On the 7^th and 8^th of May, the 2^nd African Day »Europe for Africa & Africa for World« took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Forum hosted 150 African and European representatives from Government institutions, European Commission, African Union, research and education institutions, NGOs and business community. 12 African states were present to demonstrate the dynamics of new Africa and its potentials for co-operation with Europe in the field of knowledgebased economy development, political co-operation and business development.

PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) also participated at the conference and provided a proper presentation of companies, institutions and investment projects, which are included in the international investors' programs Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and the International Investors' Network (investo.international).

In addition to the showroom display and personal business meetings, VZMD team, with investo.tv, also prepared a summarized EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REPORT of the conference.

VZMD invites you to share your esteemed interest in participating in other events and activities with the coordinator of the investo.si program at VZMD, by telephone: +386 31 770 771 or by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On the 13^th and the 14^th of May, the significant European meeting of venture and start-up capital funds, along with the annual international congress of the European Business Angel Network – EBAN 2013, took place in Vienna. As a partner of the congress, the PanSlovenian Shareholders Association (VZMD), once more provided a proper presentation of companies, institutions and investment projects, which are included in its international investors' programs: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and the International Investors' Network (invest-to.net).

The notable 13^th EBAN Annual Congress has traditionally hosted influential representatives of companies, investment funds, financial institutions and national associations of business angels, among others, Christian Weinberger from the European Commission, Wilhelm Molterer, the Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Baybars Altuntas, the President of the Turkish Association of Business Angels, Paulo Andrez, the President of EBAN, and many more. As a guest of the EBAN 2013, President of the VZMD, Kristjan Verbič, attended the two day congress with accompanied events and meetings.

The EBAN 2013 congress included numerous lectures and panels, where attendees discussed various topics in relation to innovations, small and medium enterprises, startups, access to financing and the involvement of business angels. The first day of the congress was followed by a gala dinner and the presentation of the 8th annual EBAN awards, held at the prestigious Vienna Grand Hotel.

In addition to the showroom display and personal business meetings, VZMD team, with investo.tv, also prepared a summarized EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REPORT of the congress.

VZMD invites you to share your esteemed interest in participating in other events and activities with the coordinator of the investo.si program at VZMD, by telephone: +386 31 770 771 or by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On the 13^th and 14^th of May, the central European meeting of venture and start-up capital funds, along with annual international congress of European Business Angel Network – EBAN 2013, will take place in Vienna. As partners, also representatives of PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) will attend a two-day congress and will on this occasion again provide for the proper presentation of companies, institutions and investment projects, included in the international investors' programs investo.si (Invest to Slovenia) and invest-to.net (International Investors´ Network)

This time's 13^th EBAN Annual Congress will traditionally host influential representatives of companies, investment funds, financial institutions and national associations of business angles, among others Federal Minister of Finance for Austria,Maria Fekter, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Wilhelm Molterer, Ex President, Federation of Industry(Industriellenvereinigung), Veith Sorger…

Within the framework of Congress, along with a gala dinner, a ceremony with conferring of 8th EBAN Awards for Business Angel of the Year, Early Stage Fund of the Year, Business Angel Network of the Year, Business Angel Federation of the Year, Best Performing New EBAN Member will take place at the famous Grand Hotel Wien.

Like at numerous previous international investors' meetings, conferences and fairs, VZMD will provide showroom and presentations with personal contacts, and the happening will be filmed by the investo.tv crew that will prepare transparent video report (you can view over 300 video reports at www.vzmd.tv in www.investo.tv).

Beside the opportunities for presentation, VZMD as a partner of EBAN 2013 enables all supporters of investo.si and invest-to.net programs special conditions for direct participation – a 50% discount to visit any of the events (you can find more about the events on the website www.eban2013.com).

VZMD invites you to share your esteemed interest in participating with the coordinator of the investo.si program at VZMD, by telephone: +386 31 770 771 or by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. At the same time,VZMD informs about the possibility of cooperation and integration of information-promotional materials in the materials and happening of other international investors' events during this week: the visit of the Slovenian economic delegation at the visit of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, May the 10^th 2013 in Zagreb, and at the 14^th Bled Forum »Europe for Africa & Africa for World", May the 7^th and 8^th 2013 in Ljubljana.

