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