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

Bavaria: "Hypo-Sale was Correct"

The issue Hypo Alpe Adria preoccupies not only the Austrian justice: Bavaria's Prime Minister Horst Seehofer defended the sale to Austria.

December 8, 2010

Strong Growth in Foreign Trade

In the first nine months, Austria imported goods for € 82.45bn (+14.8%). Exports increased by 5.8% to € 79.69bn.

December 8, 2010

Romania Sells Stake in Petrom

The state share in the Romanian Petrom, a subsidiary of the Austrian OMV, is to be reduced. OMV is interested.

December 7, 2010

Raiffeisen Bank International's direct bank Zuno launches in Slovakia

Zuno, which target Internet-focused customers, launches operations in Slovakia. Additional CEE countries will follow in 2011.

December 6, 2010

BDI - BioEnergy Builds Biodiesel Plant in Belarus

The Styrian company expands its operations to Belarus. The order value amounts to € 10m.

December 6, 2010

Sattler AG Expands to the U.S.

The Austrian specialty textiles manufacturer based in Graz, acquires the American brand Outdura in North Carolina.

December 6, 2010

Trade Between Russia and Austria is Booming

The volume of trade between Austria and Russia has increased by 30%. Innovation and modernization are core issues for both countries.

December 6, 2010

Leitl Vehemently Defends Euro Protection Shield

The President of the WKÖ (Austrian Federal Economic Chamber), Christoph Leitl, gives a clear answer to the euro critics: without the euro, Austria would have become a problematic case in 2009.

December 6, 2010

Hypo Group: Motives for Purchase of BayernLB Unexplained

In 2007, when the Carinthian Hypo Group Alpe Adria was sold to the BayernLB, there were many critical technical opinions. The Bavarians bought despite them.

December 5, 2010

Passing On of Bank Information: FMA Defends Itself

Since, according to Wikileaks, the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has passed on bank data to the U.S., a position has been taken about the issue.

December 5, 2010

Stuttgart21: Strabag and Porr Hope for Major Project

The two Austrain building companies, Strabag and Porr, are struggeling for the disputed major infrastructure project in Germany, Stuttgart 21.

December 2, 2010

Mitterlehner: To Expand Further Good Trade Relations with Switzerland…

The Minister of Economy, after meeting with his Swiss counterpart, said: "Switzerland is the third most important export partner; new opportunities with eco-innovations should be profited from".

December 2, 2010

Strabag Receives Major Project in Poland

Construction of new railway and bus station of Katowice operated by the Austrian building company Strabag.

December 2, 2010

It Is Official: Deripaska Is Back at Strabag

Basic Element group exercises the call option for 17 percent stake in Strabag.

December 1, 2010

AUA is to Get New Leadership

Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary, is to get the Frenchman Thierry Antinori as its new CEO. The board is to be expanded with this appointment.

November 30, 2010

bauMax Expands Further in Romania

On November 30, 2010 the Austrian DIY chain bauMax inaugurated its thirteenth Romanian market in Constanta.

November 30, 2010

Massive Lay Offs at Hypo Group

The still ailing Carinthian bank restructures the leasing division. 500 jobs are being cut.

November 30, 2010

Globalization Study: Vienna Among Top 20 Cities

New York remains at the top of the ranking of the "Global City Index 2010" by A.T. Kearney. Vienna stays unchanged at 18th place.

November 30, 2010

Carinthia Strengthens Relations with China

The Carinthian Economic Chamber President, Franz Pacher, has signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Beijing Economic Chamber.

November 29, 2010

Europe's Public Debt and Unemployment Remain High

Austrian Institute of Economic Research: The revival of the EU states, driven by expansionary economic policies and export growth, is ebbing.

November 25, 2010

Walter Grahammer Becomes the New Austrian Ambassador in Brussels

Previously, Grahammer acted as Head in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

November 24, 2010

Tann Paper Opens Factory in Russia

The Upper-Austrian company makes its initial step in Russia. Further investments are possible.

November 23, 2010

WKÖ Promotes Trade With Developing Countries

The Economic Chamber Austria presents its strategies to strengthen Austrian companies in order to take advantage of business opportunities in developing and emerging countries more effectively.

November 23, 2010

Meinl Bank Sues Atrium for € 1.2 billion

After Atrium instituted proceedings for damages against Meinl Bank before the High Court of Justice in London, Meinl Bank responded with a countersuit.

November 23, 2010

F-Star Acquired Major Order

The Vienna-located f-star and Boehringer Ingelheim to collaborate in discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies.

