Vienna's International Organizations, Missions & Institutes

Read the latest headlines about diplomatic missions and international organizations in Vienna and Austria

WKO: Better Framework Conditions for SMEs

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with between 10 to 249 persons employed, are a driver of the European economy, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. WKO calls for better framework conditions for SMEs.

November 26, 2013

Austria: High Tax Country

According to the new tax report of PrinceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the tax burden in Austria is ten percent higher than the average tax rate in the European Union and even beats Sweden.

November 19, 2013

Leitl Rejects Further Bank Taxes

Christoph Leitl, president of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), rejects the Finance Ministry’s plan to impose further taxes on Austrian banks in order to decrease public debts.

November 6, 2013

Austria: Compulsory Levy on Assets Simply “Out of Question“

Top bankers and economists in Austria consider the compulsory levy of ten percent on household assets “out of question” and “ludicrous”.

November 5, 2013

US Investors: Austrian Industrial Location Loses in Attractiveness

According to a study carried out by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), the quality of the Austrian industrial location is seen ambiguous.

October 25, 2013

H.E. Ambassador Alexa Lange Wesner, U.S. Embassy Vienna, presented her credentials to the Federal President of Austria

Ambassador Alexa Lange Wesner presented her credentials to Dr. Heinz Fischer, the Federal President of Austria on 22nd October 2013 and took charge as U.S Ambassador to Austria.

October 23, 2013

Eurozone: Economy Starting to Grow

Experts at Ernst&Young; forecast economic growth of 0.9 percent in 2014 in consequence of an improved global economic performance.

October 21, 2013

Federation of Austrian Industries Urges for Reforms

IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) has high hopes. The next Austrian government has to implement a number of reforms, IV´s President Georg Kapsch says.

October 12, 2013

Keuschnigg Advises Austria to be Patient

According to Keuschnigg it was not possible to increase the core capital quota of the banks to the level necessary or to reduce public debts by 120 percent in two years only.

October 4, 2013

Austria: Better off within Eurozone

Economic experts claim that since the beginning of the single currency union, Austria has seen an additional economic growth of 0.4 percent. According to them, a collapse of the Eurozone would lead to a massive decline in exports.

October 2, 2013

Austria: Struggling to Keep up with Economic Growth and Competitiveness

IV demands overhaul of funding policy by the government so that Austria will improve in international competitiveness.

October 1, 2013

Austria: IV Warns Policy-Makers

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) considers the low voter’s turnout as an alarming sign.

September 30, 2013

Austria: Kapsch Demands Reform Agenda From New Government

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demands the next federal government to introduce a comprehensive reform agenda.

September 27, 2013

Leitl: “Grand Coalition Did Not Fulfill Expectations“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), favors a change in the governing parties as the grand coalition has not realized the necessary reforms.

September 24, 2013

Meet U.S. Ambassador-designate to Austria Alexa Lange Wesner

"I am aware of the great honor to come in 2013 as a representative of President Obama to Austria. In that year, our two countries celebrate the 175th anniversary of diplomatic relations", says the U.S. ambassador-designate Alexa L. Wesner.

September 21, 2013

WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.

September 19, 2013

Austria: WKO Demands Impulses for R&D

Deputy President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Martha Schultz, demands new impluses for research and innovation in the years from 2014 to 2020.

September 19, 2013

Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats

Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.

September 18, 2013

Leitl Recommends Parties Not to Raise Hopes

President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl considers the demand of the Social Democrats and Chancellor Werner Faymann for a tax relief as soon as 2015 utopian.

September 17, 2013

President Fischer Urges Austria to “Roll Up Sleeves“

In regard to the current election campaigns, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer has urged the parties for joint efforts.

September 4, 2013

Kapsch: Enormous Problems at Austrian Business Location

President of Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch confirms the criticism voiced by President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl and several other politicians by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

August 28, 2013

Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”

Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.

August 27, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”

If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.

August 21, 2013

Leitl: Positive Export Development Despited of Economically Difficult Times

The Austrian economy should, according to the President of WKO, focus export growth in third countries and distant markets.

August 10, 2013

Austria: Leitl Demands Impulses for Growth and Employment

Enterprises need to be motivated instead of being burded by further taxes, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl argues.

