgreiche Projekte, die eigene positive Erfahrung und die weiteren Möglichkeiten und wirtschaftlichen Perspektiven.

In der jährlichen Festzeremonie zur Verleihung der Vienna Economic Forum Awards wurde als„Kooperationspartner des Jahres 2014“ die Telekom Austria Group nominiert und der Award von CEO Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter entgegen genommen.

Der Award „Strategic Partner of the Year 2014“ wurde an Marmara Group Foundation mit Sitz in Istanbul und wurde an Präsident Herrn Dr. Akkan Suver verliehen.

Die Vertiefung der weiteren Zusammenarbeit durch Unterzeichnung von einem Memorandum of Understanding mit Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), mit Sitz in Sarajevo und Anatolian Businessmen Association (ASKON) mit Sitz in Istanbul wurde von dem Generalsekretär des RCC Goran Svilanovic und von dem Vertretern von ASKON, dem Präsidenten Mustafa Koca und dem Generalsekretär Bahadir Tuzcu hoch gewürdigt.

Zwischen Vienna Economic Forum und Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) wurde im Rahmen des 11th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Summit 2014 einen Kooperationsvertrag unterzeichnet.

>Das Vienna Economic Forum dankt allen Kooperationspartnern, Mitgliedern und Partnern des Vienna Economic Forum für die ständige Unterstützung. Ein spezielles Dankeschön geht an: die Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), sowie Austrian Airlines AG, Bärenbatterie GmbH, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft, Canon CEE GmbH, DenizBank AG, Socar, Sopharma AD und der Telekom Austria Group.

Vienna Economic Forum dankt für die Präsenz beim 11. Vienna Economic Forum- Vienna Summit 2014 und für die gute Zusammenarbeit den strategischen Partner des Vienna Economic Forum und Internationalen Organisationen aus verschiedenen Ländern :

• Anatolian Businessmen Association (ASKON), Istanbul, Turkey
• Biopolitics International Organisation (B.I.O.), Athen, Griechenland
• Bled Strategic Forum, Slowenien
• Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Sofia, Bulgarien
• Business Advisory Council for Southeast Europe (BACSEE), Thessaloniki, Griechenland
• Central European Initiative - CEI, Triest, Italien
• EastEuroCo Executive Search Group, Budapest, Ungarn
• European Center for Environmental Economy (ECEE), Sofia, Bulgarien
• Hayek Insitut, Wien, Österreich
• Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa (IDM), Wien, Österreich
• International Business and Diplomatic Exchange (IBDE), London, Großbritannien
• Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), Ankara, Türkei
• Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Group, Istanbul, Türkei
• Österreichischer Gewerbeverein, Wien, Österreich
• Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat, Sarajewo
• The Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), Istanbul, Türkei
• Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TURKONFED), Istanbul, Türkei
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Wir freuen uns das 12. Vienna Economic Forum am 23. November 2015 im Palais Niederösterreich in Wien anzukündigen.

Programm

Statements/Präsentationen:
Generalsekretärin Bot. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva - Eröffnung 11. VEF
Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter (Telekom Austria Group)
Ing. Gerald Sturm-Ofenboeck (SIEMENS)
Dr. Gabriel Lansky (LANSKY, GANZGER + partner)
Prof. Helmut Habersack (Universität für Bodenkultur)
Halil Kulluk (Intekno Group; BAC SEE)
Mag. Heinz Messinger (AME)
Dr. Willibald Plesser (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
Dipl. Ing. Peter Umundum (Österreichische Post AG)

EU - Moldova International Investors' Conference

Following the successful Vienna Economic Talks - Chisinau Meeting 2014, on the next day, on June 12, 2014, the EU – Moldova International Investors’ Conference was organized, with the participation of H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the European Commission and H.E. Mr. Iurie Leanca, Prime Minister of Moldova.

