Following the conclusion of the 9th Bled Strategic Forum on Tuesday, the THINK TANKS symposium of China and Central and Eastern European Countries began at Bled with a reception held on Tuesday evening.
After the Wednesday's opening addresses, numerous high representatives of states, institutions and companies were, in the framework of various panel meetings, discussing topical issues and they were also talking about the opportunities offered by the economies along the Silk Road in the 21st century. The high representatives were also discussing the possibilities of cooperation among the Central and Eastern European Countries and China. Such cooperation would represent a new important element when establishing collaboration between the EU and China. They were also discussing strategic guidelines of the emerging economic partnership, and the role of the media in cultural and social intertwining.
These developments represent an exceptional opportunity to establish and strengthen friendly, scientific, business and economic contacts. The President of the PanSlovenian Shareholder's Association (VZMD), Mr Kristjan Verbič, MSc, attended both events at Bled, and he used this opportunity for various talks and informal meetings, primarily in the framework of the international business-investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (investo.international)
This event is otherwise part of the meetings of the Heads of States of Central and Eastern Europe and China 16+1 – this follows the last year's meeting in Bucharest which was also attended by Mr Verbič, MSc. After the three-day event had been concluded, VZMD President immediately departed for Belarus where he is attending an International investment forum »GrodnoInvest«.
You can watch yesterday's subtitled VIDEO REPORT by clicking the photo above.
After this year's successful presentations of companies, institutions and investment projects in Belgrade, Bled, Bratislava, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Madrid, Montevideo, New Delhi, New York, Ouagadougou, Paris and Tehran, and last year's in Astana, Almaty, Baku, Bled, Brussels, Buffalo, Bucharest, Cape Town, Celje, Dubai, Vienna, Kiev, Ljubljana, Madrid, Minsk, Moscow, New Delhi, Tokyo, Toronto and Zagreb, VZMD enables to its partners active presence and presentations on five continents!

If you would like to take part in our events and activities, you are kindly invited to contact the VZMD investo.si programme coordinator by phone +386 31 770 771 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

My colleagues at work and I were deeply saddened by the sudden and premature death of our long-time, sincere friend Leif Vindevåg, a truly excellent and lucid representative of the Swedish Shareholders' Association Aktiespararna, as well as the European and World Federation of Investors’ and Shareholders’.

Leif was, with his wit, wisdom and exceptional life experiences, a great inspiration to us all – since our first meetings in Brussels eight years ago, across the continent of Europe, on the two occasions when he visited Ljubljana, all the way to our genuinely-friendly socialising only three weeks ago in Rejkyavik which, unfortunately, turned out to be our last.

With deep sorrow we would like to express our most sincere condolences to his family and close friends with a wish that these hard times be endured by remembering Leif's unique personality, heart-warming joie de vivre and captivating energy.       

Dear Leif, we will miss you!

Kristjan Verbič

PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD)

A two-day international investment conference and sessions of the Executive Board and the Legal Committee of the European Federation of Financial Services Users (EuroFinUse) began yesterday in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, in a renowned Concert Hall and Conference Centre Harpa. EuroFinUse is the only (European) Association of this kind which unites more than 50 national and international  member organizations of shareholders and investors. In the framework of yesterday's session a meeting of the EuroFinUse Legal Committee was held, and it was followed by a gala reception and dinner for eminent domestic and international participants. Additionally, the most prominent representatives of the World Federation of Investors (WFI) have been invited to this conference as well.

At today's conference »Back to basics – Economies before, during and after the crisis« the assembled participants will be addressed, among others, by: the President of NASDAQ OMX Iceland Páll Harðarson; the EuroFinUse President Jean Berthon; the President of the Icelandic Shareholders' Association Bolli Héðinsson; dr. Salvör Nordal who is the Director of the Centre for Ethics of the University of Iceland and a member of a special Commission of Inquiry of the Icelandic Parliament dealing with Icelandic Banks; the President of the European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority (EIOPA) Gabriel Bernardino; a representative of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Laurent Degabriel, and many others.

In the framework of the Conference a debate has been scheduled, namely a debate on findings, consequences and opportunities brought by the financial crisis, placing a major focus on the case of Iceland which in 2008 – as the first European country – went through the collapse of financial sector. Kristjan Verbič, MSc, is also actively participating at this session as a member of the EuroFinUse Executive Board and as the President of the PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD). Mr Verbič will, inter alia, ensure adequate presentations of companies, institutions and investment projects included in the two VZMD international business-investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net), similarly as at the EuroFinUse conference in Brussels (VIDEO REPORT) and in Vienna (VIDEO REPORT) in the last year.

