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Meeting of Investors Underway in Ljubljana (adds)
Ljubljana, 20 September (STA) - Hundreds of representatives of investors and shareholders from 55 countries have gathered in Ljubljana for Investors' Week, an event focusing on the latest developments on European capital markets.
The event was opened on Wednesday evening with a reception featuring Finance Minister Janez Šušteršič and Constitutional Court President Ernest Petrič as guest speakers.
Proceedings at the three-day event will revolve around a conference discussing issues such as revitalisation of the European capital market, Eurobonds, financial reform, and business opportunities in Slovenia and the region.
At the outset of the conference the head of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association Kristjan Verbič said that the debates would tackle dilemmas facing investors in challenging economic times and promote Slovenia as an investment destination.
Foreign Ministry State Secretary Božo Cerar welcomed the participants by presenting opportunities for foreign investors in Slovenia.
Cerar said Slovenia was pursuing a policy for post-crisis recovery comprising of structural reforms and efforts to open up the economy.
"Slovenia's main goal is to strengthen its image among foreign investors," he said, adding that the country had great potential for investing in transport, logistics, IT and the green economy.
The opening was also addressed by chairman of the World Federation of Investors Roger Ganser and Jella Benner-Heinacher, president of Euroshareholders and Eurofinuse, who highlighted the importance of events bringing investors together.
Benner-Heinacher stressed that the conference was the biggest international meeting of investors' representatives, bringing together 40 national associations representing 4 million individual investors.
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success," Benner-Heinacher said quoting industrialist Henry Ford as she called for joint efforts aimed at tackling the ongoing crisis.
On Thursday participants of the conference are due to debate ways to revive capital markets in the EU through pension and other reforms and ways to educate and protect users of financial services.
In the evening, an award for shareholder friendly company will be handed out to Slovenian drug maker Krka.
The debates on Friday will examine the future of the euro and obstacles facing small shareholders in becoming more active in decision-making.
A presentation of the Slovenian business environment and investment opportunities by the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) will wrap up the conference.
Running alongside the conference is an investors' convention, called InvestoExpo, aimed at presenting Slovenian and international industries, institutions, and products with the goal of forging new business ties and opportunities.
Investors' Week is organised by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association, a group specialising in representing small shareholders at annual general meetings, in conjunction with the European Federation of Financial Services Users and the World Federation of Investors.
gj/sm
20.09.2012 15:11
Pension Funds Can Help Revive Capital Markets, Investor Conference Told (adds)
Ljubljana, 20 September (STA) - Pension funds can represent a means of reinvigorating capital markets in the EU, but to do this people must be encouraged to invest in pensions by making operations of funds more user-friendly and transparent, and by rebuilding trust in pension savings, a panel at the Investors' Week conference in Ljubljana has heard.
Individual responsibility for pensions is set to increase over time, which calls for greater regulation and better information to savers, the panel titled "Revitalising EU Capital Markets (Through Pensions and Other Reforms)" held as part of the Investors' Week event was told on Thursday.
Tim Shakesby, a policy analyst at the European Commission's Directorate General for the Internal Market, highlighted the need for suitable public awareness about investing in pensions. If people need to take greater responsibility, they should also be provided with more information, he said.
This was echoed by Guillaume Prache of the European Federation of Financial Services Users (Eurofinuse), who said that pension funds often lacked transparency in their operations and left savers with a lack of precise information about their investment.
Klaus Struwe of the the Occupational Pensions Stakeholder Group of European Insurance and the Occupation Pensions Authority pointed to a lack of unbiased information about pension products, which is a major risk facing consumers when investing in pension products.
"It's like the drug company prescribing your medication," panel moderator Boris Cizelj, president of the Slovenian Business and Research Association, said in calling for measures to make the market more transparent.
Shakesby admitted that Europe had a very fragmented pension fund market, caused in great part by the significant differences in pension systems among member states, which hinders competition and impedes efficiency of fund operators.
President of the Age Platform Europe NGO Marjan Sedmak said that to increase investment in pension funds, efforts must be made to rebuild people's trust in investment products in general. People have often been victims of wrong advice in the recent past, which means that efforts must be made to increase the level of protection offered to them.
Protection of investors was also examined as part of the second panel of the day dedicated to education and protection of users of financial services, which heard that regulation and suitable system of education go hand in hand.
