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Czech Republic in Austria | Czechs in Vienna | Bilateral Relations
Austria and the Czech Republic - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture
Massive Gap in Purchasing Power
Purchasing Power Parities 2012: Higher travel costs for overseas destinations; Austrians' purchasing power 40–70% above the level in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.
May 21, 2012
Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region
According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.
May 4, 2012
OMV´s Petrol Stations: Potential Buyers in Sight
The Austrian oil and gas company OMV plans to sell its petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. Local investors show interest.
April 17, 2012
Goldman Sachs: Too Small Margins at Austrian Banks in CEE
The U.S. investment bank is optimistic that the CEE region recovers in 2013. The write-offs made by Austrian banks were “correct”.
April 16, 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
Lutz Continues Expansion Program
The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
April 7, 2012
EStAG Reports Moderate Rise in Earnings
The Styrian energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG could raise revenues by 9.0% to 1.37bn. Operating profits were down, though.
March 30, 2012
“The Czech Republic Has Traditionally Been an Important Partner for Austria”
Austrian State Secretary Waldner meets Czech EU State Secretary Belling.
March 19, 2012
Ghizzoni: „Austrian Bank Tax Is Painful“
The Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, the holding company of Bank Austria emphasizes not to sell the Austrian subsidiary. The bank tax is “unfair”.
March 10, 2012
Imports Grow Stronger than Exports
January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.
March 9, 2012
RBI Optimizes Its Structure of Participations
EBA decides not to recognize privately placed participation capital. RZB Group will nevertheless meet the EBA target, the bank argues.
March 8, 2012
Uniqa Aims for Growth in CESEE Region
The Austrian insurance group wants to sell stakes by the minority shareholders of subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. The capital increase is scheduled for 2013.
March 5, 2012
Eder: „Environmental Policy Endangers Economy“
Voestalpine´s CEO criticizes environmental specifications made by EU and domestic politics. Eder sees the danger of a de-industrialization.
March 5, 2012
Gigasport Withdraws from Czech Republic and Slovakia
The Austrian sports brand closes twelve branches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 280 workers are affected.
March 1, 2012
Immofinanz Group Develops Office Building in Prague
The Austrian real estate group makes an investment of 24.6m in the Czech Republic. The project will be finalized in 2013.
February 29, 2012
Polytec Aims For Expanding in Asia
Friedrich Huemer, CEO of the Austrian automotive supplier, wants to start investments in China and India.
February 27, 2012
CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna
The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.
February 22, 2012
Erste Group Manages Issue of Czech Republic € 2.0bn Bond
The Austrian bank observed good demand for the Czech sovereign bonds offering: total orders of approx. € 3.5bn from over 190 investors.
February 22, 2012
Prague Stock Exchange and CCP.A to Cooperate
Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) and Austrian clearing house Central Counterparty Austria (CCP.A) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in cash markets.
February 20, 2012
Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna
After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.
February 20, 2012
SLR Group Plans Major Increase in Sales
The Austrian foundry company expects to realize sales of 60m in 2011/12. In the first half year, sales were up by 24%.
February 9, 2012
CEE Countries with Bigger Space for Higher Bond Yields
Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia with biggest room for manoeuvre in case yields would spike; Hungary should avoid financing at +6%, says Erste Group.
February 6, 2012
Lutz Enters Croatia
The Austrian furniture store group opens its largest center in the SEE region. Market leader Ikea follows in autumn 2012.
January 26, 2012
Oberbank Satisfied with 2011 Results
The Austrian Oberbank achieved “excellent“ results last year, CEO Gasselsberger stated. Profits were up by 5.5%.
January 17, 2012
Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency
In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.
January 14, 2012
CEE Investments Recommended
According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.
January 4, 2012
Uniqa´s Czech Subsidiary Beats Market Growth
The Czech subsidiary of the Austrian insurance group achieved an 11% premium income growth, which is significantly beyond the market growth (1.8%).
January 3, 2012
RZB Issued Participation Capital
The Austrian banking group optimizes its structure by acquiring shareholdings in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
December 30, 2011
Emco With Growth Plans
The new owner of the former A-Tec subsidiary, now can begin to realize its expansion plans.
