OREANDA-NEWS. June 28, 2010. "I am sure that the organization of the Vienna Economic Forum in Chisinau will help increase foreign investors' attention to Moldova," Prime Minister Vlad Filat said in a speech given at the opening of the forum.

The prime minister stressed that "Moldova's investment policy is characterized by the protection of investments and private property, compliance with the principles of market economy, guarantees against groundless expropriation and confiscation of property. The national legislation is based on the principle of non-discrimination of foreign and local investors," Vlad Filat said.

Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar told the same event that Moldova is very dependent on foreign factors. He underlined the importance and opportunity of discussions within this forum for the development of the domestic business environment. The forum's key objective is to foster the investment flows in Moldova by drawing foreign investors' attention to Moldova as a favourable destination for investments, to facilitate dialogue between investors and local companies, as well as to identify and promote promising investment projects for the national economy, Lazar said.

The secretary-general of the Vienna Economic Forum, Elena Kirtcheva, said that the holding of this forum in Chisinau is a way to draw increased attention to Moldova on behalf of foreign investors. "We are quite happy to be here for the second time, and in comparison with the first meeting, we made sure that things are changing in Moldova, are advancing, capacities are increased and all these lead to the movement of things in the correct direction. You undertake measures step by step, and you have achieved a lot and have to do a lot, you go the right way," Elena Kirtcheva said.

The head of the Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), Erhard Busek, said that "the organization of both the investment week and Vienna Economic Forum in Chisinau is an excellent idea. I am sure that these comprehensive events will have a great impact on our common goal: to find proper investors for Moldova's economy, and I would suggest that the Moldovan government organizes such meetings annually," Busek said. At the end of his speech, Erhard Busek showed confidence that the discussions within the forum attended by representatives of about 60 companies will end with establishing business contacts which are very necessary for Moldova's economic development.

The Vienna Economic Forum was held within Moldova Business Week 2010, which took place on 22-25 June. The latter event was organized by the Economics Ministry and the Moldovan Export Promotion and Investments Attraction Organization, under the government's patronage.

VEF was founded in 2004, and is one of the most important European non-governmental associations, which includes Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. The forum's main objective is to promote investments in the countries from the Adriatic and Black Seas' regions.