Next week, on the 7^th and 8th of May, the 14^th Bled Forum on Europe – Europe for Africa & Africa for World – will take place in Ljubljana. After last year`s active participation at related international conferences: the 13^th Bled Forum (VIDEO), the Cloud Forum (VIDEO) and the Conference on Benefits and Challenges of Public Private Partnerships (VIDEO), this year the PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) along with its international investors' programs: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (invest-to.net) participates as partner of this important event.

VZMD invites all interested companies, institutions, communities and individuals to attend interesting two-day program and events, where Invest to Slovenia and International Investors' Network also will be presented.REGISTRATION

This year`s Forum is organized by VZMD partners, GFS Institute and International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE), along with African Forum Slovenia, Club of Slovenian Ambassadors and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, and will take place under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Borut Pahor.

You can read more about the 14^th Bled Forum with clicking on this LINK.

On the 24^th and the 25^th of April the 19^th financial fair KAPITAL 2013 took place at Cankar Hall (Cankarjev dom) in Ljubljana. At the 19^th KAPITAL over 60 financial services providers presented their offer andmore than 40 lectures, roundtables and other events, related to the current economic situation at home and abroad, took place during two days fair.

PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) – with its international investors' programs investo.siand invest-to.net – actively participated at the fair for the fourth year, this year also with the lecture of VZMD President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, M.Sc., entitled "International Investors' Environment – Opportunities for Recognized Presentations of Slovene Companies, Institutions and Investment Projects".

At the financial fair, they traditionally conferred awards of Kapital Magazine "The Top Director", "The Top Financier" and "The Top Company". "The Top Company" of 2013 is Krka, company for the production and sale of pharmaceuticals and health products, which last year also received a VZMD-Euroshareholders award "Shareholders' Friendly Company" (VIDEO). Krka has 9500 employees; it has exceeded one billioneuros in trade and created 155 million euros profit. The award was received by Mrs. Zvezdana Bajc, theMember of the Management Board and Director of Accounting and Controlling at Krka. "The Top Financier" award was conferred to Mr. Matjaž Rakovec, President of the Management Board of the Triglav Insurance Company. Despite a major crisis in the financial system, last year Triglav created record profits.While the Government of the Republic of Slovenia is planning to sell certain state-owned companies, Triglav is planning new takeovers in Croatia. "The Top Director" of 2013 is Mr. Andrej Božič, the General Manager of Steklarna Hrastnik, a glass products manufacturing company. In four years, he successfullyreformed the company, in 2009, the company had 5 million euros loss, last year, they had over one million euros profit. He just returned from the USA, where he promoted the new Slovenian prestigious vodka, for which Steklarna Hrastnik produced specially exacting bottles.

Like in previous years, the variegated fair happening was filmed by the VZMD.TV crew, who prepared transparent video report (to view VIDEO REPORT, click on the picture above).

Among the events, which accompanied the General Assembly of the European Federation of Financial Services Users (EuroFinUse) and the International Conference "The Audit Reform – Impact on Investors"in the European Parliament, which took place last month in Brussels (VIDEO REPORT), representatives of some national investors' and shareholders' organizations, including PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD), also attended a lecture, given by one of the Directors of UK Shareholders' Association ShareSoc and experienced stock market investor, Mr. Stan Grierson. Interesting lecture, which is also relevant, topical and instructive for Slovenian investors, shareholders and individual investors, was exclusively filmed by the investo.tv crew and is fully available with clicking on this LINK.

On March 26th, the European Federation of Financial Services Users (EuroFinUse) organized a high-profile International conference in the European Parliament »The Audit Reform – Impact on Investors«, which was, in addition to many businessment and representatives of influential interest groups and European institutions, also attended by the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Mr Michel Barnier, who held the closing speech.

