Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Miguel Camilo Ruiz Blanco presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 19, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Nebojša Rodic

The new Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Nebojša Rodic presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 19, 2018

Expansion of Nepal-Austria Relations Beyond Mountaineering

Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali paid a working visit to Austria. The visit focused on bilateral relations and the opening of the embassy in November last year.

September 19, 2018

Christian Kern to Run as Top Candidate for EU Election and to Resign as Party Chairman

After initial rumours about a stepping down from politics, Christian Kern (SPÖ) announced in the evening that he plans to give up his party chairmanship and instead intends to run in the European Parliament elections as the leading candidate of the SPÖ. "He leaves as party leader, but remains loyal to politics."

September 19, 2018

Austria's Most Significant Opposition Politician About to Resign

According to the daily newspaper "Die Presse", SPÖ boss Christian Kern is about to resign and will announce his resignation later tonight.

September 18, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Austria: H.E. Ms. Ivana Cervenková

The new Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Austria H.E. Dr. Ivana Cervenková presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

April 16, 2018 · Updated: September 18, 2018; 12:10

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vienna Surprisingly Recalled

Sri Lanka's President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has recalled his ambassador to Austria, Mrs. Priyanee Wijesekera. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has confirmed this, but has not given any official reason for the recall.

September 17, 2018 · Updated: September 18, 2018; 09:01

Meet the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Austria: H.E. Mr. Ghislain D’Hoop

Ambassador Ghislain D’Hoop is officially the new Permanent Representative of Belgium to the international organizations in Vienna. He already presented his credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Yury Fedotov, to the Deputy Director-General of the IAEA, Aldo Malavasi, to the General Secretary of the CTBTO, Lassina Zerbo and to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

September 14, 2018 · Updated: September 17, 2018; 14:00

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Peru to Austria: H.E. Mr. Eric Anderson Machado

The new Ambassador of Peru to Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Eric Anderson Machado, presented his credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Yury Fedotov and to Aldo Malavasi, IAEA Acting Director General, and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA. His presentation to Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen is still on the agenda.

September 17, 2018

Port of Vienna as International Trimodal Logistics Hub for Water, Rail and Road

Peter Hanke, City Councillor for Economic Affairs, together with Doris Rechberg-Missbichler, Managing Director of Wien Holding, and Fritz Lehr and Doris Pulker-Rohrhofer, Managing Directors of the Port of Vienna, presented the balance sheet of the Port of Vienna for the year 2017. Turnover amounts to 58.1 million euros (+2.3%), earnings before taxes 14.8 million euros (+16.5%).

September 14, 2018

Integration Report 2018: Focus on Women with a Migration Background

The members of the Expert Council on Integration presented the results of the Integration Report 2018. The Integration Report provides a comprehensive overview of integration in Austria. Austria's number of asylum applications in 2017 remained high compared to other EU countries. With 2.8 asylum applications per 1,000 inhabitants, Austria ranks 5th among all EU member states in proportion to its population.

September 14, 2018

Intercultural Achievement Award Fosters Dialogue Between Cultures

The Austrian Foreign Ministry presented the Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA) for the fifth time. The award honours inspiring projects in civil society that foster intercultural dialogue and coexistence. This time the award for sustainability went to a project from Mozambique. Ambassador Jörg Wojahn, the Representation of the European Commission in Vienna, and Secretary General of the OSCE Thomas Greminger used the dialogue-based work of their own institutions as a starting point and awarded prizes to projects from Ukraine and Tunisia.

September 14, 2018

Timothy Snyder Opens 3rd Vienna Humanities Festival "Power & Powerlessness"

From 27 to 30 September, the third Vienna Humanities Festival will once again bring together leading figures from science, art and culture in an "urban salon" lasting several days. Around 40 events will be held themed "Power & Powerlessness" to discuss the major issues of our time.

September 14, 2018

Cooperation with the Indian Film Industry: Bollywood in Austria

Indian production companies visit potential film locations in Austria for future films. With the aim of exploring Austria as a backdrop for future Bollywood films, six producers from India's most renowned production houses will be visiting Austria from 9 to 15 September 2018.

September 7, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to Austria: H.E. Ms. Athalia Lesiba Molokomme

The new Boswanese Ambassador to Austria, H.E. Ms. Athalia Lesiba Molokomme presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 5, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Austria: H.E. Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan

The new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Austria, H.E. Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 5, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Austria: H.E. Ms. Elena Rafti

The new Cypriot Ambassador to Austria Elena Rafti presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

September 5, 2018

Marcus Grausam Confirmed as CEO of A1 Telekom Austria AG

Marcus Grausam has been confirmed as CEO of A1 Telekom Austria AG, a subsidiary of A1 Telekom Austria Group. He was appointed interim CEO in October 2017. Grausam will also continue to perform his function as CTO.

September 4, 2018

Review of the State Visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Austria

After the visit in March 2016, which was cancelled at short notice, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was on a state visit to Vienna this week, accompanied by massive anti-Iran protests. The aim of the visit was a joint commitment to the Iran nuclear deal after the deal was approved in Vienna three years ago. The visit was overshadowed by a diplomatic case involving an employee of the Iranian embassy in Vienna, who had been arrested last weekend by the German judicial authorities on the basis of a European arrest warrant on suspicion of terrorism.

