Vienna Economic Forum was founded in April 2004 on the idea of Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, then ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Austria.
The aim was to promote the economic cooperation between the countries and territories from the Adriatic to the Black Sea – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Kosovo from the Headquarters in Vienna.
Founding Members of the Forum are apart from idea holder Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva some of the most reputable companies and entrepreneurs in Austria. President of Vienna Economic Forum is the former Vice Chancellor of Austria, Dr. Erhard Busek, former Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. The Prime Ministers of all the states from the Region, together with the Austrian Federal Chancellor present the Committee of Patrons of Vienna Economic Forum and all the Ambassadors of the countries from the Region take part in the work of the Forum as Honorary Members.
The 13th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2016 – November 21st 2016 at the Novomatic Forum in Vienna.
After the Official opening of the 13th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2016 at 1:30 p.m. two sessions followed:
The First Session “Investment Strategy – Regional and worldwide” from 2-4 p.m. with focus particularly on the experiences of the Investment Agencies and their role for a better investment climate not only in the region of Vienna Economic Forum but worldwide. With this aim we organise the 13th Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2016 together with our partner the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), whose President is also President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT).
The Second Session from 4.30-6.30 p.m. was dedicated to “Investments in infrastructure – how to be more pragmatic” with the aim to deepen the regional dialogues regarding the focus on strategic projects in the Balkans and to discuss about the programme of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and about the ideas and visions of decision makers and high representatives from investors side and the business world of the region.