Like last year's conferences at Brussels Stock Exchange and Ljubljana Cankar Hall, also this conference was exclusively covered by the investo.tv crew, which prepared an exclusive VIDEO REPORT (to view click on the picture above).

The previous day, the General Assembly of EuroFinUse took place at the Brussels business club, the first one after the merger with the European Shareholders Association (Euroshareholders), which happened on the basis of the last year's Ljubljana Declaration. This year's election Assembly, which also re-elected a representative of Slovenia, the President of the PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD), mag. Kristijan Verbič, into its highest authority – the Board of Directors, was followed by a formal reception and the announcement of Mr. Jean Berthon, who was immediately before this elected President of this prestigious European association, which brings together over 50 european associations of investors and shareholders with over 4 million members. The high-level meeting was, in addition to the distinguished guests from all over Europe, also attended by the senior representatives of the World Federation of Investors (WFI).

During these occasions, a proper presentation of companies, instututions and investment project included in the international investors' programs: invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network (invest-to.net) was also provided. This year - after successful participation in the business delegation, which visited the Azerbaijani capital Baku (VIDEO) in January with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economic development and the visit of the business delegation to Japan with the President of Slovenia – VZMD continues with the ambitious international program and invites all interested companies, institutions, communities and individuals to take advantage of the opportunity to participate and include their informative and promotional material and investment projects on the web portals, in literature and the commemorative magazine »investo Expo« and in the numerous other international business events which are prepared within the framework of both international investors' programs.

Today, the European Parliament is hosting an international conference of the European Federation of Financial Services Users (EuroFinUse), entitled »The Audit Reform - Impact on Investors«. Investors' conference is attended by numerous representatives of influential interest groups and European institutions, among others Mr. Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, with giving a closing speech. You can find out more about the program with clicking on this LINK.

Like last year's conferences at Brussels Stock Exchange and Ljubljana Cankar Hall, also this conference is being exclusively recorded by the investo.tvcrew, who will prepare an extensive video report during the next few days.

Yesterday, the General Assembly of EuroFinUse took place at the Club Van Lotharingen in Brussels, the first one after the merger with the European Shareholders Association (Euroshareholders), which happened on the basis of the last year's Ljubljana Declaration. As the representative of Slovenia, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, President of PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD) and member of the Board of Directors of EuroFinUse, attended the Assembly.

Mr. Verbič has againbeen appointed to the highest organ of this reputable organization, which comprises over 50 European associations of investors and shareholders with over 4 million members. Along with him also Mrs. Jella Benner-Heinacher (Germany), Mr. Jean Berthon (France), Mr. Harry Braund (Great Britain), Mr. Jaroslaw Dominiak (Poland), Mr. Jofre Farrés Roselló (Spain), Mr. Jan Maarten Slagter (Netherlands), Mr. Wilhelm Rasinger (Austria) and Mr. Leif Vindevag (Sweden) have been elected to the new Executive Board for the term of three years, while Mr. Jean Berthon has been elected as the new EuroFinUse President. The General Assembly as well discussed and approved the significantEuroFinUse 2013 Declaration. This important Assembly was followed by reception and dinner at the distinguished Club des Guides, which were also attended by representatives of the World Federation of Investors (WFI), its Chairman, Mr. Roger Ganser, and its President and Secretary General, Mr. Jean-Pierre Paelinck.

After successful visit of Slovene economic and political delegation to Japan, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, the President of PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association(VZMD), ended his working visit there, with the visit of Japanese investors' association, SeLeNet, where he was welcomed by the Managing Director Mr. Frank Kaneko and the Director Mrs. Yoshiko Togashi. The conversations were focused mostly on the further intensification of mutual cooperation within the international investors' programs of VZMD: Invest to Slovenia (investo.si) and International Investors' Network(invest-to.net).

