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Get the latest business news and analysis on the Austrian economy, including news on economic policies, foreign trade, financial developments and investments

Tax Revenue from the Tyrolean Industry is Picking up Strongly

IV (Industrialists Association) President Schretter said: "The manufacturing industry contributes hugely to prosperity; no new burdens for our companies, the costs of green electricity are an enormous burden"

March 15, 2011

Austria Intends to Participate in World Bank Projects

AWO has been leading companies to international financial institutions: the World Bank annually awards about $ 70bn in loans for development projects

March 15, 2011

Wlodkowski: "Renewable Energy is the Only Road for the Future"

The President of the Chamber of Agriculture calls for the promotion of renewable energies. A "Fossil-lobby" allegedly wants to prevent this.

March 15, 2011

WKÖ Leads Austrian Education Exporters to China

WKÖ Secretary-General Hochhauser: Hong Kong continues being the gateway to China; Austrian exports rose to over € 500m.

March 12, 2011

Österreichische Kontrollbank: "There are no Failures to be Feared"

Despite the unpredictable political and economic consequences of the turmoil in the Arab, OeKB Member of the Board Rudolf Scholten consideres that there will be no failures.

March 12, 2011

Rise in Austrian Exports by 21.0%

January to December 2010: imports considerably above, exports just below € 110bn.

March 12, 2011

Significant Savings Potential by the Administration

Efficiency potential in public expenditure of over € 500 million. Felderer: "Significant savings potential”.

March 11, 2011

Saubermacher Plans Expansion

The Austrian recycling company continues developing successfully. An expansion in South East Europe is being sought.

March 11, 2011

2.7% Economic Growth Due to Exports

Austria's GDP increased compared with the previous year by 2.7%, stimulated mainly by exports and material goods production.

March 11, 2011

AWO Presents Business Opportunities for Austrian Companies in China

Big opportunities in consumer goods & lifestyle, plastics and automotive industries were informed in Vienna, Linz and Graz by Außenwirtschaft Österreich (AWO, Foreign Trade Austria).

March 11, 2011

Orange: Customer Growth and More Profits

The French telecommunications company in Austria managed to increase its profits in Austria despite falling sales.

March 11, 2011

Schoeller-Bleckmann Records Steep Rise in Profits

Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG: Substantial profit improvement in fiscal 2010 – Dividend proposal € 1.00 after € 0.50

March 11, 2011

Lack of Venture Capital for Austrian Companies

The Ministry of Economy considers providing funds for start-ups. The Israeli concept serves as a model.

March 10, 2011

Economic Chamber Demands Redeployment of "Manual Workers Regulation" in Favor of Research

The Austrian Economic Chamber presented a list of demands to the federal government. Critics say it is to no purpose.

March 10, 2011

Leitl Favors EU Financial Transaction Tax

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber says: "The EU Parliamen has taken an important step towards EU financial transaction tax"

March 10, 2011

Significant Rise in Earnings for CA Immo

The Austrian real estate group benefits from the clearly improving business climate, especially regarding the investment market for real estate.

March 10, 2011

Moderate Rise in Turnover for Austrian Service Industry

Austrian service enterprises have overcome the economic crisis: Turnover increase of 3.3% in 2010, employment activities booming

March 10, 2011

Significant Rise in Car Registrations

February 2011: Considerable increases for new passenger cars in Austria: +21.2%; over one-third more diesel-driven vehicles. Registrations rose by 23.5%.

March 10, 2011

New Sharp Criticism of the Pension System

Austria's Young Industry's opinion on pensions: "politicians can no longer deny reality" There are many known weaknesses in the system.

March 9, 2011

Austria's Businesses Satisfied with Government Research Initiative

The strategy of the Federal Government regarding RTI (Research, Technology and Innovation) is an important step for the location Austria, according to the opinion of the Economic Chamber.

March 9, 2011

Lenzing AG: 2010 Figures Confirmed

The management of the Austrian Fiber Manufacturer proposes dividend of € 1.55 per share for 2010.

March 9, 2011

RHI: Rise in EBIT by 130%

The Austrian manufacturer of refractory products announced its preleminary results for 2010. Revenues increased by 23%. Operating result margin climbs from 6.4% to 9.1%.

March 9, 2011

Andritz: Favorable Business Development in 2010

The Austrian technology Group Andritz showed favorable business development in the 2010 business year. Sales rose by 11.1%, order intake increased by 23.4%

March 9, 2011

Austria's Public Debt Ratio Increases to over 80%

By including again non-active budget items, which are no longer allowed under EU law, debts of the Republic of Austria increase dramatically.

