Vienna's International Organizations, Missions & Institutes

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

Leitl and Sorger Demand Privatizations

Economic Chamber’s President Christoph Leitl and Industrialists' Association President Veit Sorger spoke in support of privatization at a press conference.

May 5, 2011

Labor Chamber: Productivity Grew Significantly More Than Salary Increases

Personnel costs per employee of Austrian companies, according to the Labor Chamber (AK) have grown less than half as strong as productivity since 2003.

April 30, 2011

WKÖ Considers Nevada as Optimal Trading Partner

Nevada is diversifying towards renewable energies: huge opportunities for Austrian companies are expected.

April 29, 2011

Optimism in Austria's Textile Industry

Austria's textile, garment, footwear and leather industry (TBSL) recorded more employees and annual sales above € 4bn in 2010. However, massive increases in raw material prices are cause for worry.

April 28, 2011

Energy Prices for Households still on the Rise

Especially mineral oil product prices rose steadily in the first quarter of 2011. Electricity prices remained stable.

April 23, 2011

More Unemployed are Looking for Full-Time Jobs Than at the Start of the Crisis

The Austrian Chamber of Labor criticizes that despite the economic boom there are less full-time jobs available than before the economic crisis.

April 21, 2011

WKÖ on Mongolia: "A Country with Development Potential"

The Austrian Economic Chamber sees a huge trade and investment potential for the domestic economy in the sparsely populated country.

April 21, 2011

Austria's trade as a Job Creation Engine

77,000 jobs were created by trades and crafts in the last eight years. The manufacturing industry lost 17,000.

April 14, 2011

Hundstorfer and Leitl Promote Increase in Retirement Age

The Austrian Minister of Social Affairs as well as the Head of WKÖ (Austrian Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl, want to reduce public payments for pensions.

April 11, 2011

Leitl: Export Year 2011 Started in a Fulminant Way

Exports increased in January by 26%; the target for the full year is to achieve the pre-crisis year’s record export volume of € 117bn.

April 9, 2011

Leitl: "Austria is Very Well Positioned for the Opening of the Labor Market"

Experts estimate immigration potential to be between 15,000 to 25,000 people; gains from migration for Austria, as from 1 May, about € 900m.

April 8, 2011

Austrian Paper Industry Shows Itself Cautiously Optimistic

2010 was marked by a production volume increase of 9%. Investment behavior remains hesitant.

April 7, 2011

Austria's Economy Remains Small Structured

About 238,000 or 55.6% of the members of the Economic Chamber are one-person enterprises. Their proportion has even risen slightly recently.

April 7, 2011

Central Asia as a Region of the Future for the Austrian Export Business

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) sees excellent delivery and investment opportunities for the domestic economy in Central Asia.

April 6, 2011

Basel III: Leitl Demands Adaptation for SMEs

The implementation of Basel III should take business financing into account, for which reason national support measures are necessary for capital strengthening of small businesses.

April 5, 2011

Leitl Demands Reduction of Public Debt

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber sees potential for efficiency in the administration, as well as in the health and pension system

April 1, 2011

AWO: "Great Italian Interest in Austrian Steel Know-How"

Foreign Trade Austria (Außenwirtschaft Österreich, AWO), sees good opportunities for domestic firms in Italy's steel industry.

March 31, 2011

Leitl Promotes Green Electricity Amendment

The Economic Chamber President welcomes the initiative of the Minister of Economy: green electricity is promoted, reduced the backlog of planned investments.

March 24, 2011 · Updated: March 24, 2011; 01:34

Economic Chamber: Austria's Economy in Distress because of ÖBB-Structuring

"Significant price increases and deterioration of rail services will lead to shift of traffic to roads."

March 24, 2011 · Updated: March 24, 2011; 00:49

WKÖ: No EU Interference in Tariff Negotiations

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber expects no interference from Brussels in domestic collective agreement negotiations.

March 22, 2011

Awards for Austrian Products at British Food Fair

Economic Delegate Karabaczek: Austrian food producers scored in product innovation and top-quality in the UK.

March 19, 2011

Disaster in Japan Stops Exports

Current events in Japan have an impact on foreign trade. About 70 Austrian companies are affected.

March 18, 2011

Leasing Business Boom in Austria

Because of capital requirements and rigid lending conditions, leasing gains in importance as a financing alternative.

March 18, 2011

Opportunities for Austrian Medical Technology in the UK

An Austrian study showed Austrian buinesses the opportunities offered by the British market: Austrian exports increased by 15% in 2010.

March 17, 2011

WKÖ: "The Manufacturing Industry has not Processed the Crack Caused by the Crisis yet"

Production value of Austrian industry remains behind pre-crisis values despite a recovery.

March 16, 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

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

Significant Savings Potential by the Administration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Austria as Central Europe’s Logistics Hub

Austria's transport industry shows optimism. The employment situation is expected to improve still further.

March 1, 2011

WKÖ: Development Plan for North Africa

Given the dramatic situation in North Africa, Christoph Leitl, President of the Economic Chamber (WKÖ) pleads for a ‘European Marshall Plan'.

March 1, 2011

Mixed Results for Investors in Bosnia

The outlook for 2011 is positive. Last year, however, was difficult for Austrian companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

February 25, 2011

Leitl Fears Falling Back behind Asia

During a state visit to Singapore the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) again urges the Austrian government to undertake reforms.

February 24, 2011

Leitl Demands More Support for SMEs

The Small Business Act must be also implemented at national level in a sustained way, says the President of the Austrian Economic Chamber.

February 24, 2011

Kazakhstan as a Chance for Foreign Trade

Austrian Economic Chamber promotes further development of economic relations with Kazakhstan.

February 23, 2011

WKÖ: "Clear Commitment to the Brenner Base Tunnel is Needed”

The chairman of the Austrian Economic Chamber considers the tunnel between Italy and Austria as a pioneering infrastructure project.

February 23, 2011

Austrian Economic Chamber pursues contacts in New Zealand

A business delegation led by WKÖ President Leitl visits New Zealand and Australia to strenghten economic relations.

February 22, 2011

Austrian Economic Chamber in Singapore

The Austrian Economic Chamber’s delegation pursues contacts with potential partners during the state visit of President Fischer.

February 22, 2011

Austrian Economic Chamber criticizes Pension System

The Premium Model of the Economic Chambers rewards working longer instead of early retirement.

February 17, 2011

Jank: Vienna Leads in Company Start-Ups

Almost 8,000 enterprises founded in 2010, a quarter of all Austrian start-ups, comes from Vienna.

February 10, 2011

Property Restoration Provides Hopes for Growth and Employment

With the release of € 400m for thermal rehabilitation, five times as much is to be generated in sales. Up to 80% of this amount stays in Austria.

February 10, 2011

Leitl Urges to Invest in the Future

Despite consolidation needs, the government has to invest more in education, research and innovation, says the President of the WKÖ.

February 4, 2011