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Germans in Vienna | Deutsche in Wien | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Germany - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism


Austria's Competitiveness Increases Slightly

Austria rose one place, to the 21st, in the ranking of the most liberal economies.
January 14, 2011


Growth in Austria's Foreign Trade and Direct Investment

Austria's goods, services and capital transactions abroad grow strongly, a sign of solid recovery.
January 13, 2011


Immofinanz: Record Letting Results for German Subsidiary

The Austrian Real Estate Group benefits from the upswing in the German property market.
January 12, 2011


New Controversy over the Hypo Group

According to the investigators, there would be no connection between the Austrian bank and Gribkowsky, the former member of the board of BayernLB
January 10, 2011


S&T announces to withdraw from Germany

The Austrian information technology consulter S&T withdraws from the German market. Hence the German subsidiary „S&T Deutschland GmbH“ will be closed.
January 10, 2011


WIFO and IHS Foresee Economic Weakness

The two major Austrian Economic Research Institutes, WIFO and IHS, expect an economic slowdown in 2011.
January 5, 2011


Former Member of the Board of BayernLB Arrested

Gerhard Gribkowsky, whose foundation in Austria was concealed to the German judiciary and is now known, is in custody
January 5, 2011


Hypo Group: Little Enlightment Expected from Grasser and Berlin

The Chairman of the Inquiry Committee on the Hypo Group expects little gain of information by the summons of Karl-Heinz Grasser and Tilo Berlin.
January 4, 2011


Secret Foundation of BayernLB in Austria

In the hearings on the purchase of Austria's Hypo Group, a former Member of the Board of BayernLB concealed the existence of a foundation in Austria.
January 3, 2011
State Secretary for Finance: Euro-bonds as a Medium-term Strategy

The Austrian State Secretary for Finance, Andreas Schieder, does not discard Euro-bonds, against the majority view of German and Austrian politicians.
December 31, 2010


Tourists from Russia Increase

The number of Russian guests in Austria continues on the rise. A double-digit growth might even be possible again.
December 28, 2010


Austria's Export Economy is Booming

Given the high growth rates in the past year, the Austrian export economy shows itself also optimistic for 2011.
December 22, 2010


Success For Siemens Austria in Norway

The Austrian Subsidiary of the German technology group received orders of 32 ecological threepart subway-trains for the Norwegian capital Oslo.
December 22, 2010


Order for Over € 100m for Voestalpine

The Austrian steel company receives an order for over € 100m by Daimler Trucks.
December 20, 2010


JCL Logistics and Rail Cargo Austria Step into Strategic Alliance

Both logistics companies agree to establish a cooperation in groupage service. Their common target is to reach synergies in their transport network.
December 15, 2010
Bene Still Reports Losses

The Austrian manufacturer of office furniture reports an increase in sales by 10.2% in Q3 2010. Sales in Germany dropped by 18.5%. UK market perfomed well.
December 15, 2010
Austria Benefits from Low Loan Interest Rates

Because of low interest rates and spreads, Austria is able to get convenient financing on the loan market. Euro-bonds would mean significant costs for Austria.
December 13, 2010
Nowotny: No Euro-bonds Yet

Although he supports the euro-bonds in principle, the time has not come yet for the Governor of the Austrian National Bank.
December 10, 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
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


Austrian Resistance Against Euro Bonds

Massive criticism comes from Germany, the Netherlands and Austria against the proposal to implement euro bonds to stabilize the currency in the EU.
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
Nowotny Pleads for Euro-Bonds

The governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny, is for the introduction of euro-bonds. Germany’s resistance is pre-programmed.
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
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
Massive Lay Offs at Hypo Group

The still ailing Carinthian bank restructures the leasing division. 500 jobs are being cut.
November 30, 2010
Encouraging Development of Austrian Tourism

The summer 2010 season ended successfully: the number of guests reached an all-time high record of 17.9 million, 62.5 million overnight stays are the best value since 1995.
November 24, 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


