Dear friends, colleagues, and business partners!

The VZMD associates and I would like to thank you for the numerous concerned calls and letters, your support and willingness to help in the wake of the natural disaster that has so severely struck the great majority of the Slovenian population and a sizable portion of our homeland, its infrastructure, the economy, the agriculture, and the supply of basic commodities. The unprecedented flooding left in its wake a terrible disaster and enormous damage that will be impossible to repair and remedy swiftly.

Of course, any and all help is welcome, which is why our Association – with its strong international presence and activity – decided to make its own contribution and communicate the information of some of the well-established humanitarian and aid organizations to everyone who have already expressed strong willingness to help and to those who might and want to make a contribution in order to aid with the efforts to normalize the situation in our dearest Slovenia as soon as possible.

With kind regards and best wishes,

Kristjan Verbič, VZMD President

Last week, the PanSlovenian Shareholders' and Stakeholders' Association (VZMD) successfully concluded the world tour of its international business-investor programs: Invest to Slovenia – investo.si and International Investors` Network – investo.international, during which VZMD President Kristjan Verbič travelled around the globe for two months to visit Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Singapore, Brussels, Helsinki, Seoul and New York.

As part of his recent visit to New York, preceded by a visit to Los Angeles, VZMD President Kristjan Verbič addressed (VIDEO:  www.facebook.com/vzmd.si/videos/598723519122361/) the American actors and screenwriters that are members of the professional associations SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of TV & Radio Artists) and WGA (Writers Guild of America), where he was met with outstanding approval and applause.

Last week, New York hosted the WORLD LAW CONGRESS, which Mr. Kristjan Verbič attended as the only speaker from Slovenia. At the "ANTI-CORRUPTION: LINKS TO ORGANIZED CRIME" panel (VIDEO: https://fb.watch/lZYztbV8-Y/), he spoke about the problem of systemic corruption and the different understanding of it at the global level, and touched on the related conceptual difference between east and west. He proposed that at their crossroads in Slovenia, the "International Anti-Corruption Court" be established, about which there have already been quite a few discussions in the international community. 

This October, the Vienna Stock Exchange will host the meeting of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE), and alongside it an international investor conference organized in cooperation with the Austrian Investor Association (IVA). In that respect, the VZMD would like to invite all interested business entities, projects, and partners of the international business-investor programs Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (investo.international) to participate, including in the panels under preparation.

Yesterday, the grand opening of KOREA IMPORT FAIR - KIF 2023 took place in Seoul. The keynote speakers were Korean Minister for Trade, Mr. Dukgeun Ahn, Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, as well as the President of the Korea Importers Association, Mr. Byung-kwan Kim (on the photo with Mr. Verbič). The high-profile event was attended by numerous representatives of companies and institutions as well as almost the entire diplomatic corps.

The economic delegation consisting of the representatives of ten companies and institutions arrived to Seoul, South Korea, this Tuesday. The delegation is accompanying the Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, and the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Matjaž Han, on the occasion of their official visit to South Korea. Actively participating in the delegation, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), Public Agency SPIRIT Slovenia, both Ministries and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Seoul, is the VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, who – after visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Singapore, as well as spending a working week in Brussels and Helsinki - is continuing this year's Asian tour of the business-investor programs of the VZMD: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (investo.international).

Next month, the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City will host the World Law Congress organized by the World Jurist Association (VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5_9_oGlDi_4). The event will be actively attended by Mr. Kristjan Verbič, the sole representative from Slovenia, in his role as the VZMD President. To Mr. Verbič, being listed as one of the speakers on the panel 'ANTI-CORRUPTION: LINKS TO ORGANIZED CRIME' is a great honor and serves as a recognition of countless efforts, both domestic and international, and the prominent and active role of the VZMD. 

A two-day meeting of the Expert Advisory Group of the Financial Services User Group at the European Commission (FSUG) concluded yesterday in Helsinki. As per usual, the meeting was attended by their member and VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič. The FSUG members were addressed, among others, by the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Finland, Marja Nykänen, who presented the national strategy for financial literacy. The events took place at the NASDAQ Helsinki, and included research presentations regarding shareholding, financial services, and sustainable financing in terms of financial services users and consumers. Yesterday, the FSUG members attended the start of the trading session at Nasdaq Helsinki, followed by several internal meetings of the Group. 

This week, the meetings of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (BETTER FINANCE) and the European Federation of Investors (WFI) were held in Brussels. On Tuesday, BETTER FINANCE organized a conference regarding the new EU Strategy for retail investors; the guests were addressed by Mairead McGuinness, the European Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and the Capital Markets Union. Also attending the conference was the VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, who spoke with the Commissioner and highlighted some of the current efforts of the Association, including those regarding the protection of interests of individual investors, financial services users and consumers, as well as his remarks regarding the regulation of the so-called virtual general meetings. The conference was followed by the General Meeting of BETTER FINANCE, while the meeting of the Legal Committee and the Executive Board of this influential European organization, which is made up of almost 5 million individual investors and 40 national associations of shareholders and investors, had been held on Monday.