Western Balkan Countries in Austria | Bilateral Relations
Austria and the Western Balkans as a Region (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia). See also each country individually.
Merger of Nabucco-TANAP Discussed
Members of the gas pipeline projects Nabucco and TANAP talk about a merger in Vienna. The Turkish Minister of Energy participates therein.
February 28, 2012
CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna
The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.
February 22, 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
CEO of PlusCity Increases Engagement in Croatian Westgate
Ernst Kirchmayr, CEO of the Upper-Austrian shopping center has raised his stake in the Zagreb-based shopping center “Westgate”.
February 8, 2012
Montana Tech Components Acquires Croatian Aluminum Companies
The Austrian financial investor MTC takes over the two largest aluminum companies in Croatia. Turnover of the acquisition targets amount to € 240m.
February 6, 2012
Enso Hydro Looking for Hydro Power Plants in SEE
The Austrian hydro power specialist aims for collecting € 70m of Deutsche Bank´s subsidiary DWS. Currently, enso hydro searches for new hydro power projects.
February 1, 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
New Tax Burden for Telekom Austria
Telekom Austria has to pay tax on mobile network services in Croatia.
January 30, 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
Good Export Chances in SEE Region
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce regards South-Eastern Europe as growth region. Importance for the Austrian export industry is seen to increase.
January 28, 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
Leitl: „Croatians are Most Welcome“
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to Croatia´s EU accession in 2013.
January 23, 2012
Austrian Banks Hold € 18bn in Foreign Sovereign Bonds
At the end of October 2011, the exposure of Austrian banks in foreign sovereign bonds was € 18.1bn. The largest volumes are invested in Poland and Italy.
January 19, 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
Erste Group Provides Major Loan to Telekom Serbia
The Austrian bank commits € 140m to Telekom Serbia as part of a recent syndicated loan taken by the company. Erste Group acted as joint mandated lead arranger, underwriter and bookrunner.
January 18, 2012
Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
January 16, 2012
Telekom Austria Faces New Taxes in Croatia
Croatia re-introduces extraordinary taxes for telecommunication operators. The local government is criticized by Telekom Austria and the EU.
January 13, 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
Wettpunkt Invests in Croatia
The Austrian betting company expands its operations in Croatia. Investments of € 10m were announced.
January 4, 2012
Styrian Mining Company Causes Problems for Austrian Banks
The Austrian mining company Decometal has debts reaching € 250m. Now, the company will be restructured. Loans must be extended.
December 28, 2011
Serbia Tries Privatization Again
After the privatization of Telekom Srbija has failed in spring 2011, the Serbian government tries again. Telekom Austria could still show interest.
December 19, 2011
Uniqa Grows Quickly in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The insurance company’s premium volume increased by 14% in the first three quarters of the year.
December 16, 2011
Airport Zagreb: Strabag Not Awarded
Two offers for were submitted for the enlargement of Zagreb Airport. Strabag´s offer has been rejected.
December 13, 2011
Austrian Investor Interested in Croatian Aluminum Company
The Austrian financial investor Michael Tojner is a potential buyer of the Croatian aluminum manufacturer TLM-TVP, which is owned by Hypo Group.
December 10, 2011
Austria´s Industry Supports Croatia´s EU Accession
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce sees a huge interest of the domestic economy in Croatia´s EU accession. In 2010, Austria was the largest investor.
December 10, 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
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
Strabag Wins New Orders for Environmental Technology Division
The Austrian construction group secured new business worldwide. The total volume is € 110m.
November 29, 2011
Uniqa Group Strengthens Market Position in SEE Region
The Austrian insurance company expands its market leadership in Albania and is ranked on number two in Kosovo.
November 21, 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
VIG Raises Equity Base in Croatia
The local authority claimed for a capital increase for the Croatian subsidiary of Vienna Insurance Group. Now, € 15m were transferred.
November 16, 2011
VSE Cooperates with Montenegro Stock Exchange
Vienna Stock Exchange and Montenegro Stock Exchange sign agreement on data vending cooperation.
November 16, 2011
Profit Decline for Telekom Austria
Group revenue decline and lower Group EBITDA comparable mainly driven by competition in Austria and FX devaluation in Belarus. In the third quarter, revenues and EBITDA were stable.
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
Austria Intensifies Economic Relations to Serbia
The President of the Viennese Chamber of Economics, Brigitte Jank, meets Serbian Ministers in Belgrade and sees a huge potential for Austrian companies.
November 2, 2011
Croatian Parliament Abolishes 6% Mobile Service Tax
The local subsidiary of Telekom Austria benefits from the abolition of the special tax which caused expenses of € 15.2m in 2010.
October 28, 2011
Alpine and Strabag Fighting for the Concession for Zagreb’s Airport
European airlines are facing difficult times, but the demand for flights is still high. The future belongs to South European countries. Therefore, international airlines and airport operators are seeking their chance there.
October 25, 2011
VIG Acquires Jahorina Insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe is the new majority shareholder in the Jahorina Osiguranje AD Pale (Jahorina) insurance company in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
October 20, 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
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
Kelag to Invest € 70m in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Carinthian energy provider signed a contract on the expansion of the hydro power infrastructure in Republika Srpska.
September 29, 2011
Serbia as Growth Market for Denkstatt
The Vienna-based environment consulting group Denkstatt intends to gain a foothold in Serbia.
September 19, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group: Market entry in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Vienna Insurance Group AG has signed a contract to acquire a majority stake in the insurer Jahorina Osiguranje AD Pale (Jahorina) in Bosnia-Herzegovina after successfully concluding due diligence.
September 13, 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
