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WKO Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce
Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats
Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.
September 18, 2013
Leitl Recommends Parties Not to Raise Hopes
President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl considers the demand of the Social Democrats and Chancellor Werner Faymann for a tax relief as soon as 2015 utopian.
September 17, 2013
President Fischer Urges Austria to “Roll Up Sleeves“
In regard to the current election campaigns, the Austrian President Heinz Fischer has urged the parties for joint efforts.
September 4, 2013
Kapsch: Enormous Problems at Austrian Business Location
President of Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) Georg Kapsch confirms the criticism voiced by President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl and several other politicians by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).
August 28, 2013
Austrian Economy Minister: “No Time for Idle Complacency”
Austrian Minister of Economics and former general secretary of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Reinhold Mitterlehner avoids any dispute with Christoph Leitl, President of WKO but signals a different opinion.
August 27, 2013
Austria: Leitl Reiterates Criticizm
State Secretary Schieder considers Leitl’s statements “totally out of place”.
August 23, 2013
Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”
If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.
August 21, 2013
Leitl: Positive Export Development Despited of Economically Difficult Times
The Austrian economy should, according to the President of WKO, focus export growth in third countries and distant markets.
August 10, 2013
Austria: Leitl Demands Impulses for Growth and Employment
Enterprises need to be motivated instead of being burded by further taxes, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Christoph Leitl argues.
August 1, 2013
Austrian Industrial Sector Fears Drop in Exports
In the first five months of 2012, Austrian exports were only up by 3%. The outlook is rather gloomy. The Austrian Chamber of Commerce demonstrates pessimism.
July 18, 2013
Leitl: „Austrian Enterprises Need Further Growth Impulses“
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) commits to budget consolidation but growth is the basis for a balanced state budget.
June 27, 2013
Mitterlehner: „4,000 New Austrian Exporters Within Two Years“
Internationalization Offensive (IO) “go international” will be prologued until 2015. Economy Minister Mitterlehner and head of the Chamber of Commerce (WKO) Leitl present their main targets for Austrian export.
June 21, 2013
Austria: Reduction in Working Hours at ÖBB
So far, the trade association of railways at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) has rejected the reduction of working hours at the Austrian Railways (ÖBB).
June 20, 2013
Alpine: Thousands of Jobs At Risk
Alpine’s Insolvency could cost thousands of people’s jobs. According to Social Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer, the Social Ministry would utilize all means to prevent a worst-case scenario. Alpine's affiliate in Germany is filing for bankruptcy as well.
June 20, 2013
WKO Export Day in Vienna
On June 20, the Export Day (Exporttag) of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) will take place in Vienna. Economic delegates from all over the world will be present.
June 8, 2013
Austria: Leitl Welcomes Latvia to Join Eurozone
Head of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Leitl considers the Euro adoption as an important political signal for the cooperation and the strengthening of the European currency union.
June 5, 2013
Leitl: „There Is No More Time To Waste“
Switzerland and Sweden pull away from the rest of the European countries in regard to international competitiveness, according to the latest IMD report, while Austria has been falling behind.
May 31, 2013
Leitl: „EU Has To Deliver Clear Confession to Business Location Europe”
According to Leitl, the EU Summit has to deliver a “clear confession to business and industrial location” Europe.
May 22, 2013
Austria: Biggest Investor in Serbia
Serbia encourages Austrian enterprises to further invest in Serbian industries.
May 16, 2013
EU Commission: Action Plan for Steel Industry in Europe
During his visit to Linz, EU Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani announced measures for the steel industry in Europe.
May 7, 2013
Leitl: „Cut of Base Rate by ECB Important and Necessary Signal“
President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl welcomed the cut of the main refinancing rate to 0.5 percent.
May 2, 2013
Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina to Commence Dialogues
Bosnia-Herzegovina shows interest in Austrian social partnership model and measures against increasing youth unemployment rate.
April 18, 2013
Austria: Number of Small-Business Owners Increased Marginally
In 2012, there were around 251,000 one-person-businesses in Austria which is 11,000 more than in 2011.
April 16, 2013
Austria: How to Benefit from Positive Labor Market Situation
Increasing number of employees should be reason to initiate economic stimuli and focus on investment incentives, states Leitl.
April 2, 2013
Austria Showing Less Reforming Zeal
According to the so-called „D-A-CH-Reformbarometer“, a study which was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce, Austria’s will to reform has diminished.