Just as motorists take to the road only after getting their license and have signs and regulations guiding their actions, so too users of financial services must have proper education and be provided with the proper safety mechanisms in the form of market regulation to make them safe, Breda Kutin of the Slovenian Consumers' Association said.
An average consumer cannot understand the documentation that is often provided in small print when investing and lacks the knowledge to make educated decisions on investments, Kutin said, adding that providers of such services need to take greater care of designing products friendly to the consumer.
This was echoed by Leif Vindervag of the Swedish Shareholders' Association Aktiespararna, who wondered why financial products, unlike material goods, come with no product guarantee.
Patrick Armstrong of the European Securities and Markets Authority said that the EU has been giving greater attention to ensuring that investors are properly educated. Progress in this area is showing already, he added.
According to him, the responsibility for providing financial education rests on regulatory bodies and government agencies, while shareholder associations and trading institutions also have a role to play in this.
The view was shared by head of the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) Kristjan Verbič who said that education about financial services should begin in school.
Investors' Week is organised by the VZMD, a group specialising in representing small shareholders at annual general meetings, in conjunction with Eurofinuse and the World Federation of Investors.
gj/sm/sm
20.09.2012 19:23
Investors week 2012, GALA RECEPTION AND DINNER
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Minister Šušteršič Announces Austerity Budget for 2013
Ljubljana, 19 September (STA) - Finance Minister Janez Šušteršič announced on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Investo Expo fair in Ljubljana that the government would discuss on Thursday a proposal for the 2013 budget, whose deficit will remain bellow 3% of GDP despite the downgraded growth forecasts.
Šušteršič, who attended the international investment fair organised by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association, added that the budget deficit would thus be in line with the promises given to the EU.
Also on hand was Constitutional Court president Ernest Petrič, who expressed concern over the slackening of the rule of law in Slovenia, pointing to the violations of contracts, payment defaults and the ineffectiveness of courts and the state administration.
While he was still able to say a few years ago that corruption was not a serious problem in Slovenia, he said he was no longer sure this was the case.
He moreover urged reforms, calling on politicians, business representatives and trade unions to act responsibly and prevent a disaster for Slovenia.
The Investo Expo, which will conclude on Friday, will see more than 100 guests from from 55 countries and provide an opportunity for domestic institutions, companies and individuals to establish ties with them, the organisers said.
gz/mas
19.09.2012 21:10
investo Expo - special magazine about the world’s largest International investors’ conference and exposition with eminent speakers, Ljubljana, Cankar Hall, from the 19th to the 21st of September 2012, has been released
Few days before opening of investors’ Week the PanSlovenian Shareholders` Association (VZMD) issued a special magazine “investo Expo” (to view click on the magazine cover) – about the world’s largest international meeting of investors’ representatives from the 19th to the 23rd of September in Slovenia and international investors’ exposition investo Expo that will revolve around the main event International Investors’ Conference on Financial Education. The main events, will be held at the prestigious Slovenian cultural and congress center Cankar Hall (Cankarjev dom) in Ljubljana, where along opening speakers, Minister of Finance, Janez Šušteršič, Ph.D., Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Radovan Žerjav, M.Sc., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karel Erjavec, President of Constitutional Court, Prof. Ernes Petrič, Ph.D., numerous international shareholders’ representatives and other panelists, such as Tim Shakesby, Policy Analyst in the Asset Management Unit, European Comission, Klaus Struwe, Member of the Occupational Pensions Stakeholder Group of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), Susannah Haan, Secretary General of EuropeanIssuers, Marco Becht, Executive Director of the European Corporate Governance Institute, France Arhar, Ph.D., General Manager of Slovenian Banking Association, Keith Miles, OBE, FCA, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and President of the British-Slovene Society, Boris Cizelj, Ph.D., President of the Slovenian Business & Research Association in Brussels, Matjaž Gantar, M.Sc., Chairman of the Board KD Group, Andrej Šketa, MBA, President of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE), Breda Kutin, President of the Slovene Consumers' Association, and many others will attend.
Investors’ Week, comprising of over 100 representatives of investors from around the world, will be organized by the VZMD – PanSlovenian Shareholders’ Association and prominent international organizations, including EuroFinuse – European Federation of Financial Services Users, Euroshareholders – European Organization of Shareholders Associations, and the WFI – World Federation of Investors. This will mark the first time that all three prominent organizations and their members will meet simultaneously.
Fifty-five national associations of investors and shareholders, which together just in Europe embody over 4 million individual investors, along with other numerous eminent international functionaries will meet in Slovenia.