OMV Sells 56 Gas Stations to PKN Orlen

56 gas stations in the German states of Thuringia and Saxony go to a subsidiary of the Polish oil group PKN Orlen.
November 19, 2010


Austria's Exposure in Ireland: 3.4 Billion Euro

Since September 2009, Austrian banks have halved their exposure in Ireland. The most affected countries are the United Kingdom and Germany.
November 15, 2010
ATX: Institutional Investors Remain a Central Component

According to a study from Ipreo, especially Anglo American institutional investors are involved in ATX companies in addition to Austrian investors.
November 15, 2010
Trichet Succession: The Austrian Nowotny Has Chances As Outsider

The European Central Bank (ECB) will appoint a new president in November 2011. The favorites are the German Axel Weber and the Italian Mario Draghi. But Nowotny has outsider chances.
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


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
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
The Next Acquisition: STRABAG Buys Gaul-Group

The German Gaul-group, a regional market leader for construction materials, has been bought by STRABAG for strategic reasons.
October 20, 2010
Wienerberger Signs Agreement to Acquire Steinzeug Abwassersysteme

Planned acquisition of worldwide market leader and Europe’s largest producer of clay pipe systems
October 20, 2010
Hypo-Group: Bavarian Lawsuit Against Carinthia

The balance sheet of the Hypo Group -nationalized in 2009- was artificially inflated, according to the accusation from Bavaria.
October 18, 2010
OeNB Governor Nowotny Contradicts the Deutsche Bundesbank

"The ECB should not give up purchasing bonds". Although the bond purchase program of the ECB was not needed in recent weeks, Nowotny wants to go on having it "in reserve”. The German Bundesbank warns of a too late withdrawal.
October 13, 2010
Chip Manufacturer Infineon: Revalorization of the Development Center Graz

The German chip maker based in Villach is bundling competencies. All future research on tire pressure sensors will be made at the Infineon Development Center Graz with 250 employees.
October 8, 2010
Qualified Workforce: Austria’s Target is to Attract Skilled Immigrants

ÖAAB General Secretary Lukas Mandl: "Germany has long been an immigration country. Austria also has to become one. Austria’s target should be to attract skilled immigrants, after identifying the needs."
October 6, 2010
Hypo Alpe-Adria: 25% of the Slovenian Merkur DIY Chain Put Up for Sale

Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International has put up for sale a 25% share of Merkur, the insolvent Slovenian DIY and home improvement products chain, in the daily newspaper "Delo”
October 5, 2010
Energieallianz Austria Creates Subsidiary in Germany

Renewable energies are a rising trend. This has been recognized by the domestic Energieallianz Austria(EAA), a subsidiary of the energy provider for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland.
September 30, 2010
Magna: Rapprochement to Opel through Astra-order

Magna will take over the development of a new Opel Astra model. Just a year ago, Magna attempted to acquire the whole German GM subsidiary, but the takeover was aborted by General Motors.
September 29, 2010


EU: Austria's Actual Net Contribution has Risen to 342 Million Euro

The net contribution to the EU rose again last year. Poland, with 6.5 billion euro is for the first time the biggest net recipient. Germany remains the biggest net payer with 8.1 billion euro.
September 28, 2010
BayernLB has to Wait 7 Years for 3.9 Billion from Carinthia

After the debacle of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA), the Bayerische Landesbank will have to wait up to 7 years for the repayment of the 3.9 billion euro. The repayment plan provides for this period.
September 28, 2010
MTH Handels-Holding of Josef Taus permitted to acquire German retail chain Mäc-Geiz

The sale of the insolvent German retail trade chain Mäc-Geiz has been completed. Anti-trust authorities have approved the takeover of the German company by MTH Handels-Holding GmbH (Vienna) controlled by the Austrian industrialist Josef Taus.
September 23, 2010


Hypo Alpe Adria: Greek Entrepreneur Xeniadis Signals his Interest in Buying

The Greek businessman Vasileios Xeniadis is prepared to offer 1.35 billion euro for Hypo Alpe Adria.
September 16, 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