Many Members of Vienna Economic Forum took part in the conference, also the Members of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, Mag. Heinz Messinger, CEO, AME International GmbH, Austria, and Dr. Ognjan Donev, President of the Confederation of the Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIBG), Strategic  Partner of Vienna Economic Forum; CEO, Sopharma AD, Bulgaria.

Secretary General Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva gave an overview on the Conclusions and Recommendations of Vienna Economic Forum after the Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014. As mentioned before, the aim of Vienna Economic Forum is to define investment possibilities in a whole region, to present them, to promote and to support them as much as possible.

She underlined that the close cooperation of Vienna Economic Forum with the governments is an important incentive for the achievement of this goal and she very much expects an active cooperation with the Moldovan Government in this direction. The aim of Vienna Economic Forum is always concentrated to animate investors from different sectors and from different countries for activities in the Vienna Economic Forum region. Because only a good balance in the mosaic of foreign investors, a colourful palette of companies from different countries, especially in the large structure relevant investments, secures the best choice of a country for the national economic development.

Secretary General Amb. Dr. Kirtcheva wished the Moldovan economy such a realisation of a colourful investors interest from the heart, and she assured that Vienna Economic Forum, as the place where the participants experience the importance of thinking together about the present and future economic development, will continue the good cooperation with Moldova and the countries of the region.

Vienna Economic Talks - Chisinau Meeting 2014

10.-11. Juni 2014, Chisinau, Moldova

in cooperation with MIEPO – Moldova Investment and Export Promotion Organisation

Vienna Economic Talks  – Chisinau Meeting 2014 was successfully organized under the patronage of the Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Iurie Leanca.

For both days over 300 participants from 18 countries were registered: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italia, Luxemburg, Monte Carlo, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Moldova.

In his Opening Statement President Dr. Erhard Busek said that things in Moldova improve with his every arrival in Chisinau. By holding such events, they want the Europeans to understand better what kind of country Moldova is. “The Vienna Economic Forum focuses on the attraction of long-term investments. We want Moldova, which has incomes lower than the European states, but which has potential and is developing, to benefit from the Vienna Economic Forum activities. The solution to rapid development resides in the attraction of investments, increase in exports and enhancement of competitiveness of the Moldovan products on the European markets,” stated the European official.

In his Introductory Statement H.E. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca thanked the administration of the Vienna Economic Forum for the idea of staging this event in Chisinau. “It is a good occasion for discussing the new cooperation opportunities that will appear when Moldova signs the Association Agreement with the EU and when the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area is created. Our objective is to place Moldova on the political and economic man of Europe,” he stated.

Moldova has been a Member Country of Vienna Economic Forum from the very beginning and it is a proof of how high the members of Vienna Economic Forum value Moldova and its way towards market economy and EU values so that Vienna Economic Forum organized a specialized meeting already for the third time, after the years 2008 and 2010.

Secretary General Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva stated that Vienna Economic Forum focuses on authentic values and long-term cooperation and we are convinced, that the markets in CEE continue to offer great potential. The close cooperation of Vienna Economic Forum with the governments is an important incentive for the achievement of this goal and she very much expects an active cooperation with the Moldovan Government in this direction. The aim of Vienna Economic Forum is always concentrated to animate investors from different sectors and from different countries for activities in the Vienna Economic Forum region. Because only a good balance in the mosaic of foreign investors, a colourful palette of companies from different countries, especially in the large structure relevant investments, secures the best choice of a country for the national economic development.

H.E. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca assured that Moldova is determined to extend the reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy, to remove trade barriers and to fight corruption.

Moldova's political integration into the European Union will largely depend on the success of the country’s economic integration, said H.E. Mr. Valeriu Lazar, Deputy Premier Minister and Minister of Economy of Moldova.H.E. Mr. Lazar stressed that the country’s economic development must become an absolute priority for everybody – the Government, citizens, profiled organizations, etc. Fortunately, there already exist good preliminary results for this, as 80-90% Moldovan legislation corresponds to the European one, according to him.

