The Rector Signed a Memorandum with the Austrian Economic Chamber in the Presence of the Vice President Iliana Yotova and the Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and Martha Schultz, Vice President of the Austrian Economic Chamber, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.

The official signing took place at the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Sofia in the framework of the visit of an Austrian delegation of women entrepreneurs led by the Vice President of the Austrian Economic Chambers Martha Schultz.

The event was attended by the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria Iliana Yotova, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elena Shekerletova, the Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Austria Philip Kupfer.

H. E. Andrea Ikic-Böhm, Elena Shekerletova, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Iliana Yotova, Martha Schultz, Mariya Gabriel, Philip Kupfer /from the left to the right/

The Ambassador of Austria to Bulgaria H. E. Andrea Ikic-Böhm greeted the attendees and highlighted the excellent economic relations between Bulgaria and Austria еmphasizing that the event is part of their development and deepening.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Gabriel expressed thankfulness to H. E. Andrea Ikic-Böhm and Mrs. Martha Schultz for their commitment and development of the relations between Bulgaria and Austria, pointing out that the women entrepreneurs should be stimulated and supported because they have enormous leadership and entrepreneurial potential.

The Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria Iliana Yotova pointed out that Austria is one of the largest investors in Bulgaria, the direct foreign investments from Austria in Bulgaria amount to 5.5 billion euros. She greeted the Austrian delegation highlighting that “the women entrepreneurs of the Austrian business are an example and inspiration for promoting the entrepreneurship among Bulgarian women".

"I would like to address to you, Prof. Dimitrov, for the Memorandum that is about to be signed and I would like to note, Madam Ambassador, that it is a Memorandum with one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Bulgaria - the University of National and World Economy and I think that from now on a very fruitful work is going to take place."

"The UNWE is the largest business university in Bulgaria, it educates about 20 thousand students. Since its establishment 103 years ago, the UNWE lecturers and graduates have been prominent representatives in the government, business and non-governmental sectors, prestigious international organizations and financial institutions. Over the recent years 10 of its graduates have been Prime Ministers of Bulgaria, including the first woman Prime Minister. Among the graduates of UNWE there are 4 Presidents of the National Assembly, 100 Ministers, and 10 Governors of the BNB", emphasized the Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and added: "Our University as a part of the European University ENGAGE.EU has already successfully cooperated with Vienna University of Economics and Business in partnership with eight other leading European universities. We have also established Master's degree programme between the Economics of Transport and Energy Department and EVN Bulgaria. Our partnership with the Austrian Economic Chamber will help to provide better career development opportunities for our students."

Martha Schultz expressed her contentment with the signing of the Memorandum with the UNWE and pointed out that there is a great potential for cooperation and joint initiatives between the two organizations.

The document also says that both parties will cooperate for better chances for career development and realization of students from the UNWE through on-site visits, meetings with practitioners, organization of study and pre-graduate internships and practices, job fairs and other initiatives of their interest.

The scope of the Memorandum includes improving the quality of education of undergraduates and Doctoral students at the UNWE by organizing public lectures and discussions, curriculum content consultation and other initiatives of mutual interest.

Providing opportunities for partnership in economic and governance studies and research are also part of the agreement.

It is also envisaged an opportunity for joint scientific events, trainings, competitions, organization of public events for presentation of good practices as well as joint applications for projects in the areas of interest of both parties.

The Coordinator of the Memorandum from the Austrian Economic Chamber is the Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria Philip Kupfer and from the UNWE - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zinoviev, Director of the Center for Energy Business and Infrastructure and lecturer at the Economics of Transport and Energy Department.

At the end of the ceremony the Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria Philip Kupfer awarded to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zinoviev who is also Head of the Master's degree programme with EVN Bulgaria, a certificate for contribution to the strengthening and development of bilateral economic and scientific cooperation between Austria and Bulgaria.