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.

Austrian Oberbank Shines in Hungary

Austrian Oberbank bucks the trend of terminating business activity in Hungary. Instead, the financial institute plans on growing in one of the most difficult markets in Europe.

May 22, 2014

Austrian Prinzhorn Holding to Invest Massively in Hungary

Prinzhorn Holding will build its own power plant in Hungary to supply its paper factory in Dunaujvaros.

May 21, 2014

Austria: Right-Winged Extreme Party Buoyed by Tailwind

The Austrian right-winged Freedom Party (FPÖ) is using the disappointment over the grand coalition’s inability to tackle major economic issues to its advantage.

May 21, 2014

Exporttag: Meet All Austrian Trade Delegates at the Export Day 2014

On June 24, 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.

May 20, 2014

Meet the New Ambassador of India to Austria His Excellency Shri Rajiva Misra

Yesterday evening at the Indian Embassy in Vienna, Ambassador Misra has presented himself to the international public.

May 15, 2014

“Romania Can Never Become the China of Europe”

Stabilization in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is becoming stronger. However, the political crisis in Ukraine is causing a feeling of insecurity among the population.

May 15, 2014

voestalpine to Invest Further in China

Listed Austrian steel producer voestalpine opened another business location in China.

May 14, 2014

Bank Austria's Ukrainian Subsidiary Not Yet To Be Sold

Because of the crisis in Ukraine the planned sale of Bank Austria's Ukrainian subsidiary has been halted.

May 13, 2014

Edi Rama: "If Europe Decides Not To Need Muslim Balkan States, Terrible Things Will Happen"

The Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the Bruno Kreisky Forum in Vienna.

May 13, 2014

Czech Republic: Rosatom to Complete Temelin?

Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom presented an offer to complete the units of the Czech nuclear power plant Temelin.

May 12, 2014

Calls for European Energy Union Become Louder

Polish PM Tusk called for a European energy union. His Hungarian counterpart supports the idea.

May 9, 2014

Austria DIY Chain BauMax Avoided Insolvency

Austrian leading DIY chain bauMax announced cost saving programs as part of its restructuring measures in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. BauMax intends to focus on profitable business locations only.

May 9, 2014

Wesner: “Failing in Business Does Not Mean Personal Failure”

The start-up culture in Austria is clearly different than the one in the US. On the occation of the May Day, experts, including US ambassador to Austria Alexa Wesner, talked about the differences in the start-up scenes.

May 8, 2014

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Albania’s European Renaissance

Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania since 2013 is going to address the Bruno Kreisky Forum in Vienna.

May 8, 2014

EU Council Trying to Find a Way Out of Ukraine Crisis

Ahead of the European Council, which is currently taking place in Vienna under the Austrian presidency, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz declared not to expect a solution for the conflict in Ukraine.

May 6, 2014

Hypo Group to Shut Down Subsidiaries in Italy

Until the end of this year five subsidiaries in Italy will be closed.

May 6, 2014

Pewag Striving for Larger Market Share in US

The Austrian snow chain manufacturer appreciates the label “Made in USA”.

May 6, 2014

Vranitzky: Joining EU One of the Most Courageous Steps

A symposium showed the EU Accession process of Austria in the early 1990’s in a new light.

May 6, 2014

“US Rolls Out Red Carpet for Austrian Industrial Enterprises”

Potential Austrian investors are attracted with many incentives such as low energy costs, few bureaucratical hurdles and excellent infrastructure.

May 5, 2014 · Updated: May 6, 2014; 13:25

Agenda Austria 2020: Economy = State

The think tank Agenda Austria 2020 is currently tackling the question what the “economy expects from the state”.

May 5, 2014

Federation of Industries: “Industrial Compact“ for European Competitiveness

The Austrian Federation of Industries (IV) considers the EU entry of Austria as the basis of prosperty and economic growth in the past years. However, now reforms are required to catch up to a global level.

May 5, 2014

Austria: Calls for More Competence in Real Estate Management Become Louder

Stock Exchange Guru Alexander Proschofsky and real estate expert Peter Hohlbein are fighting for a seat at Conwert’s administrative board. Proschofsky has been criticizing the strategy of the listed Austrian real estate company.

May 5, 2014

Slovenia: Bratusek Remains PM for Time Being

The date of the early elections in Slovenia will be determined this weekend.

May 3, 2014

Hypo Group: Shady Deals with Balkan Diplomats

The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group has troubles recovering debts.

