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

Rising Profits and Sales at Fabasoft

The Austrian software producer announces preliminary figures for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2011/2012.

February 13, 2012

AUA: Resistance of Workforce Could Be Given Up

After serious warnings of the management of Austrian Airlines, the works councils are ready to talk about new collective agreements.

February 11, 2012

Gazprom to Double Natural Gas Reserves in Europe

The Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom intends to improve supply security in Europe. Gas reserves in Austria should be extended too.

February 10, 2012

Lufthansa to Bundle Operations

In order to achieve the austerity targets, Lufthansa centralizes operations. Austrian Airlines is highly affected.

February 10, 2012

Sale of Brixlegg Concluded

The former copper-division of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec Group has been sold to the Swiss Umcor AG.

February 10, 2012

Shortage in Energy Supply: Austria Helps Germany Out

In Germany, wind power plants record a decrease in energy production. German energy suppliers called for Austrian electricity.

February 9, 2012

AUA to be Re-Sold?

Rumors on Austrian Airlines do not end. A sale by Lufhansa is discussed, even the insolvency is not excluded.

February 9, 2012

Problems on European Level as Burden for Austria

Over the last months, the European economy lost its impetus, which is a major burden for the Austrian economy.

February 9, 2012

Moderate Rise in Passengers at AUA

Austrian Airlines traffic result for January 2012: 7.1 percent increase in Passenger Volume. European traffic rose slightly stronger.

February 9, 2012

Schlecker: „Austria Remains Independent“

The insolvent German chemist chain underlines that ist Austrian subsidiary is „definitively not affected“ by the insolvency proceedings.

February 9, 2012

Major Offer for Vienna International Airport by Petrus Advisers

The London-based real estate company made a € 450m offer to VIA. However, the demanded property is not for sale.

February 8, 2012

Keuschnigg to Succeed Felderer

Christian Keuschnigg will succeed Bernhard Felderer as director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) in June.

February 8, 2012

Growing Nerviness at AUA´s Workforce

The workforce at Austrian Airlines feels uncertainty. Even a bankruptcy is feared.

February 8, 2012

Vorarlberg Invests Massively in Renewable Energy

The Austrian province aims for enlarging renewable energy production together with the South-German energy group EnBW. Investments total € 600m.

February 7, 2012

Still Capital Requirement at Kommunalkredit

The „bad bank“ of the nationalized Austrian bank, KA Finanz, receives € 190m by the Austrian state. Moreover, another € 600m are needed in the first half of 2012.

February 7, 2012

Zielpunkt Gets New Owner

MBO at the Austrian supermarket chain: CEO Jan Satek takes over the company and wants to focus on local supply.

February 7, 2012

Austrian Government Debt Quota Declining Slightly

Euro area government debt down to 87.4% of GDP in the third quarter 2011 compared with second quarter 2011.

February 6, 2012

Mitterlehner: „Shortages in Russian Gas Supply Not Dangerous“

For The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, the sudden cut in Russian natural gas supply is “no dangerous scenario”.

February 6, 2012

Pecik Aims for Reaching Blocking Minority

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik intends to re-organize the supervisory board. Nevertheless, operating functions are not targeted.

February 4, 2012

Palfinger to Enter China in 2012

The Austrian crane manufacturer plans to enter the Chinese market in the first half of 2012. China will become the biggest market for Palfinger, says CEO Ortner.

February 4, 2012

Palfinger: Rise in Sales and Profits Expected

Tomorrow, the Austrian crane manufacturer Palfinger presents figures for the financial year 2011. Sales are estimated to grow by 30%, net results should reach € 40m.

February 2, 2012

Trade Unions: „Schlecker Austria Depends from Germany“

For the Austrian trade unions, talks with Schlecker Austria´s management are “acceptable”. An all-clear would be difficult.

February 2, 2012

Shortened Natural Gas Supply from Russia

The Austrian oil and gas group OMV reports that Russian natural gas exports only reach 70% of its normal level.

