Bulgaria in Austria | Bulgarians in Vienna | Bilateral Relations

Austria and Bulgaria - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

UniCredit and Raiffeisen Seek to Broker Bulgaria's EVN Stake Sale

Bulgaria is going to sell its minority stake in an electricity distributor operated by the Austrian energy company.

June 3, 2011

AUA Give Up Their Focus on CEE

Austrian Airlines are going to improve their connections to Western Europe at the expense of their destinations in the East. The company is currently serving 46 airports in CEE.

May 30, 2011

Eastern Europe Becoming Attractive Again

For two years Austrians have abstained from investing in Eastern Europe, resulting in a loss of market share in these countries. Interest starts to recover now.

May 25, 2011

Wolf Theiss Identifies Opportunities in CEE Electricity Markets

Significant legislative changes particularly in Bulgaria and Romania, two of the most dynamic markets for RES-Electricity in the CEE/SEE region, have resulted in a dramatic increase in investor and other stakeholder interest in such projects.

May 3, 2011

SW Umwelttechnik Reports Satisfying Rise in Sales

Sales of the Austrian technology company were up by 12%. The company completed its first major export projects in Bulgaria and Moldova.

April 28, 2011

Shipping on the Danube is Far Below its Potential

Capacities are only being utilized in modest proportions on Austria’s main waterway. Investments in expansion would be necessary.

April 23, 2011

Real Purchasing Power: The Gap Between Austria and the CEE Region is Getting Smaller

For the coming years, a steady rise in unit labor costs in the CEE countries with the corresponding impact on the competition for business locations is expected.

April 16, 2011

Economic Growth in CEE and Austria Remains Solid

Concerning the equity markets as well as the economic circumstances, Raiffeisen Research is quite optimistic. In 2011, a further economic recovery is expected.

April 6, 2011

Southeastern Europe as a Region of Hope for Austria

Great interest of Austrian companies at the Austria Foreign Trade Forum on Export and Investment Opportunities in Southeastern Europe

April 2, 2011

Bulgaria: EVN Thermal Power Plant Almost Completed

The project of the Lower Austrian energy company EVN in Bulgaria will go into operation still this year.

March 17, 2011

Leitl: "Austria Continues as Top Investor in Bulgaria"

Bulgarian President Parvanov for economic talks at the WKÖ: Foreign trade volume between Bulgaria and Austria amounts to € 900m.

March 9, 2011

Tourism: Trend for High-Price Segment Continues

Austria's tourism industry shows itself satisfied with the current winter season. Guests come increasingly from Eastern Europe.

March 3, 2011

Henkel CEE grows in Eastern Europe

The German company, which has set up its Eastern European headquarters in Vienna, achieved a sales increase of 6%.

February 26, 2011

Strong Growth for bauMax

The do-it-yourself group increased its sales in Austria and Eastern Europe in 2010.

February 18, 2011

Upward Trend for CEE Insurance Stocks

CEE insurance stocks to get a boost from rising profits, cheap valuation and stronger investor demand.

February 10, 2011

Business Climate Improves in Eastern Europe

According to the Austrian Kontrollbank (OeKB), the Business Climate Index has risen in Eastern Europe for the seventh consecutive time.

February 9, 2011

Rising Bankruptcy Fears in Eastern Europe

The Austrian Creditor Protection Association “Creditreform” foresees a further rise in bankruptcies in Eastern Europe. The economic crisis is not over yet.

February 9, 2011

150 New Bank Austria Branches in Eastern Europe

The new board of the CEE Division of Bank Austria presented the group's expansion plans for Eastern Europe. By 2015, 900 branches are to be added.

February 9, 2011

Investments in Renewable Energies in the CEE are booming

According to a study by TPA Horwath, Austrian companies will expand massively their involvement in the field of renewable energies in the CEE region.

February 4, 2011

Telekom Austria Announces Closing of Spectrum Net Takeover

The acquisition of the second Bulgarian fixed network provider will be completed within the next weeks.

January 28, 2011

CEE Economic Growth Forecast: 3.8% in 2011

According to UniCredit, especially Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic and Estonia will bounce back impressively due to stronger industry and domestic demand.

January 13, 2011

CEE: Raiffeisen Remains Optimistic

The analysts of the Austrian Raiffeisen International Bank give Austria and the CEE good growth prospects. However, there still remain known risks.

January 12, 2011

CEE Stocks to Climb by 20% in 2011

Erste Group analysts recommend: stock picking rather than sector allocation. 2011 to be a positive year for equity investments.

January 5, 2011

Austria's Labor Market Opens

As of May 1, 2011 the German and Austrian labor markets open for the new EU citizens. Romania and Bulgaria will follow suit in 2013.

