Switzerland in Austria | Swiss in Vienna | Bilateral Relations

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

Bank Austria Generates Fresh Capital

On Monday, January 13, UniCredit Bank Austria issued its first mortgage bond for 2014 to strengthen its capital base.

January 14, 2014

Slovenia: FDI to Remain Low in 2014

No improvement in increasing foreign direct investments in Slovenia is expected this year. The country has one of the smallest shares in inward FDI among EU member countries.

January 2, 2014

Hypo Group: Restraining Effect on Budget Consolidation

According to the EU’s autumn prognosis, nationalized Hypo Group and its liabilities running in the billions still have a restraining effect on the Austrian budget consolidation.

November 5, 2013

Boost for Municipal Infrastructure in the Western Balkans

EBRD and KfW launch new €100 million fund

November 4, 2013

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 22-25 January. The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business

October 29, 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

Austria Remains Main Investor in Slovenia

Last year, almost the half of the foreign direct investments in Slovenia came from Austria.

October 11, 2013

WKO: Austrian Enterprises Miss out on Potential in Turkey

According to a commercial councelor at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) in Istanbul, Austria is focused too much on Eastern Europe. Switzerland exports triple the amount to Turkey.

September 19, 2013

Austria: WKO Demands Impulses for R&D

Deputy President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Martha Schultz, demands new impluses for research and innovation in the years from 2014 to 2020.

September 19, 2013

Wifo: Economy Remains Competitive Despite High Wages

Head of Wifo (Austrian Institute for Economic Research), Karl Aiginger, calls for a change of views in economic policy as competitiveness is more than just low costs.

September 18, 2013

Kapsch: Enormous Problems at Austrian Business Location

President of Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch confirms the criticism voiced by President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl and several other politicians by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

August 28, 2013

Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”

Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.

August 27, 2013

Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm

State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.

August 23, 2013

Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”

If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.

August 21, 2013

Austria: First Tax Tranche from Switzerland Transferred

The first tranche of the tax agreement between Austria and Switzerland in the amount of € 416.7m was transferred. Fekter considers it “a great success for Austria and the taxpayers”.

July 25, 2013

EU: Current Account with Russia Deep in the Red

EU27 current account surplus came at € 29.1 bn in the first quarter of 2013.

July 18, 2013

Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.

June 27, 2013

Bankruptcy Case Mayr-Melnhof in Switzerland

In Domat/Ems, Switzerland’s biggest sawmill was supposed to be operated. The only thing left now, however, is a financial hole running in the millions. Erste Group is concerned by losses as well.

June 17, 2013

Major Contract for Andritz in Switzerland

Andritz to modernize Innertkirchen 1 and Handeck 2 hydropower stations, Switzerland

June 11, 2013

WKO Export Day in Vienna

On June 20, 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.

June 8, 2013

Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“

Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.

May 31, 2013

World Competitive Ranking: Austria Loses 7 Ranks

The World Competitive Ranking of Lausanne IMD Private School of Economics has become one of the most significant location comparisons on an international basis in the last 25 years.

May 29, 2013

Austrian Top Banker to Appear in „Offshore-Leaks“

For the first time, a European top banker appears in the “Offshore-Leaks” database. CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) Herbert Stepic is coming under massive pressure.

May 23, 2013

Leitl: „EU Has To Deliver Clear Confession to Business Location Europe”

According to Leitl, the EU Summit has to deliver a “clear confession to business and industrial location” Europe.

May 22, 2013

Banking Secret until 2015 in European Union

The banking secret for tax foreigners in the European Union could finally be completely aborted by 2015. There is an ambiguity about Luxembourg’s position in advance to the EU mini-summit over the extended EU Savings Directive (EUSD).

May 22, 2013

World Economic Forum on East Asia 2013

Courageous transformation for inclusion and integration. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 5-7 June 2013.

May 21, 2013

Orban’s „Derailment“ Causes Indignation in Germany

Hungary’s head of government Viktor Orban seems to love the confrontation. However, with the accusation of Germany using Nazi-methods he overstepped the mark in terms of tact.

May 21, 2013

Austria to Give Up Bank Secret for Foreigners

After years of blocking, Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter gave green light to the abandoning of the bank secret for foreigners.