February 2, 2012

Coca Cola Closes Viennese Site

For cost reasons, the U.S. soft drink producer shifts production from Vienna to Burgenland. 80 employees will be laid off.

February 2, 2012

BDI Receives Major Order from USA

Austrian BioEnergy obtained order for retrofitting a U.S.-based biodiesel plant.

February 2, 2012

Kommunalkredit Downgraded by Moody´s

The U.S. rating agency downgraded Kommunalkredit Austria to Baa3.

February 2, 2012

OMV: „No Shortage in Natural Gas Supply“

Russian media reported on natural gas supply reductions for Europe. Gazprom denies, OMV refers to large natural gas reserves.

February 1, 2012

Major Order from Costa Rica for Andritz

The Austrian technology group Andritz was awarded a contract by the Institute of Electricity of Costa Rica.

February 1, 2012

RBI Structures Credit Facility for Chinese Company

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) finances delivery of the plant by Andritz-Group for Chinese Ganzhou.

February 1, 2012

Schlecker Austria Will Not Be Sold

The German chemist chain gives the all-clear. The Austrian subsidiary is not affected by the insolvency of the group.

February 1, 2012

Support for AUA´s Management

Christoph Leitl, President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), shows support for the management of Austrian Airlines.

January 31, 2012

Uncertain Future of Schlecker Austria

After the insolvency of the German chemist chain, experts consider that the Austrian subsidiary could be sold.

January 31, 2012

Austria Still With Lowest Unemployment Rate in EU

Euro area unemployment rate stands at 10.4%. Austria has second-lowest youth unemployment rate.

January 31, 2012

FPÖ Wants Cuts in Spendings

The biggest Austrian opposition party suggests reducing public expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. Chairman Strache calls for a “subsidy brake”.

January 30, 2012

VKB Records Rise in Results

The regional bank VKB´s operating result improved by 9.0%.

January 28, 2012

AUA: Resistance Forms Up

Austerity plans by Austrian Airline´s new management faces massive resistance. The dispute with employees threatens to escalate.

January 27, 2012

Austrian Trust in Euro Decreases

Austrians became more skeptical to the common currency. Analysts see a “crisis of confidence”.

January 27, 2012

S&P Downgrades Austrian Provinces

The U.S. rating agencies lowers ratings for Upper Austria, Vienna and Tyrol from “AAA” to “AA+”.

January 26, 2012

Slightly Positive Results at Sanochemia

The Austrian pharmaceutical company raised revenues by 26%. Profits amount to € 0.7m.

January 26, 2012

Opel Records Rise in Production

Opel Austria, a subsidiary of the U.S. group General Motors, could raise production by 11% in 2011.

January 25, 2012

S&P Keeps Rating for Erste Group and RZB

After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds two weeks ago, the U.S. rating agency remains its ratings for the two largest domestic banks.

January 25, 2012

Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“

The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.

January 24, 2012

New Records for Viennese Tourism

In 2011, the Austrian capital registered 11.4 million guest nights, which is a new record.

January 24, 2012

Strache Claims Cut in Subsidies

The chairman of the Austrian opposition party FPÖ criticized the government fiercely for its fiscal policy.

January 23, 2012

Schlecker Insolvency: 3,000 Jobs Endangered

The German chemist chain today filed for insolvency. In Austria, Schlecker employs 3,000 workers.

January 23, 2012

Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In

Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.

January 21, 2012

AUA´s Staff Protests Against Wage Cuts

The new management of Austrian Airlines faces fierce resistance by the workforce. The new austerity package is heatedly contested.

January 20, 2012

Warta Sale: VIG Unsuccessful

The sale of the Polish insurance group Warta is closed. The German Talanx takes over Warta, Vienna Insurance Group had no chance.

January 20, 2012

Moody´s Downgrades Telekom Austria

The U.S. rating agency lowered Telekom Austria´s rating from A3 to Baa1, which is due to the weak business development.

January 19, 2012

AT&S Launches Strategic Alliance with U.S. MFLEX

Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. and AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft, today announced a Strategic Alliance Agreement.

January 19, 2012