Russia in Austria | Russians in Vienna | Bilateral Relations

Austria and Russia - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Agrana Expands in Russia

The Austrian fruit and starch company invests € 27m in a factory site in Russia.

February 16, 2012

VBI Sale to Sberbank Finalized

With the sale of the CEE segment of the Austrian VBAG, Russian Sberbank enters Eastern Europe.

February 15, 2012

Russia: Great Demand for Austrian Food

Due to rising purchase power of Russian households, Austrian food exports to Russia are booming. In 2012, the Russian retail trade sector is expected to grow by 15%.

February 14, 2012

Massive Increase in Energy Consumption

Austrian power plants are running at full speed. Energy supply was up by 14% last week.

February 11, 2012

Gazprom to Double Natural Gas Reserves in Europe

The Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom intends to improve supply security in Europe. Gas reserves in Austria should be extended too.

February 10, 2012

Russian Natural Gas Supply to Normalize

According to the Austrian oil and gas company OMV, gas deliveries from Russia are increasing slightly.

February 8, 2012

Oettinger Expects Succesful Contracts Over Gas Deliveries

The EU-Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger, anticipates that Azerbaijan will close contracts over natural gas deliveries within the coming months.

February 8, 2012

Euro-Crisis: Austrian Managers are Optimistic

In spite of the current euro-crisis, most Austrian managers believe that the currency will remain. Moreover, a deepening of the cooperation between EU-member states is expected.

February 6, 2012

Mitterlehner: „Shortages in Russian Gas Supply Not Dangerous“

For The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, the sudden cut in Russian natural gas supply is “no dangerous scenario”.

February 6, 2012

VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February

The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.

February 6, 2012

Rising Production at OMV

Due to the resumption of works in Libya, the Austrian oil and gas group announces rising production volumes and slightly improving refining margins.

February 3, 2012

Shortened Natural Gas Supply from Russia

The Austrian oil and gas group OMV reports that Russian natural gas exports only reach 70% of its normal level.

February 2, 2012

OMV: „No Shortage in Natural Gas Supply“

Russian media reported on natural gas supply reductions for Europe. Gazprom denies, OMV refers to large natural gas reserves.

February 1, 2012

Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI

The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.

January 26, 2012

New Records for Viennese Tourism

In 2011, the Austrian capital registered 11.4 million guest nights, which is a new record.

January 24, 2012

Moderate Growth at Darbo

The Austrian jam producer Darbo could continue ist growth course in 2011. Sales were up by 2.5%.

January 23, 2012

Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco

Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.

January 21, 2012

VBAG No Systemic Bank Anymore

After the sale of VBAG´s subsidiary VBI to Russian Sberbank, the bank will not be systemic anymore, the Austrian Financial Market Authority announced.

January 21, 2012

RWE Considers Alternative to Nabucco

German RWE shows interest in rival project TANAP and considers getting out of Nabucco.

January 20, 2012

OMV to Sell Petrol Stations in Croatia and Bosnia

The Russian oil company Zarubezhneft is interested in OMV´s Bosnian and Croatian petrol stations.

January 18, 2012

Billa Has Growth Plans in Russia

The Austrian subsidiary of German Rewe Group intends to take over the Russian competitor Citystore.

January 16, 2012

VIG Has „No Problems in Hungary“

“We are an insurance group and not a bank.”, said the management of Vienna Insurance Group. Nevertheless, the developments are observed thoroughly.

January 11, 2012

Siemens Austria Achieves Major Order in Russia

The Austrian subsidiary of the German technology group constructs the largest pellet plant in Russia.

January 4, 2012

Kapsch TrafficCom Wins Major Contract in Russia

The Austrian supplier of toll collection systems was chosen for the operation of a 400 km-long segment of the M4 Federal Highway.

December 29, 2011

VBAG: Sale of VBI to Be Closed in 2012

Contrary to the original schedule, the sale of the eastern European bank will not be closed by the end of the year.

December 29, 2011

Tourism: Slight Increase in Capacities

Austria offers 65 200 accomodation establishments and 1.09 million beds for tourists in 2011.