All institutions, companies, and individuals from Slovenia and worldwide are welcome to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to expand and realize their interests and business plans.
Cooperation entitles presentations at the two-day investo Expo, where numerous Slovenian and foreign companies, projects, and relevant organizations will be showcased and also actively participate.
They will have the possibility of having their presentations and commercial materials enclosed in the special magazine about investment opportunities and potentials in the Region and broader and their presentations and projects, for which they are seeking partners for, published on the recognized investo.international website.
EIOPA program in the last four years represented its members in Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, France, Lebanon, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey and has an even more ambitious, active plan for the future, especially in the international investment environment, at investment expositions, conferences, and presentations.
For further information contact VZMD by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call on + 386 31 770 771 or visit website www.investo.international.
Don't miss the opportunity to participate at the event, where the investors' world will meet in Ljubljana!
Investors Meet in Ljubljana
STA.si, 16.09.2012
Ljubljana, 16 September (STA) - Hundreds of representatives of investors and shareholders from 55 countries will be in Ljubljana between 19 and 23 September for the Investors' Week, an event focusing on the latest developments on European capital markets.
The event is organised by the Pan-Slovenian Shareholders' Association, a group specialising in representing small shareholders at annual general meetings, in conjunction with the European Federation of Financial Services Users and the World Federation of Investors.
BLED STRATEGIC FORUM - EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REPORTAGE of OECD Secretary General speech at the business lunch, where also upcoming international investors’ exposition and conference, co-organized by VZMD and program investo.si - investo Expo was presented
The seventh Bled Strategic Forum, which was held from Saturday under the title Europe and the New World Order, ended on Monday. Among over 400 participants from the spheres of politics, business and science from more than 50 countries, the VZMD President, Kristjan Verbič, M.Sc., also participated at the events in the context of the Strategic Forum, and at the business lunch with the Secretary General of OECD, José Ángel Gurría (organized by the Network of Ideas), and presented investo.si – Invest to Slovenia and »investors' Week« - the world's largest international meeting of investors' representatives from the 19th to the 23rd of September in Slovenia (VIDEO INVITATION click on right picture), and international investors' exposition »investo Expo« that will revolve around the main event "EuroFinuse International Investors' Conference on Financial Education"
(click for the program of the major happening at Ljubljana Cankar Hall).
Among the eminent guests of this year's Forum were – in addition to the Secretary General of OECD, who in his speech relatively sharplyhighlighted many major issues for the Republic of Slovenia and its citizens (click for exclusive VIDEO REPORTAGE) –President of the Republic of Slovenia, Danilo Türk, Ph.D., the Secretary General of OSCE, Lamberto Zannier, Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, President of the EBRD, Suma Chakrabarti, Foreign Ministers of Montenegro, Croatia, Qatar, Kosovo, Macedonia, the Palestinian Authority and Slovakia, and many representatives from the spheres of science and non-governmental organizations .
High participation confirms that with the selection of topical themes and premium speakers Bled Strategic Forum has established itself as one of the major forums in the region to discuss regional and global issues and strengthen contacts between politicians, businessmen and representatives ofprofessional and 
non-governmental spheres.
The numerous participants were very enthusiastic about the upcoming "Investors' Week" 2012, which will be hosted by the VZMD through its investo.si – Invest to Slovenia program, and will be taking place from the 19th to the 23rd of September in Ljubljana. It will comprise of almost 100 representatives and over 55 national associations of investors and shareholders, including members of EuroFinuse – European Federation of Financial Services Users, Euroshareholders – European Organization of Shareholders Associations, and the WFI – World Federation of Investors, which together just in Europe embody over 4 million individual investors and shareholders.
(Foto: STA; OECD, Pariz 2011)
investo Expo - official Preliminary Program of the world’s largest International investors’ conference and exposition with eminent speakers, Ljubljana, Cankar Hall, from the 19th to the 21st of September 2012
center Cankar Hall (Cankarjev dom) in Ljubljana, where along opening speakers,Minister of Finance, Janez Šušteršič, Ph.D., Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Radovan Žerjav, M.Sc., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karel Erjavec, President of Constitutional Court, Prof. Ernes Petrič, Ph.D., numerous international shareholders' representatives and other panelists, such as Tim Shakesby, Policy Analyst in the Asset Management Unit, European Comission, Klaus Struwe, Member of the Occupational Pensions Stakeholder Group of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), Susannah Haan, Secretary General of EuropeanIssuers, Marco Becht, Executive Director of the European Corporate Governance Institute, France Arhar, Ph.D., General Manager of Slovenian Banking Association, Keith Miles, OBE, FCA, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and President of the British-Slovene Society, Boris Cizelj, Ph.D., President of the Slovenian Business & Research Association in Brussels, Matjaž Gantar, M.Sc., Chairman of the Board KD Group, Andrej Šketa, MBA, President of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (LJSE), Breda Kutin, President of the Slovene Consumers' Association, and many others will attend.