July 5, 2018

Meet Kazem Gharib Abadi Iran's New Envoy to the IAEA and the International Organizations in Vienna

H.E. Kazem Gharibabadi, the new Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, presented his credentials to the International Organizations in Vienna.

July 3, 2018

Nuclear Deal: Iranian President Rouhani Lobbies for Austria

The Federal Chancellery has now officially confirmed that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will come to Vienna on 4 July for an official visit. Of course, the visit is mainly about the nuclear deal. After the USA's exit, there is considerable pressure on Rouhani.

June 19, 2018

Bosch Austria Boosts Sales by 8% and Invests €120 Million in R&D

During the 2017 fiscal year, Bosch increased its sales on the Austrian market by around eight percent to 1.25 billion euros. "We have achieved record sales. All business sectors contributed to the positive development," said Dr. Klaus Peter Fouquet, sole board member of Robert Bosch AG and representative of the Bosch Group in Austria.

June 14, 2018

Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit 2018: Feedback of a Participant

At the Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit recently held in Vienna, Beatriz Mayor of IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis also participated, who shares her interesting insights as follows.

June 6, 2018

Vladimir Putin on PR Campaign in Austria

Vladimir Putin is on his sixth official state visit to Austria. Officially, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the gas supply contract between Austria and Russia, this is a working visit to President Van der Bellen and Chancellor Kurz. In fact, a new gas supply contract between Gazprom and OMV is the main reason for the visit. Other gas deals are still in the negotiation phase, namely the Gazprom Urengoy gas field asset swap and the Nordstream 2 pipeline project. The Central European Gas Hub in Baumgarten/Lower Austria, an important gas distribution hub from the Russian perspective, could also be on the agenda.

June 5, 2018

Meet the Minister in Charge for Austria's Presidency of the Council of the EU: Gernot Blümel

During Austria's EU Council Presidency, the name Gernot Blümel, the Federal Minister responsible not only for the EU but also for art, culture and media, will be mentioned time and again. Blümel is also chairmen of the Vienna ÖVP and a close confidant of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. His ministry is even physically integrated into the Federal Chancellery.

June 5, 2018

Van der Bellen in Estonia: Child of Refugees Back in the Motherland of Parents

Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen is on an official visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. As a child of Russian-Estonian refugees born in Vienna, some melancholic emotions cannot be excluded.

May 30, 2018

Hassan Rouhani Expected in Vienna in Early July

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (حسن روحانی) will meet his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna on 4 July according to media reports.

May 30, 2018

Sonja Sarközi Appointed New CEO of Sberbank Europe

Sonja Sarközi, currently Chief Retail Banking Officer of Sberbank Europe, has been appointed as new CEO by the supervisory board. She will succeed Gerhard Randa as of 1 July 2018.

May 29, 2018

Public Diplomacy: Austrian Parliament Delegation Meets Chinese Friendship Association

Following the recent visit to China by Austrian President van der Bellen with the largest business delegation to date, an Austrian delegation of members of the National Assembly and the Federal Council is now on the road in China under the leadership of the second President of the National Council, Doris Bures. The aim of the trip is to further deepen Austrian-Chinese relations, in particular a meeting with Li Xaolin, President of the CPAFFC - Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (中国人民对外友好协会).

May 29, 2018

Meet OPEC's Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo

HE Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo is the current Secretary General of OPEC. He recently received a prestigious Energy Award for Lifetime Achievement for helping to stabilize the oil price again. He also gave an insight into how OPEC has regained its former strength under his guidance.

May 28, 2018

Trevor Traina Accredited as New US Ambassador in Vienna

The new US Ambassador to Austria Trevor Traina presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

May 25, 2018

Harald Mahrer: Economic Chamber Has 8 Million Members

In his inaugural speech, the new President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Mahrer, calls for more leeway for companies and the further development of the social partnership into a partnership for the future and announces an education offensive.

May 25, 2018

Who is Johannes Peterlik, Secretary General Designate at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

The current Deputy Head of Section V for Cultural Foreign Relations of the BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Johannes Peterlik will take over the function of Secretary General for Foreign Affairs on 1 June 2018. The current Secretary General Dr. Michael Linhart becomes Ambassador in Paris.

May 25, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to Austria: H.E. Ms. Annabella Guardia Escoffery de Rubinoff

The new Panamanian Ambassador to Austria Annabella Guardia Escoffery de Rubinoff presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

May 24, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Austria: H.E. Ms. Teodolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho

The new Angolan Ambassador to Austria Teodolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.

May 24, 2018

Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Mezghani

The new Tunisian Ambassador to Austria Mohamed Mezghani presented his letter of accreditation to President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Vienna Hofburg.