December 28, 2011

Growth Potential for Semperit

The Austrian synthetic product manufacturer already recognizes the weakening of the business cycle. However, investments will not be reduced. The BRIC countries are seen as future markets.

December 27, 2011

CA Immo, Warimpex and UBM Open Airport City St. Petersburg

The Austrian real estate companies concluded the first phase of the office building and hotel project in direct vicinity of St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo 2 international airport.

December 23, 2011

Record-Breaking Start of Tourism Winter Season

Austria’s tourism industry registered 3.98 million overnights in November. Arrivals rose by 3.5%.

December 23, 2011

Pecik Extends Stake in Telekom Austria

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is told to become the largest shareholder in Telekom Austria. Up to 29% are possible.

December 20, 2011

Major Order from Russia for Siemens Austria

The Russian railway company RZD reserves eight high-speed trains “Velaro RUS”. The order will be delivered in January 2014.

December 20, 2011

Rise in Profits Expected for Immofinanz

Tomorrow, on Tuesday, the Austrian real estate company presents its results for the second quarter. EBIT should rise significantly.

December 19, 2011

Norwegian Telenor to Enter Telekom Austria

The core shareholder at Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik, could re-sell its recently acquired stakes. Telenor and the Russian Sistema are interested.

December 17, 2011

Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE

In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.

December 17, 2011

Austria to Be By-Passed by South Stream Gas Pipeline

The rival project to Nabucco will not end at OMV’s Central European gas hub.

December 15, 2011

Immofinanz Sells Project in Germany

The Austrian real estate group sells its stake in a project in Düsseldorf in order to grow in Russia and Poland.

December 12, 2011

Erste Group Increases Stake in BCR to 82%

In connection with the implementation of agreements with the Romanian SIFs, Erste Group has acquired a further approx. 7% stake in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares.

December 12, 2011

Sale of Croatian OMV Petrol Stations Begins

OMV´s current market share in Croatia is 13%. Almost every major oil company in Europe shows interest.

December 9, 2011

KapschTrafficCom to Gain Order from Russia

The Austrian toll collect system supplier expects final announcement on the award of a Russian contract in two weeks.

December 5, 2011

OMV Raises Oil Production in Libya

The Austrian oil and gas company OMV receives already about 50% of the pre-war volume. However, a full recovery will need another twelve months.

December 3, 2011

Porr Considers Capital Increase

In order to realize further growth, the owners of the second-largest Austrian construction company plan to raise the equity base.

December 3, 2011

Strabag delivers € 320m Steelworks in Russia

The Austrian construction company has finished its works in Russia. The factory will produce sheet steel in particular to manufacture pipes to be used in pipeline construction.

November 28, 2011

Growing Capital Shortfall at Volksbanken Group

The Austrian bank will need another € 200m in order to comply with the EBA’s capital requirements. The price for the sale of VBI might be reduced to € 500m.

November 24, 2011

Kapsch TrafficCom Reports Strong Growth

Revenues of the Austrian toll system supplier increased by 90%, EBIT more than doubled in the first half of the fiscal year 2011/12.

November 23, 2011

Leitl Promotes Exports to BRICS-Countries

The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, wants the exporting industries to focus more on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

November 22, 2011

Conference on European Economic Integration

“European Integration in a Global Economic Setting – CESEE, China and Russia“. Conference jointly organized by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank and Suomen Pankki – Finlands Bank.

November 18, 2011

Immofinanz Refinances Shopping Mall in Moscow

ZAO Raiffeisenbank provides a major loan for the Austrian real estate group in order to expand operations in Russia.

November 14, 2011

Growth Potential in CEE Banking Sector

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has a very favourable growth outlook for six CEE banking markets representing 80 per cent of the region's total banking assets

November 8, 2011

Austrian Wage Increases below European Average

Real incomes are expected to go up by 0.8% next year. The average rate for Europe will be 1.3%.

November 4, 2011

Tourism: Moderate Increase in Guest Nights

The current summer season 2011 brought a rise in overnights by 2.2% for the Austrian tourism industry between May and September.

October 25, 2011