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

Slovenia in Financial Distress

In order to prevent becoming a bail-out candidate, the Slovenian government aims to resolve a „debt brake“. It turns out that this goal is highly uncertain.

July 21, 2012

Slovenian Banking Industry „One of the most Burdened in CEE Region“

About 11.5% of total loans are non-performing. Slovenia is one of the few countries suffering a crunch, RCB states.

July 18, 2012

Bail-Outs: Is Slovenia Next?

The Slovenian banking industry becomes an increasing problem for Austria´s Southern neighbour. Non-performing loans may total up to € 6.0bn.

July 17, 2012

Slovenia Remains in Recession

According to estimations, the recession in Slovenia will sharpen this year. A turnaround is expected in 2013. The banking sector is an enormous burden for the Souteastern European country.

July 12, 2012

IMF: New Central and Eastern European Constituency

Austria, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey have established a Central and Eastern European Constituency at the International Monetary Fund.

July 11, 2012

Southeastern Europe Faces Recession

According to the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW), Southeastern Europe is the weak point among European emerging countries.

July 7, 2012

Austria Remains One of the Biggest CESEE Investors

Austria is still an important net investor in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the global importance of the region did not increase.

July 6, 2012

Infineon to Invest € 250m in Austria

In 2012, Infineon Austria´s CEO Monika Kircher-Kohl wants to make investments of € 250m. The high tech company is already looking for new staff.

June 28, 2012

Real Estate Crisis in the Balkans Has Deepened

Due to the economic crisis in Southeastern Europe, real estate prices are still falling. Since 2008, prices fell by up to 50%.

June 28, 2012

CEESEG/Ljubljana Stock Exchange: Squeeze-out Proceedings Closed

The CEESEG AG (CEE Stock Exchange Group) would like to announce the successful close of the squeeze-out proceedings concerning the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

June 5, 2012

Downsizing: Hypo Group Aims to Achieve Proceeds of € 1.5bn

The nationalized Austrian banking group Hypo Group Alpe Adria starts its sales program in SEE countries and wants to achieve proceeds of € 1.5bn

May 21, 2012

Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region

According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.

May 4, 2012

Vavti Appointed new CEO of UniCredit Bank Slovenia

With Stefan Vavti, the subsidiary of Bank Austria, UniCredit Bank Slovenia gets a new chief executive officer.

April 26, 2012

Strabag Builds Waste Incineration Plant in Slovenia

The Austrian construction group was awarded to build an incineration plant near Ljubljana. The order volume is about € 112m.

April 21, 2012

Gorenje Not to Move to Vienna

The Slovenian producer of household appliances was said to move to Vienna. CEO Franjo Bobinac declines the rumors.

April 20, 2012

Gorenje Considers Setting Up Headquarters in Vienna

The Slovenian producer of household appliances is said to move to Vienna. The company does not comment this information.

April 19, 2012

Austrian Railways Aims for Expansion in SEE

ÖBB (Austrian Railways) wants to establish a new freight subsidiary operating in Southeastern Europe. In Austria, ÖBB performs better than expected.

April 16, 2012

Lutz Continues Expansion Program

The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

April 7, 2012

EStAG Reports Moderate Rise in Earnings

The Styrian energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG could raise revenues by 9.0% to 1.37bn. Operating profits were down, though.

March 30, 2012

Foreign Direct Investment in Austria Increasing

In 2011, a moderate decline in new enterprise settlements was registered. Investments grew by 34%.

March 8, 2012

Komptech Increases Turnover to € 111m

The Austrian environmental specialist enjoys the best year in its company history. Infrastructure projects enable continued growth.

March 3, 2012

Austrian Economy Appreciates Serbian Approach to EU

Serbia officially became candidate for the EU-access. Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of the “European perspective” for Serbia.

March 2, 2012

Gigasport Withdraws from Czech Republic and Slovakia

The Austrian sports brand closes twelve branches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 280 workers are affected.

March 1, 2012

Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna

After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.

February 20, 2012

Cernko Against „Talking Down Austrian Banks“

Bank Austria´s CEO is strictly against an undifferentiated view on CEE-countries. Austrian banks with an exposure in the CEE region shall not be talked down.

February 17, 2012

Austrian Green Building Group Acquired Stake in Slovenian Lumar

The Austrian investment company acquired the Slovenian market leader in environmentally friendly construction.

