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Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations
Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism between Austria and its partners
RHI Pursues Growth Strategy in India
The Austrian RHI AG, the world’s biggest maker of fireproofing ceramics, is pursuing a takeover in India and may start a joint venture in Russia to expand its global reach.
April 21, 2012
AUA Resolves Transfer of Undertakings
The supervisory board of Austrian Airlines decided to switch to cheaper collective agreements. The transfer of undertakings is “crucial for AUA´s survival”.
April 20, 2012
Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal
For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.
April 18, 2012
Former Bawag CEO Criticizes Cerberus Sharply
Helmut Elsner, former CEO of Bawag, accuses the new owner Cerberus to abuse the bank as “garbage dump” for toxic assets.
April 18, 2012
„AUA is no Protected Area Anymore“
Lufthansa´s CEO Christoph Franz underlined not to accept permanent losses of the Austrian subsidiary AUA. “There is no protected area at Lufthansa anymore.”
April 18, 2012
Roiss Claims European „Fracking“ Strategy
OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss calls for a common strategy to exploit shale gas. The European industrial sector should become more competitive.
April 18, 2012
RBI: Takeover of Polbank Approved
The Polish Competition Authority allowed Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) to purchase Polbank. Conversely, RBI has to list as Warsaw Stock Exchange.
April 18, 2012
Mitterlehner: „AAA is still Far Away“
Austria´s Minister of Economics does not believe that S&P gives back the “AAA” rating soon. However, the debate about Austria´s rating is overvalued, he thinks.
April 17, 2012
Austria Supports EU Capitalization Plans for Banks
Regulators in the European Union may be allowed to impose capital surcharges on banks
April 17, 2012
Austrian Inflation Slightly Down
In March, a decrease of the Consumer Price Inflation to 2.4% was observed.
April 17, 2012
Fitch Confirms “AAA” For Austria
The U.S. rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Austria's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings at 'AAA'. The rating Outlooks on both Long-term ratings are Stable.
April 17, 2012
Uniqa Sells German Mannheimer Group
The Austrian insurance company concludes the sale of its majority stake in Mannheimer AG.
April 16, 2012
Austrian Economy on Moderate Growth Course
Bank Austria Forecasts table growth until summer followed by chances of an upswing. Austria could achieve GDP growth of 0.8 percent in 2012 and 2 percent in 2013.
April 16, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Moderate Growth at Wintersteiger
In 2011, the Austrian machine manufacturer could raise revenues by 9.0% to € 101.8m.
April 14, 2012
Kapsch: Critique by Czech Republic
The toll collection system in the Czech Republic is more expensive in Austria or Germany, the Czech audit authority alleges.
April 14, 2012
Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed
The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.
April 12, 2012
Alpine Shortlisted for Crossrail Fit-Out in UK
Austrian construction firms team up to make the shortlist for fit-out work on 52km of Crossrail tunnels. Worth GBP 400m this represents one the largest contracts on the new east-west rail link across London.
April 12, 2012
AUA Expected to Record High Losses Again
This year, Lufthansa-owned Austrian Airlines is anticipated not to reach the profit zone. In the first quarter, fees and fuel caused higher costs of € 28m.
April 12, 2012
Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished
Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.
April 11, 2012
Nowotny Ask For Alternative to Financial Transaction Tax
The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees a good sign in Austria´s low interest rate on sovereign bonds. The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is unrealistic, the governor says.
April 11, 2012
S&P: Austrian Banks Still Weakly Capitalized
The U.S. rating agency S&P regards Austrian banks to record high capital shortfalls.
April 11, 2012
Major Loan to Immofinanz by Russian Sberbank
The Austrian real estate company Immofinanz Group and the Russian Sberbank have concluded a long-term financing agreement with a volume of up to $ 715m.
April 11, 2012
Zielpunkt: „Not for Sale“
The new owner of the Austrian supermarket chain, Jan Satek, says that there are no plans to re-sell Zielpunkt.
April 10, 2012
Eder Ticks Off Rail Cartel
Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder underlines the new compliance rules of voestalpine. Another participation in a cartel would be “impossible”.