Several Members of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum took part in the meeting:

• Dr. Ognjan Donev, President of the Confederation of the Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIBG), Strategic  Partner of Vienna Economic Forum; CEO, Sopharma AD, Bulgaria Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum
• Mag. Heinz Messinger, CEO, AME International GmbH, Austria, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum
• DI Peter Umundum, Member of the Board of Österreichische Post AG,  Austria, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum

On the second day of the meeting H.E. Mr. Vasile Bumacov, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry and Mr. Mihai Ciocanu, Deputy Minister of Health of Moldova took part with Introductory Statements, presenting concrete projects in diverse economic sectors of Moldova.

Vienna Economic Forum is especially proud that after the First Opening Session on 10 June in Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014 we could present The National Energy Globe Award for Moldova – which goes to the NGO “First Aid Centre” and Mr. Vitalie Zaharia for the project “Implementing the street lighting system with solar cells and LED lamps”, and which was handed over by Mag. Rudolf Lukavsky, Commercial Counselor for Romania and Moldova at the Austrian Embassy Bucharest, Romania.

Vienna Economic Talks – Chisinau Meeting 2014 was a success. The large interest of the numerous high-ranking participants from economy and politics from Moldova and the region of Vienna Economic Forum, potential investors will surely provide a good basis for further and more intensive cooperation with Moldova.

Programm

Vienna Economic Talks - Business and Investment Forum Albania

Am 12. Mai 2014 organisierte Vienna Economic Forum in Kooperation mit der Wirtschaftskammer Österreich VIENNA ECONOMIC TALKS - BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT FORUM ALBANIA mit einer hochrangigen Delegation aus Albanien, unter der Leitung von S.E. Premierminister Edi Rama, Patron des Vienna Economic Forum.

Die Veranstaltung wurde von Hausherr Dr. Christoph LEITL Präsident der Wirtschaftskammer Österreich und Mitglied des Komitees der Wirtschaftskammerpräsidenten der Region des Vienna Economic Forum, und Dr. Erhard BUSEK, Präsident des Vienna Economic Forum eröffnet. Die Eröffnungsrede hielt S.E. Edi RAMA, Premierminister von Albanien.

Statements hielten die albanischen Minister: S.E. Arben AHMETAJ, Wirtschaftsminister der Republik Albanien und Mitglied des Komitees der Wirtschaftsminister der Region des Vienna Economic Forum, S.E. Damjan GJIKNURI, Minister für Energie und Industrie der Republik Albanien und S.E. Edmond PANARITI, Minister für Landwirtschaft, ländliche Entwicklung und Wasserwirtschaft der Republik Albanien.

Zahlreiche Vorstandsmitglieder – VEF-Vizepräsidenten Mag. Stefan SZYSZKOWITZ, Mitglied des Vorstandes, EVN AG, Mag. Heinz MESSINGER, Managing Director, AME International GmbH sowie DI Dr. Günther RABENSTEINER, Mitglied des Vorstandes, Verbund AG, Ehrenmitglied Dr. Herbert STEPIC, Senior Advisor to the Board, Raiffeisen Bank International AG - und Mitglieder des Vienna Economic Forum nahmen an dem VIENNA ECONOMIC TALKS - BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT FORUM ALBANIA teil.

Rund 160 Teilnehmer nutzten die Gelegenheit zu einem Erfahrungsaustausch und bilaterale Gespräche. Vienna Economic Forum bedankt sich herzlich bei EVN AG, AME International GmbH und Verbund AG für die Unterstützung der Organisation.

Programm

Vienna Economic Talks - Building Bridges in a Challenging Time

10 years Vienna Economic Forum and 25 years Central European Initiative 
28 April 2014, Raiffeisen Bank International, Vienna

Vienna Economic Forum is proud that on the occasion of two anniversaries in the Year 2014 - 10 years Vienna Economic Forum and 25 years Central European Initiative the conference VIENNA ECONOMIC TALKS - BUILDING BRIDGES IN A CHALLENGING TIME was organized in cooperation with Central European Initiative.

