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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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


New Records for Viennese Tourism

In 2011, the Austrian capital registered 11.4 million guest nights, which is a new record.
January 24, 2012