In organization of SPIRIT Slovenia, partner Japanese agency JETRO and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Japan, supported by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia,Manufactured Imports and Investment Promotion Organization MIPRO and Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "Slovenian-Japanese Business & Investment Forum" was held in Tokyo last Friday. At the forum, all gathered were among others addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, the President of JETRO, Mr. Hidehiro Yokoo, and the Acting Director of SPIRIT, Mr. Boštjan Skalar. Mr. Yokoo and Mr. Skalar also signed an agreement on cooperation between SPIRIT Slovenia and JETRO to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen partner relations. At the same time, two commercial contracts have been signed: DUOL company has signed a contract about establishment of competitive center for new materials and technology with the Japanese producer of membranes, Hiraoka company, and VSR Lab company has signed a letter of intent for the supply of water vessels to the Japanese buyer.

The forum concluded with B2B business meetings, which were attended by numerous businessmen and representatives of Japanese companies. Also on these occasions, the proper presentation of companies, institutions and investment projects, included in the international investors' programs investo.si and invest-to.net, was provided. Japanese participants have shown considerable interest in these programs,and all of the extensive informational and promotional materials, presented by the VZMD in Tokyo, ran out.

After a successful cooperation in economic delegation, which in January visited Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and this time visit of the economic and political delegation in Japan, VZMD invites all interested companies, institutions, communities and individuals to take advantage of opportunities for cooperation and inclusion of their informational materials, promotional materials and investment projects in web portals, materials and occasional magazines"investo Expo", as well as in events on numerous other anticipated occasions, which are being prepared within the context of both international investors' programs in 2013.

On Wednesday, March the 6^th, a large and high-level economic delegation with 33 representatives of Slovenian companies, economic andscientific-research institutions arrived to Japan. This time visit of economic delegation takes place along the visit of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, and the Prime Minister of Japan, AbeShinzō. As part of the efforts of the international investors' programs of PanSlovenian Shareholders' Association (VZMD): Invest to Slovenia(investo.si) and International Investors' Network (invest-to.net), the President of VZMD, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, is also visiting Japan as a member of Slovene delegation.

In organization of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and SPIRIT Slovenia, partner Japanese agency JETRO andJapanese Agency for Development of New Energy and Industrial Technologies – NEDO, numerous bilateral business meetings, presentations and events are being held in Tokyo and Yokohama. Thus, members of the delegation on Wednesday visited the Toyotapresentation center Toyota Mega Web and the Panasonic Center, where they were received by the highestrepresentatives of global corporation. Visits were followed by a joint dinner of Slovenian businessmen in Japan, businessmen and members of the delegation, which was also joined by the President of the Republic of Slovenia. The meeting was held in the famous Yam Yam restaurant in the center of Tokyo, which is renowned as an important meeting point for Slovenes in Japan, and it impresses distinguished Japaneseguests with the outstanding selection of Slovenian wines. At the end of the evening, individual members of the delegation, including the President of VZMD, have beenadmitted to the eminent association of Japanese-Slovene friendship – Fuji Triglav Society (FTS).

Yesterday, "Japan – Slovenia Technology Cooperation Seminar" was held on the premises of Association for Technological Excellence Promoting Innovative Advances – TEPIA, where President Borut Pahor addressed the participants. The seminar was followed by a working lunch, organized by the President of NEDO, Mr. Hideo Hato. In addition to the members of the economic delegation, President of the Republic of Slovenia, President of the Board of Hitachi Corporation, Mr. Hideo Hato and many other prominentbusinessmen also attended the lunch. After lunch, the participants set out for Yokohama, where they visited Kankankyo and the Nissan Global Center premises.Slovene economic delegation concluded its intense and successful day at the reception for reputable Japanese representatives and members of the Slovene community in Japan, hosted by the President of the Republic of Slovenia in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Japan.

Also on these occasions, the proper presentation of companies, institutions and investment projects, included in the international investors' programs investo.siand invest-to.net, was provided. After a successful cooperation in economic delegation, which in January visited Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and this time visitof the economic delegation in Japan, VZMD invites all interested companies, institutions, communities and individuals to take advantage of opportunities for cooperation and inclusion of their informational materials, promotional materials and investment projects in web portals, materials and occasional magazines"investo Expo", as well as in events on numerous other anticipated occasions, which are being prepared within the context of both international investors' programs in 2013.