The VZMD President Mr. Kristjan Verbič, MSc, arrived in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the week in the framework of this year's fourth tour of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) international business–investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia(investo.si) and International Investors` Network (investo.international). Mr Verbič departed from Buenos Aires to Montevideo where he was attending the ceremony marking the official opening of the Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Uruguay. Among the many attendees, members of the Slovenian community, businessmen and diplomats, the following participants were also attending the ceremony: Tomaž Kunstelj, the Secretary General at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Slovenian Ambassador to Argentina HE Tomaž Mencin, the Honorary Consuls Dr Eduardo R. Antonich, Carlos Alberto Borba Reculusa and Hernan Zupan, the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Uruguay Dr Matjaž Roter, the President of the Slovenian Football Association Aleksander Čeferin, etc.

A three-day international conference »Israel Innovation Conference (MIXiii)« started in Tel Aviv on Tuesday with a gala opening. The conference is a key business-scientific event in Israel, the country with most innovative or start-up companies per capita. It is also one of the biggest conferences of this type in global context with more than 7,000 attendees from all over the world. The assembled participants were in the introduction addressed by the Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Israeli President Shimon Peres, and both of them later exchanged a few words with the President of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) Kristjan Verbič, MSc.

The VZMD President attended the conference with numerous B2B meetings on the invitation of the Slovenian Embassy in Israel and Jožef Stefan Institute, and he attended the conference in the framework of this year's third tour of the VZMD international business-investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net). In the framework of this tour Mr Verbič in the past 22 days prepared Slovenian business day in Denmark, he actively participated at the OECD Forum 2014 in Paris, joined the Slovenian business delegation visiting Teheran and Isfahan and he attended the annual conference of the International Financial Litigation Network (IFLN) in New York.

Participants at the business-scientific conference in Tel Aviv had the possibility to talk and exchange opinions with numerous esteemed experts and representatives of world corporations which have the leading role in the area of innovations, development and investments. Lectures, round-table discussions and receptions have been divided according to individual areas, mostly the areas of biomedicine and high-technology. In addition to this B2B meetings have also been organised for the conference participants, with the purpose to exchange opinions, give presentations, finance new ideas and start-up companies and to establish business contacts.

Besides the conference, the official visit of the Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Jernej Pikalo took place as well, granting the awards to start-up companies. After the conference was concluded an evening reception, organised by the Slovenian Embassy in Israel, also took place.

After this year's successful presentations of companies, institutions and investment projects in Bled, Bratislava, Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, New York, New Delhi, Ouagadougou, Paris and Teheran and last year's in Astana, Almaty, Baku, Bled, Brussels, Buffalo,Bucharest, Cape Town, Celje, Dubai, Vienna, Kiev, Ljubljana,Madrid, Minsk, Moscow, New Delhi, Tokyo, Toronto and Zagreb, VZMD is planning to be actively present and to carry out the presentations on five continents this year!

VZMD kindly invites those wishing to participate in their events in activities to contact the VZMD investo.si programme coordinator by phone 031 770 771 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">info@inves>to.si.  

After a considerable length of time the Slovenian representative at this year's Eurovision Song Contest Tinkara Kovač brought excitement to her native country and abroad by qualifying for the Eurovision Final in Danish capital Copenhagen. In addition to an excellent performance Tinkara also made a great impression in Denmark with a comprehensive presentation of her homeland, which was prepared in cooperation with Invest to Slovenia – investo.si programme of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) and the Slovenian Embassy in Denmark. 

The Annual Conference of the International Financial Litigation Network (IFLN) began on Monday on the premises of the renowned Labaton Sucharow law office in New York. The President of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) Mr Kristjan Verbič, MSc, was also invited by the organisers to be a guest-speaker at the Conference.Immediately after arriving from the business visit in Iran Mr Verbič presented to the numerous participants, founders, owners and representatives of the esteemed law offices from around the world the scandalous expropriation of the owners of shares and bonds at Slovenian banks and the activities being carried out and planned by VZMD in response to this problem. Mr Verbič also pointed out a real danger that the radical measures enforced in Slovenia might also be implemented in some other European countries after the forthcoming round of stress tests.

The VZMD President warned of the above mentioned problems or dangers at last year's IFLN Conference in Madrid, at a time when Slovenian legislation was in the phase of preparation that only a few months resulted in the actual cancellation of shares and bonds of more than 100.000 owners. During the Conference, protesters - who welcomed the filing of a lawsuit by the law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo (one of the IFLN founding members) against the Central Bank because of tort on behalf of more than 347,000 small shareholders in the case involving Spanish state bank Bankia - gathered in front of the Central Bank of Spain simultaneously with the visit of IFLN representatives.

