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.

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

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

Cineplexx Grows Further in SEE Region

The Austrian cinema group takes over two major cinemas in Serbia and Montenegro. Thus, Cineplexx already runs five cinemas in former Yugoslavia.

September 5, 2011

Raiffeisen Centrobank Reports Increase in Profit

Net interest income declined, while trading profit and net fee and commission income increased substantially. Turbulences on financial markets might burden the bank’s business development.

September 2, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Expands Involvement in Albania

With the acquisition of a 75% stake in Intersig, the Austrian insurance company raises its market share in Albania to 30%.

August 24, 2011

Telekom Austria Closes Acquisition of Croatian B.net

The Austrian telecommunications group has received green light from Croatia’s competition authority for the acquisition of the country’s largest cable operator.

August 8, 2011

S&T Wins Contract in Serbia

The Austrian IT service provider will be responsible for the implementation of the largest SAP project in Serbia in the last years.

June 28, 2011

WIFI International Expanding into Albania

The education provider continues its internationalization strategy and is now active in nine CEE/SEE countries.

June 24, 2011

WKÖ: Economic Talks with the Macedonian President

80 Austrian enterprises are already active in Macedonia. Exports to the country increased by 17% in the first quarter of the year.

June 21, 2011

Telekom Austria Refrains from an Acquisition of Telekom Srbija

For the time being, the Austrian telecommunications group has no intention to pursue a deal with the Serbian government after negotiations had failed in May.

June 16, 2011

Austria Still Biggest Investor in Serbia

Since 2000, Austrian companies have invested more than € 3bn in the Balkan country.

June 14, 2011

Telekom Austria Acquires B.net Hrvatska

The telecommunications group purchases Croatia’s largest cable operator from Bewag, an Austrian regional electricity supplier.

June 8, 2011

Telekom Austria Bidding for Kosovo Telecom

The Austrian telecommunications group and a Croatian competitor have been shortlisted in the privatization process of Kosovo’s most profitable company.

June 7, 2011