Report on the EEIG Presidents' Conference in Brussels on 4th September 2004

After words of welcome and introduction by the Chairman of the European Economic Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Industry EEIG, Prof. Dr. Heinz Helmut VEJPUSTEK, the participants stood up for a minute of mourning for the victims of recent terrorists' attacks.

The Chairman continued by pointing out that nowadays many countries have not only economic problems but also huge political difficulties. Despite all economic and political risks, the Management of the European Economic Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry EEIG believed in a better future. "We have - based on the knowledge of our experts - also a commitment to future topics and technologies. That means that we wish to support selected projects by interdisciplinary solutions and by ways of technical and financial assistance", said Prof. VEJPUSTEK. "Our experts have elaborated several European standards to improve the quality of products and services of our partners and to assist them in a global competition which is becoming increasingly keener. We have developed methods to assess and to evaluate the performance and proficiency of enterprises. Our specialists are able to certify institutions and their diplomas according to international standards of education. New European quality standards are in preparation."

It was his personal concern and interest to enlarge the international network of the EEIG, the Chairman said. He was proud to report that, after restructuring the whole organization and a new start from scratch at the beginning of his chairmanship one and a half year ago, the European Economic Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Industry EEIG was now represented in 30 countries and could prove its professional competence by 16 connected departments and central offices for special tasks.

"It is not our aim," he stressed, "to compete with national Chambers of Commerce or other traditional groupings. We wish to be innovative and to go new ways. There are so many fields of business and political issues which nobody takes care for. We are trying to connect business people in many countries - to build bridges between the Member States of the European Union and countries outside the EU, in Europe, in America , Asia, Africa and the Pacific Region. We have in mind to contribute to an international cooperation for the mutual benefits of all partners involved."

Subsequently, the Chairman invested Prof. Dr. Massud MOSSAHEB as an EEIG-President for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

In the following lecture, Mr Alred WIEDER spoke about new methods of investments and the advantages of venture capital which were thoroughly discussed by the participants, especially by the delegation of Nigeria , headed by H.E. Ambassador Zakari IBRAHIM.

Mr Alexander POHLE gave a paper on the EU harmonization of the legislation for financial consultants since e.g. the financial consultants in Germany do not need any special qualification while in other European countries there are rigid legal requirements. After this lecture, the participating Presidents, mainly Sheikh Abdulaziz Ali ALTURKI, Mr Vladimir GORIOUNOV, Dr. Alois KREMNITZER, and the directors of the Bank of Industry, Mr L. ZARMA, Mr U. OKONKWO and Mr D. EBIRERI, were involved in an animated discussion.

The joint lunch and the coffee/tea breaks were used for individual talks to intensify the cooperation of the top functionaries of the EEIG.

Dr. Christian HUBACEK reported of the SANOTEC projects and showed pictures of 13 successful restorations reaching from the Sphinx in Egypt till sculptures in Greek and facades in Jordan . After professional questions from Mr Sahel MAJALI, the participants talked about the advantages of this new Silicate-based method. He presented also the astonishing results of the SANOPIN method to double the yield of harvests and to grow trees and plants in waterless deserts. Mr Erich KAHR demonstrated the "miracle" of the SIPIN powder one kilogramm of which can absorb 50 litres of water. This demonstration caused a vivid discussion among the participants and many of them were interested to obtain the exclusive agency of these silicate products for their countries.

After these lectures, the reports of the national Presidents started. Mr Harald BLUMENTRITT reported about the activities in Germany . In the context of the lecture of Mr POHLE, he explained that the European Financial Academy Inc. was founded to improve the education and the training of "European Financial Planners" who have to pass several examinations during a nearly 20 months lasting course. As a further step it is planned to found an economically oriented university with distance-learning, and lifelong training and adult education. Finally, he presented the tasks of the recently established Central Office for Financial Economy in Munich .

Prof. Dr. Massud MOSSAHEB reported on the economic situation of Iran and the market needs. He explained that he has in mind to organize a trade delegation to bring interested companies to Teheran and offered two possible dates, after 20 th January 2005 or in May 2005.

Mr Sahel MAJALI proposed to hold the next EEIG-Presidents' Conference in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He offered to arrange the programme. Similar suggestions were made by Sheikh Abdulaziz Ali ALTURKI to host a Conference in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .

H.E. Ambassador Yakari IBRAHIM invited the participants to visit Nigeria and spoke about the incentives of his government for investors. Mr U. OKONKWO promised to give a briefing about the programme and business chances and investment possibilities.

Mr Alexander BOCHAROV, assisted by Mr Vladimir LEVIN, reported on the activities of the EEIG Group in Russia , especially in the field of implementing European quality standards of the EEIG. He and his team succeeded in becoming co-organizers of the International Conference of the National Corporation for Economic Development on the "Economic development of regions is the basis of the image of Russia ". He announced that this conference would take place at the Marriott Grandhotel in Moscow from 25 th - 26 th November 2004. Partners would be the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Japanese company Panasonic, the International Centre for Women's Future, German and Russian companies and associations. The TASS press agency, several magazins, newspapers and the Moscow Radio Station would report on this conference.

Participants will be the representatives of the state government bodies and foreign states, from ministries and departments of the Russian Federation, The Soviet and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives from the bank and insurance sector, investments companies, heads of Russian and foreign enterprises, representatives from science and education of the Russian Federation, central and regional mass-media.

Mr Khazhak MOVSESYAN who attended the Conference as a guest gave a report about the situation in Armenia .

As to the date and place of the next meeting the Chairman suggested that our next meeting should be in the form of a "General Assembly" to give also a chance to a broader forum. He asked for the audience's opinion whether these gatherings should be in spring, say May or June, or in autumn, e.g. in September. It was agreed upon to invite not only EEIG-Presidents but also EU politicians, experts and guests. With regard to the date it was decided to wait for the proposals and briefings from the inviting Presidents.