December 30, 2010

OeNB: Recovery of the Financial System in a Persistently Uncertain Environment

The OeNB considers that domestic banks benefit from the positive development in the CEE region. However, uncertainties stay on as before.

December 15, 2010

Austrian Economic Chamber Supports Development of the Danube as a Transportation Route

Austrian Economic Chamber President Christoph Leitl supports the EU's Danube region strategy to expand infrastructure between the Danube countries.

December 10, 2010

Austria's Position in the CEE Region Shakes

According to the Roland Berger consultancy agency, Austria receives not only competition in the CEE countries, but the importance of the region also decreases from a global viewpoint.

December 1, 2010

Bank Austria: Growth Potential for Real Estate in Romania and Bulgaria

Despite the signs of economic revival, Bulgaria and Romania markets are still largely being ignored by international investors, says Bank Austria.

November 29, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Takes a 100% Stake in TBIH

VIG now realizes an increased involvement in Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia.

November 26, 2010

Erste Group: CEE Companies More Efficient than Western Counterparts

CEE companies are more efficient, more profitable and less indebted as Western companies. The German corporate sector is the only sector to compete with CEE companies.

November 10, 2010

Raiffeisen CEO Stepic: CEE Continues Being Europe’s Growth Driver

The boss of Raiffeisen Bank International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, sees the CEE region continuing as long-term growth driver for Europe.

November 8, 2010

Wienerberger Plans Full Takeover of Semmelrock International

The purchase of the remaining 25% stake in Semmelrock International has been announced today. Wienerberger regards the acquisition as a “logical step”.

October 29, 2010

Coface CEE Top 500 - Poland Largest Number of Companies in CEE

Poland has the largest number of companies in the Central and Eastern Europe Top 500 with 28.4%. Hungary ranks second with 16.6%, overtaking the Czech Republic, which is home for 13.8% of the CEE Top 500.

October 12, 2010

Demmers Teehaus Seeks Entry into New CEE Markets

The Austrian tea specialist Demmer, who is expanding into CEE with a franchising strategy, wants to enter new markets.

September 30, 2010

CEE Real Estate: Outlook is brightening

CEE real estate stocks are currently in a phase of brisk corporate action. Financially sound companies with attractive assets are interesting takeover targets, while other companies are being taken over.

September 27, 2010

CEE Banking Sector Report: Still More Credit Losses in the East

The number of bad loans is expected to increase considerably in some Eastern European countries, a Raiffeisen-analysis shows.

September 21, 2010

Telekom Austria Buys Two Bulgarian Cable Operators

Telekom Austria buys two cable operators in Bulgaria: Megalan Network and Spectrum Net. The two companies are worth 83 million euro free of debt; Telekom will pay about 72 million through Mobiltel.

September 15, 2010

CEE Companies in a Turmoil

According to a study by Deloitte, last year Eastern Europe’s top 500 companies showed a clear decline in sales.

September 14, 2010

EVN building cogeneration plant in Plovdiv/Bulgaria

Today, Prime Minister Bokyo Borissov, Provincial Governor Erwin Pröll and EVN's CEO Burkhard Hofer oversaw the ceremony for the construction of a highly efficient cogeneration plant in the city of Plovdiv.

September 13, 2010

Bauhaus arrives in Bulgaria via Vienna

The German do-it-yourself group Bauhaus, which controls all its CEE business from Austria, has ambitious plans for Bulgaria.

September 10, 2010

Raiffeisen Centrobank AG - Interim Financial Report released

Raiffeisen Centrobank made the biggest contribution to the result of the group with a profit after tax of EUR 14.401 mn.

August 31, 2010

Austrian Banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe

According to a recent comparative study from the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), the long-term commitment of Austrian banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) offers good prospects.

August 27, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group: increase the proportion of TBIH to 100 percent

After taking the lead in the TBIH Financial Services Group NV (TBIH), the Vienna Insurance Group agreed with Kardan Financial Services BV to acquire its minority stake of 40 percent.

July 23, 2010

EVN - Majority of Bulgarian Gorna Arda is sought

Lower Austrian electricity company plans to acquire 70 percent of a hydroelectric project.

July 20, 2010

SW Umwelttechnik - Order intake - First Bulgarian and Moldovan projects

A new canalisation system consisting of a sewer drain and a wastewater treatment plant is being constructed in Rousse with the help of EU aid programmes.

June 10, 2010

Telekom Austria AG - Results for the First Quarter 2010

Revenues decline by 5.9% to EUR 1,126.0 million primarily driven by lower revenues in domestic operations and Bulgaria.

May 27, 2010