Latest News

Slight Fall in Corporate Tax

On the other hand, indirect taxes experienced an increasing trend. Despite tax competition, tax increases are expected due to budget needs.

October 18, 2010

Do & Co Expands Rapidly in Turkey

After the successful expanion with Turkish Airlines, Do & Co plans to enter the event-catering market

October 18, 2010

Hypo-Group: Bavarian Lawsuit Against Carinthia

The balance sheet of the Hypo Group -nationalized in 2009- was artificially inflated, according to the accusation from Bavaria.

October 18, 2010

Supervision of Banks: Austria and Russia Intensify Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding just signed facilitates cooperation in banking supervision between the two countries.

October 18, 2010

Strabag Expands its Competence in Bridge Building – New Order in Poland

Strabag SE, a large construction company in Central and Eastern Europe, signed an agreement to build a new bridge complex in Toruń, Poland.

October 18, 2010

Deal of the Social Partners on Immigration and Social Dumping

Introduction of the "Red-White-Red Card" to combat abuse in the labor market

October 17, 2010

WIFO-Boss Aiginger Calls Government for Economization

Aiginger claims for reforms in the tax system

October 17, 2010

EVN's Subsidiary RAG Increased Gas Capacities

New capacities are created, gas and oil exploration in Poland and Hungary to be intensified

October 17, 2010

Réné Benko Looking for Tenants

The building of a new luxury shopping street in Vienna has begun. The tenants are still missing. If these are not found soon, the project threatens to fail.

October 15, 2010

Production Quota of OPEC Remains Stable

There was consensus in the Vienna-based OPEC. Members show their satisfaction with the current situation.

October 15, 2010

Airport Vienna-Schwechat: A New Concept is Called For.

The future direction of the airport will be decided on in November. A change in leadership is in sight.

October 15, 2010

Property Tax is Not Unconstitutional

Property tax is constitutionally unobjectionable; concerns about unit values for calculation of income tax for foundations are however maintained for now.

October 15, 2010

Higher Tolls for Trucks Likely

Higher toll rates in the EU countries are likely due to noise, air and traffic disturbances.

October 15, 2010

Austrian Post Cooperates with Swiss Post

The two companies plan a joint venture to bundle international activities in the field of addressed advertising mail.

October 15, 2010

Magna-Steyr Member of the Board Apfalter becomes Europe Boss of the Magna Group

Apfalter stays on as Magna-Steyr CEO; Eibeck, as Europe Vice-President, is responsible for the Russian market

October 15, 2010

Mineral Oil Tax: A Cash Cow for the Finance Minister

State revenues for the mineral oil tax have risen steadily since 2000. At that time, motorists paid 2.726 billion euro; this year it will be 3.9 billion euro.

October 15, 2010

ADEG Opens First Petrol Station

ADEG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of REWE AG, now expands its business by starting to provide the Styrian petrol stations.

October 14, 2010

Stability Pact with Federal States Has Never Been Met

Deficits of the federal states were too high already since 2001, as well as the deficits of the federation. The surplus of the municipalities couldn´t offset them.

October 14, 2010

Wienerberger: Slow Coming Out of the Crisis

The building materials industry is still growing very slowly in Eastern Europe. Focus is now on innovation and the expansion of market shares.

October 14, 2010

Vienna Airport: Passengers on the Rise

Almost 14% more passengers were counted in Schwechat in September. Cargo share also increased.

October 14, 2010

Production of BMW X3 Shifts From Styria to USA

In Graz, where the BMW X3 has been manufactured until now, production will focus on Minis.

October 14, 2010

CEOs of Stock Exchange Alert: Vienna´s Taxation Plans Cast Investors out

The heads of Vienna´s stock exchange, Schaller and Bohl, fear that the introduction of capital and transactional taxes downgrades Austria´s capital market.

October 14, 2010

General Government Expenditure by Function (COFOG) 2009: Increases in Social Expenditure

In 2009, public finances in Austria were affected by the economic and financial crisis, leading to an increase in expenditure of 3.9%. Statistics Austria's most recent data show a 6% increase of social expenditure in the year 2009.

October 13, 2010

Strabag renews € 2 billion syndicated surety loan

Strabag SE has concluded the renewal of a syndicated surety loan (SynLoan) with a consortium of 17 international banks led by Deutsche Bank and Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).

October 13, 2010

OeNB Governor Nowotny Contradicts the Deutsche Bundesbank

"The ECB should not give up purchasing bonds". Although the bond purchase program of the ECB was not needed in recent weeks, Nowotny wants to go on having it "in reserve”. The German Bundesbank warns of a too late withdrawal.

October 13, 2010

Post and Bawag Join Branches

BAWAG PSK and the Post have agreed to work together more closely. BAWAG branches and larger post offices will offer in future both postal and banking services.

October 13, 2010

Online Sports Betting: Competition from William Hill

Local providers of online sports betting get a new competitor. William Hill, Britain's largest betting shop operator (about 2,300 stores) has launched its own Internet offering for Austria.

October 13, 2010

Klosterneuburg: LVA Invests 11.2 million euro in New Complex

The private food testing institution is erecting a new office and laboratory building north of Vienna, with 4,500 square meters of floor space for 120 employees.