February 7, 2012

Hypo Group to Cut Jobs

The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria continues its downsizing program. 800 employees will be laid-off.

February 1, 2012

3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe

The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.

January 30, 2012

Hypo Group´s Result „Close to Zero“

CEO Gottwald Kranebitter announced that Hypo Group Alpe Adria could reduce its losses significantly in 2011.

January 30, 2012

Lutz Enters Croatia

The Austrian furniture store group opens its largest center in the SEE region. Market leader Ikea follows in autumn 2012.

January 26, 2012

Takeover of Ljubljana Stock Exchange Completed

The Austrian CEE Stock Exchange Group widens its stake in the Slovenian Ljubljana Stock Exchange to 99.85 %.

January 21, 2012

CEE Investments Recommended

According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.

January 4, 2012

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

OMV Sells Croatian and Bosnian Subsidiaries

In line with the strategy of the Austrian oil and gas company, the sale of the retail and commercial business in Croatia (OMV Hrvatska d.o.o) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (OMV BH d.o.o) is under consideration.

December 6, 2011

Increasing Gap in Incomes

Although Austria´s Gini coefficient is relatively low, the gap between high and low incomes becomes larger.

December 6, 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

Weak Development for Austrian Private Insurers

After a substantial growth in 2010, this year shows only a slight upward trend for the insurance industry. The outlook however is rather pessimistic.

November 1, 2011

Negative Results for S&T

The Austrian IT service provider S&T had to report losses in the third quarter of 2011. Sales were below expectations.

October 22, 2011

Growth of CEE Region Under Threat from Eurozone Crisis

The EBRD research is predicting a slow-down in emerging Europe’s economic growth next year with the continuing eurozone sovereign debt crisis posing challenges to recovery from the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

October 18, 2011

Spectacular Surge in Profits of CEE Technology Companies

The annual Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program honors the fastest growing Central European technology companies. It is based on the percentage of revenue growth over five-year period.

October 18, 2011

Raiffeisen's Comment on Current Developments of CEE Eurobonds

Eurobond markets felt the deteriorating market sentiment in recent weeks, reported Raiffeisen Research.

October 18, 2011

CEE Less Vulnerable to Severe Economic Crisis

The reaction of the CEE region to the global slowdown should be less severe than in the post-Lehman crisis, as CEE economies are in a completely different stage of their economic cycle and have reduced their imbalances.

October 17, 2011

Still Danger of Overheating in SEE Property Markets

According to the “Bank Austria Real Estate Country Facts”, commercial property markets in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia are gaining ground, but risks of overheating remains.

October 15, 2011

Czech RWE-Subsidiary Plans Pipeline Through Austria

The operators of a gas pipeline “5GL” in the Czech Republic, Austria, Bavaria and Slovenia are considering to build a new pipeline connecting the Souther Czech Republic with Italy and Slovenia.

October 4, 2011

Upward Trend in CEE Real Estate Market

Erste Group: “CEE Real Estate stocks with upside potential of 15%, profitability lags behind”. The upward trend in CEE is driven by low vacancy, strong occupier demand and low pipeline.

October 3, 2011

Slovenian Blue Chips to Double List at Vienna Stock Exchange

In order to align with international capital markets the Ljubljana Stock Exchange wants to offer Slovenian companies the chance of double listing.

September 16, 2011

No Common Trend for CEE-Countries

Regarding economic growth, prospects for CEE countries have worsened slightly. However, the region remains heterogeneous.

September 13, 2011

CEE-Region Remains Essential for Austrian Insurance Companies

According to a current market survey of Fitch, the CEE region plays a central role for domestic insurance companies. There is still growth potential.

September 12, 2011

CEE Economic Forum: Green Trends for Eastern Europe

In 2011, Forum Velden in Carinthia celebrates its 5th anniversary. Since its foundation in 2006, over 1.500 experts, top-managers and politicians from over 25 countries have participated in the Forum.

September 7, 2011

Slow Growth for CEE Telecom Sector Expected

Austrian Erste Group: “Seasonality and mobile data growth as key driver in H2 2011. The industry continues to struggle from slow consumer and public spending – Stabilisation to be expected in 2012.”

September 7, 2011