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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