May 3, 2014

Bank Austria: “Russia is Still Profitable”

According to Vice CEO of Bank Austria and head of business operations in CEE Gianni Franco Papa, business in Russia is not yet affected by the political crisis in Crimea.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Group Investigation Committee to be Established?

Will the Austrian government soon give in to establishing an investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group?

May 2, 2014

Fitch Upgrades Rating for Slovenia

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Slovenia's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the IDRs at 'BBB+'.

May 2, 2014

New Serbian Government Wants Speedy EU Accession

The new Serbian government is determined to accelerate the EU accession progress.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Reveals Profit Losses

The Austrian branch of Hypo Bank, which was privatized last December and is going to be renamed to Austrian Anadi Bank, has published the annual financial report for the year 2013.

April 30, 2014

Austria Gives up Bank Secret for United States

Austria and the US have signed an agreement for the exchange of fiscal data. However, the agreement could be renewed soon.

April 30, 2014

Hypo Group Further Losses to Be Expected

Huge losses by the sale of the SEE banking network could be expected.

April 30, 2014

Immofinanz: Changes at Executive Board

Immofinanz – Dietmar Reindl appointed to the Executive Board

April 30, 2014

Situation for Austrian Banks in Russia is “Sensitive”

According to the latest statistics, Austrian banks are considerably more engaged in Russia than assumed so far. Debts to domestic financial institutes amount to € 50bn.

April 29, 2014

Slovenia: Early Elections Announced

Contrary to the expectations Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek will remain in office after her defeat in the power struggle with party member of Positive Slovenia (PS) Zoran Jankovic.

April 29, 2014

Spindelegger: “Arsonists Are to Blame Not Fire Brigade”

The downsizing of ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a heavy burden for this year’s budget. According to Finance Minister Spindelegger, the deficit comes at 2.7 percent of GDP while public debts will soar.

April 29, 2014

Future of Slovenian Government Still Uncertain

Early elections expected to be held in the fall.

April 29, 2014

Austrian Banking Sector Making Losses

For the first time in 2013, the Austrian banks made losses in the amount of € 1.035bn.

April 29, 2014

Hypo Group: Huge Burden for Austrian Budget

The downsizing of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is a huge burden for this year’s budget.

April 29, 2014

Slovenia: ”Everything Will Stand Still”

Due to the current political crisis the fear about devastating impacts on the Slovenian economy is high.

April 28, 2014

Austria: Is Spindelegger Suitable as Finance Minister?

On Tuesday the Austrian Finance Minister will hold his first budget speech. Initial figures reveal record debt levels.

April 28, 2014

Serbia: New Government Taking Drastic Measures

New head of the Serbian government Aleksandar Vucic has ambitious plans to reform the state and restructure state finances.

April 28, 2014

Real Estate: Buwog Shares Taking Off

The highly anticipated primary listing of residential real estate affiliate of listed Immofinanz, Buwog, will be completed on Monday.

April 28, 2014

„Brussels Must Reconsider Enlargement Policy“

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz criticized the EU´s approach towards Ukraine. However, the EU has to develop further.

April 25, 2014

Poland Fears War in Ukraine

According to Poland´s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Poland should prepare for the worst case in Ukraine.

April 25, 2014

Austrian Public Debt Almost at 80% of GDP

The Austrian public debt burden will reach a new all-time high at the end of the current year. The challenging fiscal situation is partly attributable to the capital injections into Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

April 24, 2014

Do Taxes Justify a Relocation of Business?

Tax sensitive business operations should be relocated to other areas if necessary, according to the head of Erste Bank Austria.

April 24, 2014

Buwog Soon to be Listed at Three Stock Exchanges

Immofinanz‘ residential real estate affiliate Buwog will celebrate its IPO at the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Vienna on Monday, April 28 and in Warsaw on Tuesday, April 29.

April 24, 2014

Austria: Difficult Market Situation for Selling Bawag

The selling of Bawag PSK proves difficult for its owner which is why an IPO is considered a realistic phasing-out scenario. However, experts doubt that an IPO will be a “highflyer”.

April 24, 2014

Eder: Policy-Makers Have to Make Decisions

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine, claims not to have heard anything from the Austrian policy makers after he raised criticizm with regard to the Austrian business location.

April 24, 2014

Serbia: “Huge Challenges Ahead”

President Tomislav Nikolic appointed Aleksandar Vucic to form a new Serbian government.

April 23, 2014