Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations

Strabag: Defends Its Number 1 in Czech Republic

In a survey, 302 public customers have chosen Austrian construction enterprise Strabac to be the best in its sector. Swietelski follows on 2nd place.

March 28, 2013

EANS-Total Voting Rights: Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Release according to article 93 BörseG with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution

March 28, 2013

Austria: Budget Deficit in 2012 Lower Than Expected

The country has reached a significantly lower deficit than the government had expected. According to Statistik Austria, the deficit was at 2.5 % of GDP in 2011, equaling € 7.7bn.

March 28, 2013

Poland: VAT Expected to Remain At 23 %

Prime Minister Tusk announced that there will be no return to the 22 % VAT which was planned for 2014.

March 27, 2013

EANS-General Meeting: Epigenomics AG / Additional Information for the General Meeting

March 27, 2013

Strikes Paralyze Poland

Protests against government’s changes in education, social and labor policy.

March 27, 2013

Czech Republic: EGAP Covered Exports of CZK 72bn

Minister of Industry and Trade, Martin Kuba says: EGAP will focus more on supporting small and medium-size enterprises

March 27, 2013

Hungary: Tax Overhaul Finalized

Minister for National Economy: taxation system completed - time for fine-tuning.

March 27, 2013

Hungary: MNB to Reduce Key Interest Rate

The Hungarian National Bank (MNB) lowered the key interest rate by 25 basis points down to 5.0 %. This is the eighth downgrade in a row.

March 26, 2013

Austria: Number Nine in Innovation Ranking

On the EU innovation ranking list Austria loses points and slips back on ninth place.

March 26, 2013

Czech Republic: Confidence in Domestic Economy Inreased Marginally

Overall confidence in domestic economy increased slightly in March. The composite confidence indicator (economic sentiment indicator) increased by 0.2 points compared to February.

March 25, 2013

Vienna: One of the Most Innovative Cities

According to a ranking by the Australian agency 2thinknow, Vienna is the most innovative city in Europe and scored 3rd place in the cities worldwide, succeeding Boston and New York.

March 22, 2013

Romania: Pensions Increased by 3.4 %

By a year-on-year basis, pensions in Romania increased in the forth quarter of 2012 by 3.4 % coming up to 786 lei. Out of the total number of pensioniers, 86.1 % receive benefits from the state social insurance.

March 22, 2013

Poland’s Finance Minister Shows Optimism

Deputy Finance Minister Majszczyk announced that Poland will not exeed the planned budget deficit and forcasts economic growth for the second half of the year.

March 22, 2013

RBI to Acquire More Clients in Romania

RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) is attaining a portfolio of private clients by Citibank via affiliate Raiffeisen Bank S. A.

March 21, 2013

Vienna Among Top 10 of Strong Economic Regions

According to statistics, which were published by Eurostat on Thursday, Vienna is among the Top 10 of the economically strongest regions in Europe again.

March 21, 2013

Hungary: Gross Earnings Increased Marginally

In the national economy – at corporations employing at least 5 persons, budgetary and designated non-profit institutions – average gross earnings increased by 2.5%, while net earnings excluding family tax benefits grew by 3.9% compared to 2011.

March 21, 2013

Hungary: Personnel Purge at MNB

New govenor of the Hungarian Central Bank (MNB) György Matolcsy continues his purge.

March 20, 2013

CA Immo: Major Drop in Profits

On Tuesday evening, CA Immo published the annual figures for 2012. The market-listed real estate company shows profits of € 48.6m which means a decrease of 28 %.

March 20, 2013

Austria and Moldova to Boost Cooperations

The Republic of Moldova has been a primary country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 2004. State Secretary Lopatka underlined this during a visit to Moldova on the occasion of the re-opening of the Austrian embassy.

March 19, 2013

Hungary: Dissatisfaction Towards Government Grows

Right-wing leader Viktor Orban has been in parliament for almost three years. But the promised reforms and changes to improve the economic situation came to nothing. Protests are arising.

March 18, 2013

Hungary: Construction Industry Suffers From Decline

Year-on-year, construction output decreased by 4.1% in January 2013 according to both unadjusted and working day adjusted indices. Output went down by a seasonally adjusted 1.5% month-on-month.

March 18, 2013

Hungary: New Interest Rate Cuts Ahead

Since the beginning of March, Hungary´s National Bank MNB has a new governor. The government wants MNB to lower the base rate further.

March 16, 2013

Romanian Labor Costs Increased Dramatically

The EU average increase in labor costs in the 4th quarter in 2012 increased by 1.3 % throughout the EU. Front runner turns out to be Romania.

March 15, 2013

Poland: Inflation Decreasing

Declining inflation was supported by weaker demand and cost pressures in the economy, decrease in energy price growth as well as zloty exchange rate stronger than a year ago.

