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.

RBI: Rothensteiner Opposed Payout Block

The head of the Raiffeisen Centrobank and Chairman of RBI’s (Raiffeisen Bank International) supvervisory board Walter Rothensteiner is critical of a capital increase by a payout block.

October 31, 2013

“Property Tax Cannot Finance Wage Tax Cut”

Bernhard Felderer, head of the Austrian public debt committee, stresses that the Austrian government must reduce the public debt level as soon as possible.

October 31, 2013

Hypo Group to be Renamed after Sale

After the closing of the sale future owner of Hypo Group Alpe Adria Sanjeev Kanoria from the UK with Indian origins intends to rename Hypo Group.

October 31, 2013

Lopatka: EU Enlargement Process of Western Balkans Decisive for Austria

“Non-Enlargement” of Western Balkan states would be fatal for Austrian businesses operating in the region and the national economy.

October 31, 2013

World Bank: Croatia Showing Progress

Despite notable progress the country slipped back to beigt 89th out of 185 countries in the ranking “Doing Business” by the World Bank.

October 31, 2013

Immofinanz to Build Shopping Center in Poland

With Warbud SA, the general contractor, listed real estate company Immofinanz will establish a shopping center for around € 95m in Poland.

October 30, 2013

Slovenia: Parliament Approves Amendmends to Banking Act

Measures were taken to reduce costs for winding up of two small Slovenian banks.

October 30, 2013

Cernko: Bank Shops in Austria Have to Be Reduced

In spite of the banks’ progresses Austria still has a high densitiy in bank branches.

October 30, 2013

Erste Group Expects Operating Result to Decline Significantly in 2013

Erste Group posts net profit of EUR 430.3 million in the first nine months of 2013; risk costs decline.

October 30, 2013

Czech Republic: Monetary Easening Not an Option for CNB

Improper exit policy could cause currency swings or inflation, according to expert.

October 29, 2013

Dispute about Gas between Russian and Ukraine about to Escalate

According to Russian energy giant Gazprom, Ukraine has not yet paid deliveries of natural gas in the amount of around € 639m.

October 29, 2013

CESEE: „The Growth Model Was not Sustainable“

Franz Seiringer, economist at EBRD, underlines that the CESEE countries are on the right track. The region is working on a new growth model, he told “Wirtschaftsblatt”.

October 29, 2013

Romania: Taxes Expected to Be Raised

The local press reports that numerous anonymous sources from the larger ruling party say that the executive is considering a hike in profit and income tax.

October 28, 2013

Poland: T-Bonds not to Affect Budget Deficit

According to GUS, next year’s budget deficit will not be impaired by the transfer of treasury bonds and other assets.

October 28, 2013

Voestalpine to Construct New Plants in China

The Austrian steel manufacturer will invest € 450m in new facilities and plans to triple revenues until 2020.

October 28, 2013

Czech Republic Faces Political Stalemate

The Czech elections did not bring clear power relationships. The social democrats have to form a government, though.

October 28, 2013

Czech Republic: Social Democrats to Win

Tomorrow, the Czech Republic will hold early elections. All polls are indicating a clear change in power. Bohuslav Sobotka is expected to become the next head of government.

October 25, 2013

Albania: World Bank Satisfied with Progress

Piero Cipollone, Executive Director of the World Bank Group visited Albania from October 21-22, 2013. In his role as Executive Director, he represents Albania’s interests as a shareholder on the World Bank’s Board.

October 25, 2013

Bulgarian President Calls for TTIP

Bulgaria’s economy would benefit from a free trade agreement between EU and USA.

October 25, 2013

Hungary: Orban Underlines National Sovereignty

On the occasion of Hungary´s national holiday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban stressed the importance of values. The high public debt limits Hungary´s effective sovereignty, however.

October 24, 2013

RBI Discussing New Ways of Global Banking Regulations

RBI welcomes global finance at the ICC Banking Commission Meeting 2013.

October 24, 2013

Czech Republic: Four Banks too Big to Fail

CNB has determined four domestic banks that could potentially endanger the country’s financial system in case of bankruptcy, as reported by daily “Hospodarske noviny” (HN).

October 24, 2013

ECB: “Uniform Assessment for Banks Important Step for Europe”

Assessment of ECB is an important step in the preparation of the single supervisory mechanism.

October 24, 2013

Polish Holding to Take over Romanian International Bank

According to Mediafax newswire, Polish Getin Holding will take over Romanian International Bank (RIB).