March 8, 2011

Demand for Minimum Wage meets with Hostility

The proposal by the Minister for officials, Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, to introduce a minimum wage of € 1300, is mere populism, according to the Economic Chamber.

March 8, 2011

Zumtobel: Earnings Doubled

The Austrian lighting company announced its results for the first nine months of 2010/11. EBIT rose by 66%.

March 8, 2011

Demand for Increase in Retirement Age

Austrian Young Economy demands again a "sustainable" pension system. Less early retirement, but more later pensioning is required.

March 8, 2011

Leitl: "Research Support Should Be Pushed Now!"

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) speaks in favor of increasing the research bonus.

March 5, 2011

Austrian Clearingbank Concludes Activities

The activities of the Oesterreichische Clearingbank, founded in 2008 to handle liquidity shortages at commercial banks end presently.

March 5, 2011

Danone Reports € 63m of Sales

The French producer of dairy products realizes € 63m of sales in Austria. Danone intends to extend its product line with organic products.

March 5, 2011

AWD Austria Records Losses

The Swiss/German financial consulter could not manage the turnaround in 2010.

March 5, 2011

Hardly any Effects Expected by Labor Market Opening

As of May 1, 2011, the citizens of the countries which joined the EU in 2004 will be able to work in Austria without any restrictions. The effects should be kept within certain limits.

March 4, 2011

Economic Policy: Criticism of Berlin, Praise for Vienna

The leader of the German Left Party, Gregor Gysi, says that Vienna has lead a better economic policy after the fall of the Soviet bloc than Berlin.

March 4, 2011

Allianz Austria’s Profits Jump

The result of the German insurance group in Austria was able to increase despite premiums falling by 2.9% to € 53.7m.

March 4, 2011

High Losses for ÖVAG-subsidiary

VBI, the subsidiary of foreign equity holding company of the Austrian Volksbanken-Group, realized losses in 2010 amounting to € 21.8m.

March 4, 2011

Workers Continue Seeing the Situation on the Labor Market as Critical

The work climate index of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK, Arbeiterkammer Österreich) indicates that workers continue considering the situation on the labor market as critical despite rising employment.

March 4, 2011

Sales Declining at Spar Hungary

The food trade chain records declining sales in Hungary - for the first time in its history.

March 4, 2011

Leitl and Juncker Support a "Marshall Plan for Africa"

Austria and Luxembourg drive for support. Special attention is paid to education and know-how.

March 3, 2011

Slight Increase in Sales for Ottakringer

Yesterday, the Vienna beverage company Ottakringer Getränke AG announced preliminary figures for the financial year 2010.

March 3, 2011

Austrian Construction Supply Industry Stagnates

After a sales decrease of 11% in the crisis year 2009, total sales stagnates at € 3.2bn. The number of employees falls by 3.1%.

March 3, 2011

Verbund: Massive Decline in Results

As forecast, the Austrian energy company has presented a declining result for fiscal 2010. Operating results fell considerably.

March 3, 2011

FPÖ Intends to Establish Itself as an Economic Party

In an interview with the "Wirtschaftsblatt", FPÖ chairman Heinz-Christian Strache says that the party wishes to address entrepreneurs more strongly in future.

March 3, 2011

Binder+Co: Significant Rise in Sales and Profits

The Austrian engineering group Binder+Co was progressing well in 2010: sales revenues and EBIT above the level of last year, order intake up by 39%

March 3, 2011

Austrian Production Rising Substantially

Opposing production trends in industry and construction in November 2010; turnover +14.5%. Strong increase of production in metal industry.

March 2, 2011

Mitterlehner: "Companies are Taking On More Apprentices Again"

The Austrian Minister of Economy sees positive developments on the labor and apprenticeship market. The promotion of apprenticeships has proved to be successful.

March 2, 2011

Unemployment: Austria has Top-Position Among EU27

EU27 area unemployment rate at 9.9%, Austrian unemployment rate amounts to 4.3%. National youth unemployment is below the average too.

March 2, 2011

Strong Increase in Sales for austriamicrosystems

austriamicrosystems reports financial results for fiscal year 2010. With net profits of € 23.1m, he company managed the turnaround.

March 2, 2011

Massive Losses for Intercell

The Austrian pharmaceutical company today reported losses for 2010 amounting to € 255m. Operating cash flow has been strongly negative too.

March 2, 2011

Austrian Inflation Speeds Up

The Austrian consumer price inflation increased to 2.5% in January 2011. This development has been caused by rising energy prices.

March 1, 2011

Massive Increase in Sales and Earnings for Kapsch

The Austrian Kapsch TrafficCom releases results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010/11. EBIT margin doubled from 4.4% to 9.0%.

March 1, 2011