March 15, 2013

Poland Sharpens Austerity Measures

In order to fulfill the Maastricht Criteria sustainably, Poland wants to reduce the budget deficit to 1.0% of GDP in 2015.

March 15, 2013

Czech Republic: Contruction Industry Sees Further Declines

In January 2013 the construction output declined by 9.3%, year-on-year (y-o-y). The planning and building control authorities granted by 4.1% more building permits, y-o-y, and the approximate value of permitted constructions dropped by 31.7%, y-o-y.

March 15, 2013

Czech Republic: Industrial Production Decreased by 4.1%

In January 2013, industrial production decreased at constant prices by 4.1%, year-on-year. Compared to the previous month, seasonally adjusted industrial production was the same as in December 2012. The value of new orders decreased by 7.6%, y-o-y.

March 15, 2013

Romania: Surplus in Balance of Payments

In January, the balance-of-payments current account posted a surplus of EUR 465 million Y/Y.

March 15, 2013

Russia: Former Economy Minister To Become New Governor Of Central Bank

Former economy minister Elvira Nabiullina will take over the post of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) Governor.

March 14, 2013

Hungary: Number of Emigrants to Austria Increases

More and more Hungarians emigrate to Austria due to economic and political reason.

March 14, 2013

Hungary: Industrial Production Continues to Shrink

In January 2013, industrial gross output was down by 1.4% year-on-year.

March 14, 2013

Czech Republic: Population Grows Slightly

In 2012, the population of the Czech Republic increased by 10.7 thousand to 10 516.1 thousand persons.

March 14, 2013

Ukraine Puts More Effort in New Infrastructure

“Financing and promotion of investment projects will give a fillip for the economic development of our country.”

March 14, 2013

Austrian Banks to Stay in Hungary

In the coming years, foreign banks will face a difficult market environment in Hungary. Nevertheless, Austrian banks want to maintain their position.

March 14, 2013

Croatia: HRK 380m To Be Paid Into The State Budget

At its session today, the Croatian National Bank (CNB) Council examined the latest monetary and economic indicators as well as a report on the banking system condition in the last quarter of 2012.

March 14, 2013

Czech Republic: Highest Internet Retail Sales in 26 Months

Highest growth rates in internet retail and house order sales and IT/communication equipments.

March 14, 2013

Romania: Turnover of Market Services Decreased 14.1 % in January

In January 2013, the turnover of market services rendered mainly to enterprises, in nominal terms, decreased compared to the previous month.

March 14, 2013

Orban Wants to Strengthen Hungarian Banks

According to Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the high share of foreign banks is “unhealthy”.

March 13, 2013

Turkey: Economic Imbalances Become More Visible

Unlike the Eurozone, Turkey´s economy still shows substantial growth rates. However, Turkey suffers from a number of structural weaknesses.

March 13, 2013

Improvement on the Czech Commercial Real Estate Market in Sight?

Bank Austria sees anti-cyclical investment opportunities in the Czech Republic and CEE. The Czech Republic offers a low country risk and transparent real estate market.

March 13, 2013

Erste Group to Take over BCR Completely

The Austrian banking group launches a permanent buy-out offer for minority shareholders of BCR.

March 13, 2013

Romania: Construction Output Goes Down

Volume of construction works, series adjusted with the working days number and seasonality, registered a decrease of 2.3% in January 2013, compared to December 2012.

March 13, 2013

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / Yearly Report

March 13, 2013

Atrium European Real Estate Limited / STRONG 2012 RESULTS REFLECT SUCCESSFUL ASSET MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO AND DELIVERY OF STRATEGY

March 13, 2013

Russia: Battle Between Rosneft And Gasprom Starts

The fight between Russia’s two biggest energy providers Rosneft and Gasprom has started. Rosneft tries to snatch away large deposits of raw oil and reports Gasprom to the government.

March 12, 2013

Czech Republic: Average Wage Increased Due to Bonuses

In Q4 2012 the average gross monthly nominal wage per employee FTE in the entire national economy increased by 3.7% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

March 11, 2013

Austria: Optimistic Economy Minister Forecasts Economic Growth

In an interview with Wirtschaftsblatt, Austria’s economy minister, Reinhold Mitterlehner, forecasts an economic growth rate of 2 % for the next year, 2014.

March 11, 2013

Czech Republic: GDP Decreasing by 2.1%

The gross domestic product adjusted for price, seasonal, and calendar effects decreased according to the refined estimate by 1.2% compared to 2011; the decrease was gradually deepening during the year.

March 11, 2013

Austria: Opposition Puts Forward Constitutional Challenge

Fiscal Pact undermines sovereignty of parliament and forces the country to severe austerity measures.

March 9, 2013