May 14, 2013

Austrian Bank Secret: Faymann Vs. Fekter

Austria‘s agreement to an automatic exchange of data has become a personal match between Chancellor Faymann and Finance Minister Fekter.

May 13, 2013

World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa 2013

Dead Sea, Jordan 24-26 May 2013. Advancing Conditions for Growth and Resilience

April 29, 2013

Austria: Haselsteiner to Increase Share at Westbahn

Hans Peter Haselsteiner, CEO of Strabag, is going to increase his stake in Westbahn to 47 %, the railway company, which is in majority privately held and main competition for Austrian Railways (ÖBB).

April 23, 2013

Montana Tech Components: Record Results Again in 2012

The industrial group Montana Tech Components AG could once again surpass the year 2011 and completed the financial year 2012 with new record levels in sales and earnings. This course of growth is set to continue in 2013.

April 19, 2013

Fekter Defends Austrian Bank Secret

With the reference to the agreement with Switzerland and Lichtenstein, Finance Minister Fekter tries to convince the EU Commission to leave the Austrian bank secret at the current situation.

April 5, 2013

Keuschnigg Forecasts End of Bank Secret in Austria

Head of the Austrian Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Christian Keuschnigg expects the end of the bank secret in Austria.

April 3, 2013

Green’s Fear of Russian Black Money in Austria

Once more, the Austrian Greens insist on a reform of the bank secrecy.

April 2, 2013

How Austrian Airlines Intends to Soar Again

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Presse, Jaan Albrecht, head of Austrian Airlines explains why he had to carry out sudden drastic measures and what the future of the airline should look like.

March 29, 2013

Austria Showing Less Reforming Zeal

According to the so-called „D-A-CH-Reformbarometer“, a study which was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce, Austria’s will to reform has diminished.

March 20, 2013

Future of the EU Requires Solidarity And Integration

The EU has declared the year 2013 to be the “year of citizens”. The citizens of the EU should become aware of their European identity and their rights that come along with it.

March 15, 2013

Meeting of German-speaking Finance Ministers in Berlin

On Wednesday, 13 March 2013, German Finance Minister Dr Wolfgang Schäuble welcomed the German-speaking Finance Ministers of Europe to talks in Berlin. The talks focused on current finance and fiscal policy issues.

March 15, 2013

Austrian Business Location Still Popular

According to a survey carried out by ABA Invest Austria, Austria ranks third in Europe.

February 19, 2013

Immofinanz Withdrawsfrom Swiss Hotel Market

The Austrian real estate group sells Kempinski Residences and Hotel as well as the Grand Hotel in St. Moritz.

February 18, 2013

Tax Deal with Liechtenstein: Austria Expects Substantial Tax Intake

Austria and its small neighbor country Liechtenstein will sign a tax deal. The treaty between Switzerland and Austria is a role model.

January 24, 2013

Hungary Wants Tax Treaty with Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Hungary tries to levy a lump sum tax on deposits of Hungarian nationals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK and Cyprus.

January 17, 2013

Austrian Purchasing Power Abroad Shrinks

For Austrians, Hungary and Croatia still leading the list of top destinations. The Holiday euro is worth slightly more in many Eurozone countries than in Austria.

December 28, 2012

Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria

Switzerland has approved the tax deal with Austria and the UK. The treaty will come into force by January 2013.

December 20, 2012

Hypo Group Sold AluFlexPack to MTC

After months of negotiations, the Austrian nationalized bank sold the Croatian aluminum company to the Switzerland-based Montana Tech Components.

November 30, 2012

Austrian Gold Stored in UK

80% of Austria´s gold reserves are stored in the U.K. Only 17% of the reserves are kept in Austria.

November 24, 2012

New Record Results for Montana Tech Components

The Switzerland-based industrial group Montana Tech Components AG (MTC-Group) recorded an increase in turnover by 10%. EBITDA was up by 33%.

November 23, 2012

Poland´s Komorowski: “Strong Swiss Franc Causes Problems”

On the occasion of a visit in Switzerland, the Polish President Bronislav Komorowski explained that the strong Swiss franc is a problem for both countries.

October 5, 2012

Tax Deal with Switzerland: No Referendum

The opponents of the treaty between Austria and Switzerland could not collect enough votes. About 47,500 signatures could be collected.

October 2, 2012