The goal was to use the synergy of both organisations to support the economic development of VEF and CEI countries, especially in the current challenging time.  This goal of Vienna Economic Forum was already defined 10 years ago and was proven in all these successful years by the economic cooperation with and between the VEF- member countries.

Secretary General Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva was glad to welcome more than 130 registered participants from 26 countries, high representatives of the economy and politics of all Vienna Economic Forum and also from CEI member countries. She welcomed especially the Members of the Board of VEF, Mr. Hermann Anderl- CEO of Canon CEE, Mr. Alois Steinbichler, Kommunalkredit Austria AG, Dr. Peter Harold, HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank AG, Mr. Valentin Mihov, Sberbank Europe AG, Dr. Friedrich Jergitsch, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Mr. Roland Frankl, Lansky, Ganzger and Partner; Members of the Governors Committee of VEF -Mr. Adrian Fulani, Governor of Bank of Albania, Ms. Ernadina Bajrovic, Vice- Governor of Central Bank of BiH, also Dr. Gyula Pleschinger, Member of the Monetary Policy Council at National Bank of Hungary, and Members of the VEF-Committee of the Presidents of National Chambers of Economy - Dr. Richard Schenz, Vice President of Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Mr. Bojidar Danev, President of Bulgarian Industrial Association,  Mr. Zdravko Jelisic, Vice President of Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and also Mr. Uladzimir Ulakhovich, Deputy Charman of Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as a many Representatives from the CEI Countries Hungary, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia. The participation of Dr. Matti Vanhanen, Former Prime Minister of Finland, and Executive Director FBN Finland – Finnish Family Firms Association, is also a perfect expression of CEI’s bridging role between European macro-regions.

Also several Ambassadors and high representatives from many Embassies in Vienna took part, which was a proof that cooperation is the right way to increase and support the economic development. 

Secretary General Amb. Dr. Elena Kirtcheva pointed out that she is convinced that exactly the synergy of one private, like Vienna Economic Forum, and one governmental body, like CEI, is the right cooperation as seen from the present days, when we deal with challenges and change!

Vienna Economic Forum as a private non-profit organisation was founded according the Austrian low of associations. In it’s already 10 years successful story Vienna Economic Forum has been growing and have since 2011 the status International Non-Governmental Organization from the Republic of Austria and since 2012 the Special Consultative Status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

“I am proud to say that Vienna Economic Forum has had many cooperation partners from European and non-European countries for several years.”, she said.

Vienna Economic Forum wants to thank especially CEI Alternate Secretary General Amb. Dr. Margit Waestfelt and Amb. Dr. Heidemaria Gürer, Austrian National Coordinator of Central European Initiative.

Vienna Economic Forum is very grateful to Dr. Herbert Stepic, Founding Father of Vienna Economic Forum who was the host of the conference, and Raiffeisen Bank International AG, partner for a long time.

The Main Topics of the conference were:

• Building Bridges – The Role of the Synergy for the Economic Development of Vienna Economic Forum and CEI Member Countries
• Imagine the Future: For a Better Economic Cooperation. Economic  Chamber’s and Bank’s Responsibilities.
• Family Business – Role and Perspectives

Several members of Vienna Economic Forum are big players in the family business sector of the region, like Mr. Hanno Soravia, Founding Father of Vienna Economic Forum, Mr. Christo Iliev, Member of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum, the President of the Association of the Family Business Network (FBN) Bulgaria. Their participation, as also of the Representatives of the Family Business Associations in Austria and Finland, from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, give the confidence that the aspirations for sustainable economic development based on the importance of family businesses, become true.

Vienna Economic Forum, as the place where the participants experience the importance of thinking together about the present and future economic development, will continue the good cooperation with the Southeast European Countries, and also with Countries from Central and Northern Europe, as Lithuania.

Programm