May 24, 2018

US Ambassador Traina Arrives in Vienna: "Austria is one of America's first friends"

The new US Ambassador to Austria, Trevor Traina, grandson of Wiley T. Buchanan, the former US Ambassador to Vienna (1975 - 1977), has arrived in Vienna with his wife Alexis. In his first statement, he underlined the close bilateral relations between the two countries: "Austria was one of America's first friends and we are here to remind everyone how important that relationship still is today - over 180 years later."

May 19, 2018

US Embassy Opening in Jerusalem: Palestinian Ambassador to Austria Called Back to Palestine in Protest

The Austrian Ambassador to Israel, Martin Weiss, was one of only four EU Ambassadors (Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania) who participated in the celebrations surrounding the US embassy relocation to Jerusalem. The Palestinian leadership pointed out some time ago that not only the act but also the timing is a violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions, as well as arrogant disrespect. Therefore, the Palestinian Ambassador to Austria, Salah Abdel Shafi, has been called back to Palestine for an indefinite period of time.

May 16, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Austria: H.E. Mr. Salah Abdel-Shafi

H.E. Mr. Salah Abdel-Shafi is the current Palestinian ambassador to Austria and permanent observer to the UN in Vienna.

May 16, 2018

Vienna Energy Forum 2018: Sustainable Energy Provision as a Key to Tackling Poverty

The sixth Vienna Energy Forum 2018 was held from 14 to 16 May, 2018, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. It was attended by over 1,800 participants from 130 countries, including prime ministers, ministers, high-level government officials, permanent mission representatives, chairs of the regional groups, donors, as well as representatives of the EU, the private sector and development finance institutions.

May 16, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the French Republic to Austria: H.E. Mr. Francois Marcel Michel Saint-Paul

H.E. Mr. Francois Marcel Michel Saint-Paul is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Austria.

May 16, 2018

Soros Foundations Relocate from Budapest to Berlin

The first Open Society Foundations, founded in Hungary in 1984 by George Soros, also of Hungarian origin, with a founding budget of US$3 million, is now actually withdrawing to Berlin.

May 15, 2018

The Hungarian Foreign Minister's Alleged Evidence of the Existence of the Soros Plan

The ridiculous discussion about the wave of European immigration allegedly steered by the Soros plan is widening as a result of a letter of evidence from the Hungarian Foreign Minister.

May 11, 2018

Fresh Hallstatt Air Instead of Toxic Chinese Smoke

Tens of thousands of tourists from China meanwhile visit Hallstatt in Upper Austria every year. Two companies now offer healthy Hallstatt air in cans to the Chinese and expanded Asian market. The inhabitants and the municipal council of Hallstatt are not thrilled.

May 11, 2018

The Future of the EU: Europe Day Is To Be Given Greater Importance

On Europe Day, one pupil from each member state of the European Union came to the Hofburg for a discussion. More political education in schools and a more comprehensive climate policy are their main demands. "We are 20 percent of the population, but 100 percent of the future."

May 11, 2018

Meet Vienna's New Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig

Michael Ludwig is a Viennese politician, member of the SPÖ, and since a battle vote in January 2018 against Andreas Schieder the designated mayor respectively state governor of Vienna and the state party chairman of the SPÖ Vienna. On 24 May 2018 he will take up his new position as successor to Michael Häupl.

May 3, 2018

Meet the Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Austria: H.S.H. Maria-Pia Kothbauer, Princess of Liechtenstein

Her Serene Highness Maria-Pia Kothbauer, Princess of Liechtenstein is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Austria and the Czech Republic. She also serves as Liechtenstein's Permanent Representative to the OSCE and to the United Nations. She would explain the country of Liechtenstein to a stranger as follows: "One of Austria's eight neighbours, closely related to Vorarlberg in terms of landscape and character, a German-speaking constitutional hereditary monarchy with a highly-developed system of direct democracy, economically liberal, business-friendly and innovative, simultaneously urban and rural, debt-free, a country with a very high quality of life."

May 2, 2018

New Forum for Deepening German-Austrian Relations: Österreichisch-Deutsches Länderforum

Recently the Österreichisch-Deutsches Länderforum e.V. was founded in Vienna by Dr. Harald Wögerbauer with the intention of offering a platform for deepening German-Austrian relations.

May 2, 2018

Teddy Kollek Exhibition at the Jewish Museum Vienna

Teddy Kollek, who grew up in Vienna, and as mayor of Jerusalem for nearly three decades did more to build and develop the city as Israel’s primary city than any other figure while still seeking to meet the needs of its Arab residents, died in 2007 in Jerusalem. The Jewish Museum in Vienna is showing a retrospective entitled "Teddy Kollek - The Viennese Mayor of Jerusalem".

May 1, 2018

What does the Vienna-based ICMPD and its Director General Michael Spindelegger do?

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) was founded in 1993 in Vienna on the initiative of Austria and Switzerland with the aim of making migration and mobility of people orderly, safe and regular, including through the implementation of planned and well managed migration policies. The aim is to counteract the often short-term thinking of governments so that sustainable solutions can be found and implemented in the medium and long term to combat and overcome the migration crisis. From this point of view, the tasks of the ICMPD have become extremely topical and important due to the refugee crisis.

April 26, 2018