March 20, 2013
Austria: Welfare Fraud Costs € 1bn Per Year
According to a study, which was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and carried out by the Johannes-Kepler University in Linz, social fraud causes a smaller amount of economic damage than fiscal evation and black labor.
March 19, 2013
Leitl: "Restructuring Instead of Cashing in"
Christoph Leitl, head of WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce), dismisses further plans for a tax hike. The outcome would be fatal and the economy exposed to threats.
March 6, 2013
Austrian Exports Reach new All-Time High
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) today presented the foreign trade results of 2012. This year, WKO´s President Christoph Leitl expects s moderate increase in exports.
February 21, 2013
Austrian Governing Parties Disagree on EU Budget
The Austrian people´s party (ÖVP) has criticized Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ). The social democrats argue that the coalition partner ÖVP has “no team sprit”.
February 11, 2013
Fischer Meets Kirchner
The Austrian President Heinz Fischer has started his state visit in Argentina.
December 3, 2012
9,500 Multinational Companies in Austria
Austria´s Minister of Social Affairs Rudolf Hundstorfer stresses the importance of multinational companies.
November 23, 2012
Austria Third Largest Investor in Czech Republic
According to the Czech President Vaclav Klaus, his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer and the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl, the bilateral trade relations are expandable.
November 14, 2012
Slovenia and Austria to Deepen Co-Operation
The Slovenian Minister of Economics Radovan Zerjav and the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl want to intensifiy the economic co-operation.
November 8, 2012
New Record for Bilateral Trade Between Poland and Austria
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce underlines the close and friendly relationships between Poland and Austria.
November 8, 2012
Austrian-Ukrainian Trade Relations Show Development Potential
According to Richard Schenz, Vice President of WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce), the economic relations between Austria and the Ukraine are excellent.
October 25, 2012
„Strengthening Relation with Russia“
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) argues that Europe must co-operate closer with Russia in order to manage the crisis.
October 25, 2012
Growing Pressure on Viennese Location for Headquarters
The Viennese Chamber of Commerce intensifies the dialogue with international headquarters. In autumn, the first headquarter congress will take place in Vienna.
July 21, 2012
Stable Outlook for Austrian Industrial Sector
Austrian industrial enterprises expect production, order intake and employment tob e stable in the second half of 2012. The uncertainty remains.
July 11, 2012
Large Saudi Delegation in Vienna
A memorandum of understanding in Austrian Federal Economic Chamber between the Austrian Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be signed.
July 9, 2012
“Market Place Austria 2012” on 3rd October in Vienna
"Marketplace Austria" gives buyers from all over the world unique opportunity to meet Austrian suppliers and producers from the food and drinks sector and to find new business partners.
June 25, 2012
Austria´s Exports to Asia on the Rise
Last year, Austrian exports totaled € 122bn. Above all, exports to emergin markets Brazil, India and China are growing.
June 21, 2012
Leitl Underlines Good Relations with Hungary
At the visit of Hungary´s Viktor Orban, the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) stresses the long-term commitment of Austrian enterprises in Hungary and claims legal security in return.
June 14, 2012
Austria to Expand Relations with Cyprus
Federal President Fischer and WKO´s President Leitl accomodated the Cypriot-Austrian Business Forum. Economic relations show potential for expansion and further development.
June 4, 2012
"Europe Needs Economic Growth and Budget Discipline“
Structural reforms are necessary to make Europe sustainably more competitive, Christoph Leitl, President of Austria´s Chamber of Commerce (WKO) says.
May 26, 2012
Austrian Chamber of Economics Claims Growth Package
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce thinks that Austria and Europe would both need growth and austerity measures.
May 25, 2012
Labor Time: Resistance Against SPÖ´s Plans
The governing Social-Democrats want to reduce labor time. Industrialists, the Chamber of Commerce and FPÖ decline that idea.
April 17, 2012
Foreign Trade: „We are on the Right Way“
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce comments the export development: “The data of January show that we are on the right way.”
April 7, 2012
Austrian Industrial Sector Faces Uncertainties
The Austrian industries expect a stagnation of business. Economic growth is low, export growth will be decent. Moreover, the order stock is declining.
April 4, 2012
Austrian Chamber of Commerce Underlines Importance of South Tyrol
The President of Austria´s Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Christoph Leitl, met South Tyrols governor Luis Durnwalder and stresses the good political and economic relationship between South Tyrol and Austria.
March 24, 2012
2,000 New Jobs Created by Foreign Enterprises
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of foreign direct investment in Vienna. Last year, 126 foreign enterprises came to Vienna.
March 22, 2012