August 1, 2013

Austria Suffers from Company Exodus

Due to the relocation of businesses, the Austrian state has lost tax intake of € 1.3bn since 2008. The Austrian group taxation model must not be abolished experts of the Austrian Ministry of Finance say.

July 22, 2013

Austrian Appointed Head of the OSCE in Albania

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs congratulates Ambassador Raunig on his appointment as head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

July 22, 2013

Federation of Austrian Industry Defends Group Taxation

The Federation of Austrian Industry (IV) argues that the Austrian business location would be endangered without the group taxation.

July 20, 2013

Austrian Industrial Sector Fears Drop in Exports

In the first five months of 2012, Austrian exports were only up by 3%. The outlook is rather gloomy. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce demonstrates pessimism.

July 18, 2013

Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.

June 27, 2013

Mitterlehner: „4,000 New Austrian Exporters Within Two Years“

Internationalization Offensive (IO) “go international” will be prologued until 2015. Economy Minister Mitterlehner and head of the Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Leitl present their main targets for Austrian export.

June 21, 2013

Austria: Reduction in Working Hours at ÖBB

So far, the trade association of railways at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) has rejected the reduction of working hours at the Austrian Railways (ÖBB).

June 20, 2013

Alpine: Thousands of Jobs At Risk

Alpine’s Insolvency could cost thousands of people’s jobs. According to Social Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer, the Social Ministry would utilize all means to prevent a worst-case scenario. Alpine's affiliate in Germany is filing for bankruptcy as well.

June 20, 2013

WKO Export Day in Vienna

On June 20, the Export Day (Exporttag) of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) will take place in Vienna. Economic delegates from all over the world will be present.

June 8, 2013

Austria: Leitl Welcomes Latvia to Join Eurozone

Head of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Leitl considers the Euro adoption as an important political signal for the cooperation and the strengthening of the European currency union.

June 5, 2013

Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“

Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.

May 31, 2013

Leitl: „EU Has To Deliver Clear Confession to Business Location Europe”

According to Leitl, the EU Summit has to deliver a “clear confession to business and industrial location” Europe.

May 22, 2013

Austria: Biggest Investor in Serbia

Serbia encourages Austrian enterprises to further invest in Serbian industries.

May 16, 2013

US: Kerry Announced Support of Ukraine’s EU Integration

US Secretary of State John Kerry announced his support for Ukraine’s move towards an EU membership.

May 13, 2013

EU Commission: Action Plan for Steel Industry in Europe

During his visit to Linz, EU Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani announced measures for the steel industry in Europe.

May 7, 2013

Leitl: „Cut of Base Rate by ECB Important and Necessary Signal“

President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl welcomed the cut of the main refinancing rate to 0.5 percent.

May 2, 2013

Vienna: Infrastructure & Construction Summit Brings Together All Balkan Countries

Government ministers from Austria and various Balkan countries will be discussing infrastructure and construction in the region at a two-day summit in Vienna at the end of May.

April 30, 2013 · Sponsored Content

Ukraine and Ireland to Sign Double Tax Agreement

Ukraine and Ireland signed a Double Tax Agreement in Kyiv during the official visit of Irish Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes.

April 24, 2013

Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina to Commence Dialogues

Bosnia-Herzegovina shows interest in Austrian social partnership model and measures against increasing youth unemployment rate.

April 18, 2013

Austria: Number of Small-Business Owners Increased Marginally

In 2012, there were around 251,000 one-person-businesses in Austria which is 11,000 more than in 2011.

April 16, 2013

Austria: Will Holidays on Thursdays be Abolished?

Minister of Infrastructure, Bures and President of IV announced to discuss the matter.

April 10, 2013

Austria: How to Finance Future Innovations

„Austria’s Future Needs Innovation” was the title of a discussion organized by the Research Council, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV).

April 9, 2013

Austria: How to Benefit from Positive Labor Market Situation

Increasing number of employees should be reason to initiate economic stimuli and focus on investment incentives, states Leitl.

April 2, 2013

Austria Ranks 4th in Labor Productivity.

According to a study carried out by Eurostat, Austria is among the Top 5 of the most productive countries in the EU. In the last 20 years, the country was able to increase labor productivity by 36.5 %.

March 25, 2013