At the request of the hosts the VZMD President presented the Nova KBM (Slovenian bank) case in detail. Nova KBM's action actually represents - considering the expropriation of 100,000 mostly domestic small shareholders and some bigger international (institutional) investors (especially those related to the secondary quotation at the Warsaw Stock Exchange) - a bigger scandal than the previously mentioned Bankia case.

The International Financial Litigation Network (IFLN) otherwise comprises some distinguished and influential law offices which represent the interests of investors in Austria, Brazil, Central America, Denmark, Finland, India, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Columbia, Macao, Morocco, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey and the USA.

The VZMD President is visiting New York in the framework of this year's third tour of the VZMD international business-investment programmes Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net), promoting the cooperation for which he already visited Copenhagen, Paris and Iran.

Progress towards opening deeper relations between Slovenia and Iran was made after Slovenia's Eurovision representative qualified for this year's final and following the successful implementation of Slovenian business day in Denmark – organised in Copenhagen by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) and its Invest to Slovenia – investo.si programme, with the assistance of Tinkara Kovač and the Slovenian Embassy in Copenhagen. In the framework of the above-mentioned investo.si programme VZMD President Mr Kristjan Verbič, MSc., flew to Iran on Friday evening and is participating in a strong business delegation accompanying the President of The Slovenian National Assembly Mr Janko Veber on his visit to Tehran and Isfahan.

The Iranian-Slovenian business conference, which took place on Saturday evening at the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines (ICCIM) in Tehran, was, apart from 25 Slovenian representatives and numerous Iranian companies and institutions, also attended by the Chairman of the Parliament of Iran Ali Larijani. Many B2B meetings took place and all necessary provisions were made for the successful presentations of companies, institutions and investment projects included in the two VZMD international business-investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net).

The second Iranian-Slovenian Business Conference with business B2B meetings among Slovenian and Iranian businessmen took place yesterday 460 km away in Isfahan at the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA). On this occasion the members of the Slovenian business delegation also backed a special appeal for the establishment of a Slovenian diplomatic-consular post in Iran. The initiative given by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, together with 25 companies and organisations participating in the business delegation, is actively also backed by VZMD since such a representative body would significantly improve the possibilities of business cooperation among the companies in both countries.   

Following the receptions held by two Iranian Minsters on Wednesday, the President of the Slovenian National Assembly met the President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

The VZMD President is otherwise visiting Iran in the framework of this year's third tour of investo.si and invest-to.net programmes. In the framework of the tour this time the VZMD President, apart from carrying out many duties in Eurovision Copenhagen, also paid a one-day-visit to the OECD Forum in Paris. Immediately after the activities in Iran are completed, he is to depart for New York to attend an annual conference at the invitation of the International Financial Litigation Network (IFLN). As a guest-speaker at the IFLN annual conference, the VZMD President is going to present the problems tied to the scandalous expropriation of the owners of shares and bonds at the Slovenian banks and the activities related to this problem which are carried out by VZMD. He is going to point out that the measures that were put into force in Slovenia might also be implemented in some other European countries during the forthcoming new round of stress tests. 

After this year's successful presentations of companies, institutions and investment projects in Bled, Bratislava, Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, New Delhi, Ouagadougou and Paris, and last year's in Astana, Almaty, Baku, Bled, Brussels, Buffalo,Bucharest, Cape Town, Celje, Dubai, Vienna, Kiev, Ljubljana, Madrid, Minsk, Moscow, New Delhi, Tokyo, Toronto and Zagreb,VZMD is planning to be actively present and to carry out the presentations on five continents this year!

VZMD invites all who would like to take part in their events and activities to contact the VZMD investo.si coordinator by phone 031 770 771 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) on Tuesday successfully carried out the Slovenian Business Day in Denmark, which took place in the framework of the international business-investment programme Invest to Slovenia – investo.si. The Slovenian Business Day was carried out in cooperation with the Slovenian Embassy in Denmark and the Slovenian representative at Eurovision 2014 Tinkara Kovač.

The Slovenian Business Day in Denmark began with a formal reception at the residence of the Slovenian Ambassador in Denmark, and it continued with the Slovenian Evening and a feast featuring Slovenian food delicacies, a toast and a party at the renowned VEGA-EuroClub in Copenhagen (official Eurovision VIP club). The central event of the Slovenian evening, which was attended by more than 500 visitors, was a live concert by Slovenian representative Tinkara Kovač which included a special »a cappella« version of her Eurovision song.