April 7, 2012
„Natural Gas to Become Most Important Energy Source“
Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV pushes the EU to recognize the importance of natural gas.
April 7, 2012
Free Float at KTM Declines
The Austrian motor-cycle manufacturer has a free float of only 2.9%. The two main shareholders are CEO Stefan Pierer and the Indian Rajiv Bajaj.
April 6, 2012
Tax Intake Higher Than Expected
In the first two months of 2012, the Austrian state received € 460m more tax proceeds than initially expected.
April 6, 2012
Meinl: Big Plans in Russia
The Austrian coffee roaster regards the CEE region as future market. Also China and Turkey are targeted. Last year, group revenues rose by 16% to € 125m.
April 5, 2012
EU: Austrian Labor Costs Rose Decently
Since 2000, Austrian labor costs rose by 40%. Among the 27 member states, Austria ranks 22th.
April 5, 2012
EU Approved Joint Venture between Agrana and Ybbstaler
The EU Commission granted Agrana and RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria the green light for the merger of their fruit juice concentrates subsidiaries.
April 5, 2012
Go-Ahead for Joint Venture Between Agrana and RWA.
EU Commission approves joint venture between the two Austrian food companies Agrana Juice Holding GmbH and Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH (RWA).
April 4, 2012
British Mayr-Melnhof Factory Occupied
The Liverpool-based site of the Austrian packaging company Mayr-Melnhof will be closed. Workers occupy the factory in order to prevent the shutdown.
April 2, 2012
Euro-Group: Fekter Presses Ahead
Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the euro-group is angry at the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, who presented the summits´ results before Juncker´s press conference.
March 31, 2012
Schlecker: „Jobs in Austria are in Safety“
The Austrian subsidiary of the insolvent German chemist chain Schlecker is not affected by the shut-down program. Jobs are “relatively safe”.
March 30, 2012
Andritz Acquires U.S. Bricmont Inc.
The Austrian technology Group Andritz has acquired Bricmont Inc. from Inductotherm Group. Bricmont is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and includes certain assets in China and India.
March 30, 2012
Rewe Austria Shows Solid Growth
The German retail chain achieved sales of € 7.47bn in Austria last year, which is a rise of 6.26%.
March 30, 2012
Mayr-Melnhof Closes Liverpool Plant
The Austrian packaging company today announced that it is to close its packaging plant in Liverpool.
March 29, 2012
Weak Results at bwin.party
The Austro-British gambling copmany could increase EBITDA by 3.0%. Total revenues remained stable.
March 29, 2012
Andritz Receives Order from ThyssenKrupp
The Austrian technology group is awarded to supply equipment for stainless steel production to ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Germany.
March 29, 2012
Major Order at Strabag´s German Subsidiary
Ed. Züblin, a subsidiary of the Austrian construction group Strabag, was awarded to build new universites in Hamm and Lippstadt. The contraction volume amounts to € 100m.
March 29, 2012
Palfinger: High Expectations in China
The Austrian crane manufacturer is optimistic that China becomes the biggest market for the company.
March 28, 2012
Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure
The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.
March 28, 2012
Poland Remains Attractive for Real Estate Investors
In its country report, Bank Austria sees Poland still as an interesting real estate market. Nevertheless, prime yields are declining already.
March 28, 2012
Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax
Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.
March 27, 2012
EU Financial Framework Negotiations Enter the Hot Phase
State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner underlines Austria´s position as net contributor at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
March 27, 2012
Burger King to Expand in Austria
The U.S. fast food chain enlarges its Austrian branches. Moreover, Burger King aims to enter the coffeehouse segment.
March 26, 2012
Alpine to Build Railroad Tunnel for Stuttgart 21
The Austrian construction company is involved in the German Railroad’s large-scale Stuttgart 21 project.
March 26, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Greece Must Leave Eurozone“
The Austrian Economist and designated director of HIS, Christian Keuschnigg advised Greece to leave the euro zone.
March 26, 2012
Wolong Wants ATB to Become World Market leader
The Chinese Wolong Group, which took over ATB last year due to A-Tec´s insolvency, has big plans for the engine producer.
March 24, 2012