October 24, 2013

Czech Republic: Singer Nominated Central Bank Govenor of the Year

Miroslav Singer, govenor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) won the Central Bank Govenor of the Year for Emerging Europe 2013 presented by Emerging Markets Magazine.

October 23, 2013

Serbia Wants to Become Full EU Member Asap

The Western Balkan is serious in building a relationship with the European Union.

October 23, 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

Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”

At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.

October 23, 2013

Austrian Banks Expected to Pass Auditing

According to the financial supervisors, the Austrian banks are likely to pass the ECB’s (European Central Bank) auditing since there are no significant adjustment requirements.

October 23, 2013

Bill Gates Becomes Second-Largest Shareholder in FCC

Spanish construction company and parent company of Austrian Alpine has a new shareholder: Founder of Microsoft Bill Gates has aquired a participation of around six percent.

October 22, 2013

Uniqa to Aquire Western Balkan Insurance Companies

Listed insurance company Uniqa will take over Croatian and Serbian affiliates of Swiss insurance group Baloise (Basler) to strengthen its market position in the Western Balkan states.

October 22, 2013

German Rail Manufacturing Plant of Voestalpine to be Closed

At the end of October voestalpine will shut down its rail manufacturing plant TSTG Schienen Technik GmbH & Co KG in Duisburg, Germany.

October 21, 2013

Hypo Group Reigned by Greed and Criminal Activities

In an interview with Austrian daily “Standard“ forensic expert of nationlized Hypo Group Christian Böhler revealed that former managers of the bank enriched themselves personally.

October 21, 2013

Conwert Changes Strategy

The Vienna-listed real estate group will strengthen its portfolio in Germany. Moreover, conwert faces a change in leadership.

October 20, 2013

“Problems in the CESEE Region Are Mainly Fundamental”

In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, Reza Moghadam, director of the IMF´s European Department, says that the weakness of the CESEE region is not only cyclical.

October 18, 2013

Immofinanz: Zehetner Quits in 2014

The Austrian real estate group faces a change in leadership.

October 18, 2013

Telekom Austria: No Need for Capital Increase

Against all rumors, Telekom Austria is doing just fine. As reported by “Handelsblatt” insiders claim that a capital increase, which was speculated on, is currently not an issue.

October 18, 2013

Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks

Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.

October 18, 2013

RBI Considers Participation in Hypo Group’s Bad Bank

In a radio interview with “Ö1”, Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), announced that he regards a particpation of his bank as possible.

October 18, 2013

Bulgaria to Encourage Chinese Investments

Investments from China in Bulgaria currently come at € 85m, reports SME Times.

October 18, 2013

„Czech Republic Does Not Fully Use Its Potential“

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok thinks that the performance of the Czech economy is not dramatically bad. However, the Czech Republic must use its opportunities more effectively.

October 17, 2013

Mitterlehner: “2014 Will Become Significantly Better“

Austrian Minister for Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner considers the Austrian economy to be in a spirit of optimism as an upturn in Europe has become evident. According to him, 2014 is supposed to become “significantly better” than 2013.

October 17, 2013

Serbia: EU Candidacy to Accelerate Reforms

On the occasion of a meeting with head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Serbia´s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic expressed his willingness to deepen the reform process.

October 17, 2013

Austria: RBI Expects Stabilization

Business in CEE seems to be in an up again. RBI is preparing for an IPO at the Warsaw stock exchange.

October 17, 2013

Austria: Voestalpine Expects Same Results as 2012

CEO Wolfgang Eder expects the same level in profits as last year.

October 17, 2013

Austria: Decisions about Hypo Group Expected This Year

Decisions about the future of problem bank Hypo Alpe Adria will in all likelihood be delayed.

October 16, 2013

Bulgaria Supports Trans Adriatic Pipeline

During yesterday’s world media meeting, on behalf of his country Bulgarian President Rosen Plevniev expressed his support of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP).

October 16, 2013

Ukrainian Gas Pipeline Key Issue for EU Commission

A gas pipeline plan in the Ukraine is among the EU Commission’s key infrastructure projects.

October 16, 2013

Poland to Keep VAT Rates The Same Until 2015

In order to cut debts, the Polish government decided not to lower the level of VAT.

October 15, 2013

Solution to Croatian/Hungarian Mol Issue Expected Soon

The Croatian justice has issued an international arrest warrant for the head of Hungarian oil company Mol.

October 15, 2013