Enthusiastic participants from practically all countries taking part in Eurovision 2014 were excited about the VIDEO REPORT prepared by the investo.TV team showing the journey of Tinkara's band and camera-crew travelling by Adria Mobil camper vans from Novo mesto to Copenhagen. The Slovenian Evening was followed by a broadcast of the first Eurovision Semi-final and socialising late into the night while feasting on culinary delicacies from Mercator, Perutnina Ptuj (producer of poultry products), Laško Brewery, Union Brewery and Ptuj Wine Cellar. (to view the programme, sponsors and partners click on the photo on the left).

Numerous guests and visitors at the Slovenian Business Day in Denmark were, besides Tinkara, also addressed by the Slovenian Ambassador, His Excellency Tone Kajzer and VZMD President, Kristjan Verbič, MSc. Mr Verbič also provided for the notable presentation of Slovenian companies, trademarks and business environment, as was done in Paris on Monday when he actively participated at OECD Forum. As the only Slovenian representative in the framework of the formal evening reception in Paris, Mr Verbič also provided for the additional presentation of Slovenian wines served to the guests attending the evening reception.

After his duties in Copenhagen are finished the VZMD President will depart to Iran where he will participate in the Slovenian business delegation attending business conferences in Teheran and Isfahan during the visit of the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia Mr Janko Veber. 

The traditional OECD Forum started in Paris yesterday and this time it takes place under the title "Resilient Economies for Inclusive Societies". In the framework of the opening session, the assembled audience was addressed by the EOECD Secretary-General Mr Angel Gurria, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors in the White House Jason Furman, and the Slovenian Prime Minister Mrs Alenka Bratušek, MSc.

VZMD President Kristjan Verbič, MSc, who is currently occupied with many duties and preparations for the forthcoming Slovenian business day in Denmark which is being prepared by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) and its international business-investment programme Invest to Slovenia – investo.si during the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, was also on a one-day visit to Paris yesterday. Mr Verbič actively participated at the OECD Forum for the second time, after he participated at the Forum in 2011 when he spoke with, among others, the President of the European Council (Mr Herman Van Rompuy), OECD Secretary-General (Mr Angel Gurria), US Secretary of State (Hillary R. Clinton), President of the European Commission (José Manuel D. Barroso) and President of Chile (Sebastián Piñera E. M. J.).   

In the framework of the current Forum, Mr Verbič also attended a joint press conference with the Slovenian Prime Minister and OECD Secretary-General and he asked them both a question related to the Slovenian Prime Minister's speech in which she stated that in December last year the trust into the Slovenian financial and banking system had once again been restored. Mr Verbič emphasized the expropriation of more than 100.000 owners of shares and bonds in the Slovenian banks and pointed out that the above-mentioned move caused extreme outrage among foreign investors. The VZMD President also provided an example of the total loss of trust of the investors at the Warsaw stock exchange where Nova KBM shares were quoted until the radical expropriation measures took place.

Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek did not provide any additional explanations for the statement that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia was obliged to act according to instructions from Brussels – a topic which so far the Governor of the Bank of Slovenia as well as the Finance Minister have been asked about many times by VZMD expert associates. The VZMD President pointed out the above mentioned problems on 28 March in the European Parliament at the International Conference »Better Finance Manifesto«. After his presentation numerous representatives of European Institutions, decision makers and regulators expressed their surprise regarding the statement that the cancellation of subordinate bonds had supposedly resulted from the insistence of the European Commission, and all competent co-speakers, with no exceptions, completely denied such a possibility. 

Given that the Slovenian Prime Minister in her address speech twice emphasized that »Slovenia is on the right track again«, the VZMD President also asked her if she did not consider this statement to be paradoxical since on the very same day she resigned as Prime Minister.

Otherwise, the famous Forum is being attended by numerous important representatives of states, institutions and companies from all over the world, among them the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Turkish Minister of Economy Ali Babacan, Indonesian Finance Minister Muhamad Chatib Basri, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karel Erjavec and Slovenian Minister of Economic Development and Technology Metod Dragonja. Besides the Slovenian Prime Minister there are two more Slovenes speaking at the current forum: Drago Kos, President of the Slovene OECD Working Group on Bribery and Mateja Kožuh Novak, President of the Slovene Federation of Pensioners' Association. Thus, Mr Verbič yesterday met numerous Forum participants and the highest Slovenian and foreign representatives and again provided an adequate presentation of the VZMD international business-investment programmes: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors` Network (invest-to.net).

Immediately after the conclusion of yesterday's Forum Mr Verbič returned to Copenhagen where he carried out the final preparations for today's Slovenian Business Day in Denmark.

Together with the Slovenian Representative at Eurovision 2014, VZMD invites you to join them at the biggest official feast, party and concert accompanying the Eurovision events – WELCOME TO THE SLOVENIAN EVENING!