About the network

Organisation

Uniting the Alpe-Adria region through a network of regional and national chambers.

We foster innovation, collaboration, and access to essential resources for businesses and professionals.

Founded in 2007 with a Declaration of Intents, our network saw a renewed vision in 2019 during the Presidential Conference, which redefined our mission.

Mission

• Drive cooperation, integration, and advancement in the New Alpe Adria region
• Foster joint business initiatives
• Enhance regional knowledge exchange
• Engage in cross-border EU projects
• Promote business education
• Encourage technological innovation
• Unique value of the network: Cover all sectors for comprehensive support and resources

Its headquarter is currently located in Carinthia since 2019 and the chairman is Jürgen Mandl, president of Economic Chamber of Carinthia.

The Presidents‘ Conference, involving presidents from all member chambers, serves as the strategic body, setting goals and guiding common activities.

The Technical Working Group, consisting of one representative from each chamber, acts as the executive body, developing the annual program and implementing activities through dedicated work packages, while aligning with the economic priorities of the entire Network area.“

Members

• Austria
  • WKK – Economic Chamber of Carinthia
  • WKK Economic Chamber of Styria &  ICS Internationalisation Center Styria GmbH
• Italy
  • ARIES società consortile a r.l. – Venezia Giulia Chamber of commerce Trieste-Gorizia
  • Chamber of Commerce of Pordenone-Udine
  • Regional Association of the Chambers of Commerce of Veneto Region
  • Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture of Bolzano
• Slovenia
  • OZS – Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia
  • GZS – Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
• Croatia
  • CCE – Pula County Chamber
  • HOK – Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts

Purpose and strategic objectives

The Presidents’ Conference relaunched the New Alpe Adria Network and redefined the common goals on 1st February 2019 in Graz. The target is to deepen interregional collaboration in the Alps-Adriatic Region on a political and economic level with regard to the new programming period 2021 – 2027, focusing on new priority topics the presidents agreed on:

• Economic Development: Alps Adriatic Macro Region
• Mobility: Infrastructure and Logistics
• Tourism
• Labour market, education, training
• Digitisation and innovation

Each region is in charge for different topics to work on operational level, depending on the individual interests, challenges and needs.

The primary objective of the network is to implement an EU funding programme, which enables common cross-border projects between three or more countries in the Alps Adriatic Region, besides the opportunity of bilateral Interreg-Projects.

Conferences and business meetings address companies of the NAAN area and are organised by the chambers. The Technical Working group and Expert Groups are responsible for creating an action plan and implementing measures.

Since its establishment in 2007, the Presidents ‘Conference and the Technical Working Group (TWG) have met in several sessions, in order to assess and implement the Network joint programme of activities defined every year.

History

The New Alpe Adria Network of Chambers, initially called “Network of Chambers of Euroregion”, has established in 2007, sealed with a Declaration of Intents. The economic cooperation between the regions should be strengthened with regard to political Euroregion, launched by the governors of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Carinthia. The aim of the network was to strengthen cohesion and territorial competitiveness.

The Economic Chamber of Carinthia (Austria), Slovenia, Rijeka (Croatia), Pula (Croatia), Trieste (Italy) and the Regional Association of the Chambers of Veneto Region (Italy) have already a long tradition in cooperating and managing joint projects. These bodies have been playing an important role in the process of supporting and enhancing the establishment of the Euroregion. Slovenia, Istria and Rijeka County had also intended to join in order to become a coordination centre between the political and business world in this area.

The Chamber of Commerce of Pordenone – Udine and the Chamber of Economy of Styria joined the New Alpe Adria Network respectively in 2009 and 2015.

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture of Bolzano joined the New Alpe Adria Network in 2021.

The Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) joined New Alpe Adria Network in 2024.