December 27, 2011
Record-Breaking Start of Tourism Winter Season
Austria’s tourism industry registered 3.98 million overnights in November. Arrivals rose by 3.5%.
December 23, 2011
Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE
In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.
December 17, 2011
Gebrüder Weiss Builds New Branch in Czech Republic
In Jeneč, near Prague, the Austrian logistics supplier builds a new terminal with an office complex and cross-docking facilities. Investments amount to € 15m.
December 17, 2011
Austrian Foreign Trade Deficit on the Rise
From January to September 2011: imports rose by 17%, exports increased by 14%. The deficit amounts to € 6.0bn.
December 7, 2011
OMV to Sell Petrol Stations to Slovak Slovnaft
The Austrian oil and gas group OMV has already announced its downsizing strategy in the petrol station business. Slovnaft, a Slovak subsidiary of the Hungarian MOL, shows interest.
November 22, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group Reports Moderate Rise in Profits
Profit (before taxes) went up by about 10 percent to € 414.1m. Group premiums rose by 4.0 percent to € 6.8bn.
November 15, 2011
Raiffeisen Cuts Staff in Czech Republic
The Austrian banks local unit has reacted to increasing costs and the poor economic outlook.
November 9, 2011
Growth Potential in CEE Banking Sector
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has a very favourable growth outlook for six CEE banking markets representing 80 per cent of the region's total banking assets
November 8, 2011
PKN Orlen Interested in OMV´s Petrol Stations
The Austrian oil corporation OMV downsizes its operations in the Czech Republic. 220 Petrol stations are for sale.
October 31, 2011
Germans Are Savings Champions Followed by Austrians
Erste Group Savings Study: Germans save most (€ 180 per month), followed by Austrians (€ 168) and Britons (€ 160). In CEE, the Czechs and Slovaks (€ 90) are the tireless savers.
October 27, 2011
Rabmer Building Opens a New Subsidiary in Poland
Rabmer Building has established a Polish subsidiary. Already since last year the Polish market has been managed by eleven employees from Bydgoszcz.
October 24, 2011
Austria Ranked 32nd in the “Doing Business 2012” Ranking
Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World assesses regulations affecting domestic firms in 183 economies.
October 20, 2011
Austria - Regional Leader in E-Mobility
Roland Berger Strategy Consultants released a new study on e-mobility in Central and Eastern Europe. The study presents a comprehensive assessment of e mobility maturity in eight countries and identifies best practices.
October 20, 2011
Corruption Suspicions Against Penta
The Czech-Slovak investment company, which also bid for the Austrian A-Tec, is accused to have paid bribes to the Czech Minister of Finance.
October 19, 2011
Austria with the Best Situation on the Real Estate Market in the Region
Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland are the three countries from Central Europe, where the condition of the property market according to the banks’ opinion is the best – states the KPMG’s research - CEE Property Lending Barometer 2011.
October 19, 2011
Vienna Again Among Top 5 in Innovation Cities Global Ranking
Boston came first again in a field of 331 cities in the Innovation Cities Global Index. This year’s among top five cities apart from Boston were San Francisco, Paris, New York and Vienna. Prague was 43th, Budapest 47th.
October 19, 2011
Growth of CEE Region Under Threat from Eurozone Crisis
The EBRD research is predicting a slow-down in emerging Europe’s economic growth next year with the continuing eurozone sovereign debt crisis posing challenges to recovery from the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
October 18, 2011
Spectacular Surge in Profits of CEE Technology Companies
The annual Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program honors the fastest growing Central European technology companies. It is based on the percentage of revenue growth over five-year period.
October 18, 2011
Raiffeisen's Comment on Current Developments of CEE Eurobonds
Eurobond markets felt the deteriorating market sentiment in recent weeks, reported Raiffeisen Research.
October 18, 2011
Austrian-Czech Technology Cooperation Opportunities
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna, in cooperation with the Lower Austria Chamber of Commerce hosts on 18 October 2011 a technology seminar.
October 17, 2011
CEE Less Vulnerable to Severe Economic Crisis
The reaction of the CEE region to the global slowdown should be less severe than in the post-Lehman crisis, as CEE economies are in a completely different stage of their economic cycle and have reduced their imbalances.
October 17, 2011