Investors' Week, comprising of over 100 representatives of investors from around the world, will be organized by the VZMD – PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association and prominent international organizations, including EuroFinuse – European Federation of Financial Services Users,Euroshareholders – European Organization of Shareholders Associations, and the WFI – World Federation of Investors. This will mark the first time that all three prominent organizations and their members will meet simultaneously.
Fifty-five national associations of investors and shareholders, which together just in Europe embody over 4 million individual investors, along with other numerous eminent international functionaries will meet in Slovenia.
All institutions, companies, and individuals from Slovenia and worldwide are welcome to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to expand and realize their interests and business plans.
Cooperation entitles presentations at the two-day investo Expo, where numerous Slovenian and foreign companies, projects, and relevant organizations will be showcased and also actively participate.
They will have the possibility of having their presentations and commercial materials enclosed in the special magazine about investment opportunities and potentials in the Region and broader and their presentations and projects, for which they are seeking partners for, published on the recognized investo.international website.
investo.si program in the last four years represented its members in Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, France, Lebanon, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey and has an even more ambitious, active plan for the future, especially in the international investment environment, at investment expositions, conferences, and presentations.
For further information contact VZMD by e-mail at info@invest-to.net, call on + 386 31 770 771 or visit website www.invest-to.net.
Don't miss the opportunity to participate at the event, where the investors' world will meet in Ljubljana!
BLED FORUM - report on notable international conference with active participation of VZMD representatives and “Investors' Week“ and “investo Expo“ presentation
Centre for eGovernance Development for South East Europe (CeGD) released publication Beyond smart, inclusive, sustainable – Report of the 13thBled Forum, where among numerous international experts, businessmen and government officials, VZMD representatives actively participated and presentedinvesto.si – Invest to Slovenia. (click to watch the VIDEO)
The numerous participants were very enthusiastic about the upcoming "Investors' Week" 2012, which will be hosted by the VZMD through its investo.si – Invest to Slovenia program, and will be taking place from the 19th to the 23rd of September in Ljubljana. It will comprise of almost 100 representatives and over 55 national associations of investors and shareholders, including members of EuroFinuse – European Federation of Financial Services Users, Euroshareholders – European Organization of Shareholders Associations, and the WFI – World Federation of Investors, which together just in Europe embody over 4 million individual investors and shareholders.
This will mark the first time that all three prominent organizations and its members will meet simultaneously. Numerous investors' representatives from many national organizations will visit Ljubljana including the Chairman of the WFI, Roger H. Ganser (USA), the President of the WFI, Jean-Pierre Paelinck (Belgium), the Vice Presidents of the WFI, Frank Fumio Kaneko (Japan), Robert Dannenberg (Brazil) and Aldo Sicurani (France), the Vice President of the Russian Federation of Investors, Aleksey Smirnov, the President of Euroshareholders and EuroFinuse, Jella Benner-Heinacher (Germany), the Secretary General of Euroshareholders, Guillaume Prache (Belgium), the Vice Presidents of Euroshareholders, Günther Mårder (Sweden) and Jan Maarten Slagter (the Netherlands), along with many others. The VZMD, through its investo.si program and along with other partners, will organize the first-ever" investo Expo", which will be a two-day investors' convention, held in prestigious Slovenian cultural and congress center Cankar Hall in Ljubljana, where a wide range of Slovenian and international industries and products will be presented and promoted with the hope of establishing new relations and capital for the participating guests. Furthermore, at the "investo Expo", conference sessions, discussion groups, and educational workshops will be offered for visitors and guests, providing a proactive approach to gain knowledge from experts.
We cordially invite all companies, institutions, and the Slovenian as well as international community in general to partake and participate at the event. We also warmly welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas to truly make this a memorable experience for all participants who will be attending this event of the year, when the investors' world will meet in Ljubljana. (click to watch the VIDEO INVITATION)
Photo by CeGD – Peter Irman.
