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Austrian Furniture Industry Increases its Exports
In 2011, the total production of the Austrian furniture industry decreased by 3.3 percent to close to € 2.3bn according to the latest figures.
June 6, 2012
Austrian Business Location: Further Slump in Competitiveness
According to the Swiss Management Institute IMD, Austria only ranks 21th among 59 analyzed countries. The Austrian tax policy is the absolute weak point.
May 31, 2012
Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria
The Swiss National Council approved the tax deal with Austria. Illegal funds of Austrian nationals in Switzerland will be taxed.
May 30, 2012
Switzerland: Resistance Against Tax Deal with Austria
Swiss parties are against the tax agreement with Austria. The social democrats and the Swiss People´s Party oppose the plan.
May 29, 2012
New Records for Austrian Tourism
Winter season 2011/12: with 64.3 million overnights still at a high level; new record of 16.4 million arrivals.
May 24, 2012
Black Labor Decreases
In Austria, the share of black labor is still big. However, there is a downward trend.
May 22, 2012
Keuschnigg: „Austria Needs More Federalism“
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) considers that a decentralization of the fiscal policy would bring more competition between the provinces.
May 18, 2012
Austria´s Bank Secret Endangered
„I will withstand.“ Maria Fekter, Austria´s Minister of Finance said. The resistance against the EU directive on the taxation of interest will not be given up, Fekter reaffirmed.
May 15, 2012
Keuschnigg Worries About Austria´s Competitiveness
The new director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) Christian Keuschnigg suggests reforming the Austrian labor market. The welfare state would be too sophisticated.
May 15, 2012
Strong Increase in Austrian FDI
Only in 2007, Austrian investors made more investments abroad. Last year, FDI totaled € 22bn.
May 14, 2012
Common Energy Strategy for Germany, Austria and Switzerland
After the German nuclear exit, Switzerland and Austria should act as “green battery”.
May 2, 2012
Small Growth in Austrian Winter Season
The current tourism winter season 2011/12 recorded a rise in overnights by 2.1%.
April 26, 2012
Former GDR Funds: Bank Austria Has to Pay € 245m
Bank Austria lost a Zurich retrial over German demands for repayment of more than € 245m linked to the former East German Communist Party.
April 21, 2012
Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal
For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.
April 18, 2012
Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized
Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.
April 16, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed
The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.
April 12, 2012
Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished
Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.
April 11, 2012
Where is Austria´s Gold?
The major part of Austria´s gold reserves should be located in the U.S. The Austrian Central Bank does not answer any questions.
April 10, 2012
Failed Austerity Package: „Austrian Rating Not Affected“
Bernhard Felderer, director of IHS (Institute of Advanced Studies) thinks that the incomplete austerity package has no effect on Austria´s prospects to return to the Triple-A status.
April 7, 2012
Austria Must Underline its Headquarter Function
Austria as hub for CEE markets is still popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack in a sustainable and flexible strategy. The geographical proximity to CEE countries is insufficient.
April 2, 2012
Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure
The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.
March 28, 2012
Strabag Expands in Switzerland
The Swiss subsidiary of Austrian Strabag enters into strategic partnership with BH-Holding AG in Zurich and Zug.
March 22, 2012
Tax Agreement with Switzerland May Be Postponed
The plans of the Austrian government to conclude a tax agreement with Switzerland soon is unlikely. For the budget, this could cause a loss of revenues.
March 17, 2012
Doubt About Austerity Package
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter had to defend the government´s austerity package again. Experts are in doubt about the successful implementation.
March 15, 2012
Stagnation at Vienna Stock Exchange
At the moment, the Viennese Stock Exchange (VSE) has no new IPO´s to announce. The atmosphere in Vienna would be not investment-oriented enough, market observers say.
March 13, 2012 · Updated: March 13, 2012; 19:11
Ascom Divests its Security Communication Business in Austria
The Swiss IT solution provider sells its subsidiary Ascom Austria Ges.m.b.H. in a management buy-out to the current Managing Director Peter Bernhofer.
March 13, 2012
„The Public Sector Does not Get Enough“
Klaus Pöttinger, President of Upper Austria´s IV takes Switzerland as model. Taxes would be too high, efficiency of the public sector is too low, he says.
March 9, 2012
Imports Grow Stronger than Exports
January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.
March 9, 2012
Hammerer Aims For Growth in Italy
The Austrian aluminum company wants to acquire a site of the U.S. Alcoa in Italy.
March 7, 2012
Tax Treaty: Conflict with EU
The EU rejects Austrian tax treaty plans with Switzerland. Austria insists on the bilateral agreement.
March 7, 2012
Again Criticism on Austerity Package: „Lack in Sustainability“
The President of the Viennese Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Georg Kapsch, misses details of the austerity package. The package is not ambitious enough, Kapsch considers.
March 5, 2012
Viennese Office Market: Collapse Threatens
Although office rents are relatively low in Austria´s capital, multinational companies tend to establish their headquarters elsewhere. Real estate experts fear a vicious circle.
March 5, 2012
AUA´s Insolvency Becomes More Probable
German newspapers report that Lufthansa could establish a new Austrian airline company. AUA could be left then.
March 2, 2012
austriamicrosystems Reports Rise in Revenues and Earnings
The manufacturer of high performance analog ICs registered a 32% rise in revenues. EBIT rose by 59%.
February 29, 2012
New Criticism on Austerity Package
For the chief economist at RZB, Peter Brezinschek, the austerity package is not ambitious enough. The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, criticizes the introduction of new taxes.
February 28, 2012
Decision on Nabucco Again Postponed
The natural gas consortium „Shah Deniz II“ postpones its decision by one year. OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss underlines the importance of a pipeline to the Austrian hub Baumgarten.
February 24, 2012
Nabucco Still Competes For Gas in Azerbaijan
The gas pipeline project, in which the Austrian oil company OMV is engaged, now enters the critical phase.
February 21, 2012
Fekter: „Austerity Package is Structural Reform Package“
In spite of criticism by economists, for the Austrian Minister of Finance, the austerity package is a “big success”.
February 20, 2012
Slight Sales Increase at Internorm
The Austrian window manufacturer recorded sales of € 311m in 2011, which is a rise of 2.0% against 2010. Exports to Germany grew disproportionately high.
February 16, 2012
Illegal Income from Switzerland Should Support Government´s Plans
The Austrian government hopes that proceeds from illegal income in Switzerland reach € 1.0bn in 2013. However, an agreement with Switzerland has not been concluded so far.
February 13, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
A-Tec´s Quota to Reach 30%
In July, the insolvency quota of A-Tec will be paid to creditors. The quota will range from 30% to 35%.
February 10, 2012
Schlumberger Records Rise in Earnings
In spite of difficult market conditions, the Austrian sparkling wine producer holds on its ambitious growth targets. Exports should be reinforced.
February 10, 2012
Sale of Brixlegg Concluded
The former copper-division of the insolvent Austrian A-Tec Group has been sold to the Swiss Umcor AG.
February 10, 2012
Merger of Glencore and Xstrata: voestalpine Not Concerned
The Austrian steel company does not feel affected by the merger between the two major commodity corporations Glencore and Xstrata.
February 8, 2012
Keuschnigg to Succeed Felderer
Christian Keuschnigg will succeed Bernhard Felderer as director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) in June.
February 8, 2012
Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind
Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.
February 7, 2012
Emirates: Antinori Wants AUA´s Staff to Switch
The head of marketing at Emirates, Thierry Antinori, wants dissatisfied employees at AUA to change to Emirates.
February 6, 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