October 13, 2010

Global Financial Market System: Norbert Walter Urges for Regulation of Financial Markets

Economist Norbert Walter discussed world financial markets with Lower Austria Deputy Governor Sobotka and Hypo Lower Austria Chairman of the Board Harold at the HYPO Invest Club.

October 12, 2010

Coface CEE Top 500 - Poland Largest Number of Companies in CEE

Poland has the largest number of companies in the Central and Eastern Europe Top 500 with 28.4%. Hungary ranks second with 16.6%, overtaking the Czech Republic, which is home for 13.8% of the CEE Top 500.

October 12, 2010

Kotányi: Sales in Russia Exceed 20 Million Euro

The Lower Austrian herb and spice producer expects sales in Russia for over 20 million euro this year.

October 12, 2010

Wilhelm Molterer: Management Consultant Since Early October

Former ÖVP Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer (55) started working as a management consultant. Since early October, his EuroAdvisory GmbH based at Mahler Road 11, is operative in the Vienna city center .

October 12, 2010

Slovakia: Changes in Automobile Production Trend

Manufacturers operating in Slovakia invest again. Total production in 2010 may reach over half a million vehicles. An opportunity for foreign suppliers.

October 12, 2010

Shopping Climate Index CEE - Slight Consumption Rebound

For the first time in the past two years the RegioData Shopping Climate Index CEE has improved considerably compared to the previous quarter.

October 12, 2010

Austrian Airlines: 11.2% More Passengers

As part of a new strategy, AUA (Austrian Airlines), is targeting especially regular services. Overall, the Lufthansa subsidiary, has transported 8.4 million passengers this year.

October 11, 2010

Vienna's Municipal Election: SPÖ Loses Absolute Majority, FPÖ is Triumphant

The SPÖ achieves 44.3% at the election. The FPÖ can double its share of votes and comes in second, with 27%. The ÖVP and the Greens show losses.

October 11, 2010

Manufacturer of Fine Glass Villiglas Strengthens Management

Visionary and heir of billions Philipp D.Merckle takes Joseph Lindenberg and Manfred Pesek into the management of the fine glass manufacturing company.

October 11, 2010

RZB Group Tatra banka among Lead Managers for Slovak Republic EUR 2 Billion Benchmark Bond

Tatra Banka (RZB Group), HSBC, SG CIB and UniCredit Bank Slovakia placed a Slovak Republic issue with a maturity of fifteen years.

October 11, 2010

Raiffeisen Bank International: Official Start of Business

The merger was concluded successfully and effectively with the company's entry into the commercial register. RZB remains unchanged as the central institution of the Raiffeisen Bank Group in Austria and corporate headquarters for the whole RZB Group.

October 11, 2010

Wholesale price index plus 7.1%

The index of wholesale prices, WPI 2005, amounted to 112.8 (preliminary value) in September 2010 and has increased by 1.1% against August 2009.

October 8, 2010

Austrian Statistics - Exports and imports increased more than 12%

According to preliminary results, total imports amounted to 62.84 bn euro and total exports amounted to 61.13 bn euro in the period January to July 2010.

October 8, 2010

Vienna Stock Exchange - Agreement with Macedonian Stock Exchange on Joint Dissemination of Data

In the future, the price data of the stock exchange of Macedonia will be disseminated in real time via the datafeed Alliance Data Highway (ADH) of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

October 8, 2010

Chip Manufacturer Infineon: Revalorization of the Development Center Graz

The German chip maker based in Villach is bundling competencies. All future research on tire pressure sensors will be made at the Infineon Development Center Graz with 250 employees.

October 8, 2010

Postponed: Decision on Nabucco Not Before 2011

Because the talks with the main supplying country Azerbaijan are proceeding with exceeding slowness, the decision about the construction of the pipeline will not be possible this year.

October 8, 2010

Siemens Graz: - Investment of 12 Million in Plant for Railway Bogies

Siemens is investing a total of twelve million euro at the Graz location. The plant for railway bogies will receive a new assembly line for wheel sets. In addition to the present 950 employees new jobs will be created.

October 8, 2010

Austria is Getting More Popular Among Arab People

Arab tourists find Austria increasingly pleasant. So far this year, the number of arrivals between January and August grew by 21% to 91,600 as compared to the same period of the previous year.

October 8, 2010

Asfinag: Toll Revenues for 1.63 Bllion Euro in 2010

The motorway vignette will bring the state-owned motorway company Asfinag 350 million euro this year, truck tolls one billion. Total revenues will be around 100 million above those of 2009, but debts increase by around 600 million.

October 8, 2010

Skylink: Board Changes at the Airport After Vienna Election

At Vienna Airport, the chairman of the supervisory board, Cristoph Herbst, is being talked about as successor to Ernest Gabmann(ÖVP). The Audit Court’s report on Skylink points to serious deficiencies.

October 7, 2010

Wine Retailer Chain Wein & Co Expands

Wein & Co continues expanding. Since December 2009, 3 new stores have been opened. Tomorrow a new branch follows in the PlusCity in Linz, and for October and November further locations are expected at the Donauzentrum and the Mariahilfer street.

October 7, 2010

Bratislava: Investment in Slovak 'Las Vegas' in Danger

Bratislava might lose the planned amusement park "Metropolis", with an investment amount of 1.5 billion euro, if the Slovak government revokes the already approved tax concessions.

October 7, 2010