November 23, 2010

Siemens Austria: New Orders from Bangkok

The Thai BTSC has placed an order at Siemens for 35 additional intermediate cars for the city rail system. Works in Bangkok start in 2012..

November 22, 2010

Solid Growth inTrade Between Austria and the Czech Republic

Exports between the two countries rise by around 20%. Cooperation is to be extended also to research.

November 22, 2010

OMV Plans to Expand Further in Turkey

The Austrian oil and gas group is still assessing the best form of financing Petrol Ofisi. Further projects in Turkey are being evaluated.

November 22, 2010

Little Progress for Southstream

The Russian energy group Gazprom has difficulties with the Southstream pipeline project. The optimal path has to be found first.

November 18, 2010

Magna: Fight for Pininfarina Car Designer

Magna is interested in buying the renowned car body manufacturer and designer Pininfarina, but Indians and Chinese also have purchase intentions.

November 18, 2010

Study: Agricultural Subsidies Produce No Growth

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research has determined that growth in the Austrian regions is accelerated by EU regional promotional financing, but not by agricultural subsidies.

November 18, 2010

Roche Lays Off 400 Jobs in Styria

The Swiss pharmaceutical group reduces its international workforce by 6%: a setback for the region.

November 18, 2010

Industry Welcomes EU Energy Infrastructure Package

Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industrialists, Markus Beyrer: the package is also important to achieve energy and climate objectives.

November 17, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny "During the Crisis, the Euro Acted as a Protection Shield Beyond the Euro Area"

The Governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny warns to fiscal discipline and talks about economic challenges and opportunities in Europe.

November 15, 2010

Erste Group: Job Reduction in Hungary

The Austrian bank plans to cut 250 jobs in Hungary. Reasons are the bad loans and the introduction of the bank tax.

November 11, 2010

UniCredit CEO Ghizzoni: Counting on eastern growth

The eastern business should be expanded, says Ghizzoni, CEO of the parent company of Bank Austria.

November 10, 2010

Verbund: Further Expansion in Turkey

The power company intends to increase its presence in the rapidly growing Turkish market. But above all, investments will be made in Austria.

November 10, 2010

Kapsch CarrierCom Gets Major Contract for GSM-R Project in Spain

Kapsch was commissioned by the Spanish railway authority Adif with the implementation of a GSM-R network.

November 9, 2010

Strabag Intensifies Russian Business

Deripaska´s Rasperia repurchases 17 percent of STRABAG. In addition, Strabag acquires a 26 % stake in Russian construction company and signs a € 350 million contract.

November 8, 2010

Kapsch TrafficCom Acquires Mark IV IVHS

Mark IV IVHS is the largest supplier of electronic toll collection (ETC) equipment in North America. Kapsch pays USD 70 million.

November 6, 2010

Magna: Significant Increase in Sales and Earnings

Magna International Inc. today reported financial results for nine months ended September 30, 2010.

November 5, 2010

Strabag: Time is Running Out for Deripaska

The re-entry of Deripaska into the largest Austrian construction group is to be fixed still this weekend. His comeback has been expected for several weeks.

November 5, 2010

Competition for Hungarian ÖBB Subsidiary

Rail Cargo Hungaria (RCH) is still fighting for restructuring success. Meanwhile, a new competitor has appeared in the freight business.

November 5, 2010

Working Time Flexibility Prevented Mass Unemployment

During the crisis, many German and Austrian companies flexibilized the working hours of their employees. These measures helped to ease the labor market situation.

November 4, 2010

Strabag and Alpine Suspected of Cartelization

Damages for 2 billion euro (2.8 billion dollars) are said to be the result of forming a construction cartel for motorway construction in Slovenia.

November 3, 2010

AUA: Deficits Must Go

Austrian Airlines, bought in 2009 by German Lufthansa, are now working with profit at operational level. But restructuring of long haul routes is proving to be particularly difficult.

November 3, 2010

Raiffeisen Participates in Bid for Polbank

Raiffeisen International Bank (RBI) tries to get into the act concerning the sale of Polbank. The eighth largest bank in Poland is currently owned by EFG Euro Bank, which is offering its Polish interest for sale.

November 3, 2010

Contract for Kapsch TrafficCom in Poland

The consortium led by Kapsch came out as the best bidder for the implementation of a toll system on Polish motorways. The contract has been signed now.

November 3, 2010

Hypo-Group Changes Board of Austrian Subsidiary

Hypo Alpe Adria makes new appointments to the Executive Board of the Austrian banking subsidiary Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank AG.

November 2, 2010

Andritz Acquires RITZ Pumpenfabrik, Germany

International technology Group ANDRITZ has signed a contract to acquire the German company RITZ

November 2, 2010