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WKO Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce


Support for AUA´s Management

Christoph Leitl, President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), shows support for the management of Austrian Airlines.
January 31, 2012


Temporary Work on the Rise

2.3% of the Austrian workforce are temporary workers. With 75,000 persons, this is a new record.
January 30, 2012


Austrian Economy Pushes for Austerity

In order to prevent new taxes, the Austrian Chamber of Commmerce and the Federation of Industries call for austerity measures.
January 5, 2012


Dispute Over Part Time Work

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the trade union disagree over the advantages and disadvantages of part-time work for employees.
January 3, 2012


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


Austrian Exports to Morocco Booming

In spite of the turbulent developments in the Arab region, the Maghreb state could maintain a strong economic growth. In 2011, Austrian exports to Morocco rise by 16%.
November 26, 2011


Leitl Promotes Exports to BRICS-Countries

The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, wants the exporting industries to focus more on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
November 22, 2011


Austrian Firms Expect Slowing Economy

Forecasts for the Austrian economy have been deteriorating since summer 2011. The WKÖ now joins the chorus with a recent survey.
November 17, 2011


Chinese Companies Looking for Investment Opportunities in Austria

China’s President Hu Jintao comes for a state visit and is accompanied by a 160-member business delegation.
October 28, 2011


Growth in U.S. Winter Sports Market as a Chance

Against 2010, the U.S. winter sports market shows a rise in sales of 12%. The Austrian winter sports industry regards this as chance.
October 25, 2011


Metal Industry: New Bargaining Rounds

The Austrian trade union of metal workers and industry representatives could avert a strike. However, a compromise is still not found.
October 17, 2011


Trainees in Vienna „Not Satisfied“

A study of the Viennese chamber of labor published, that a large number of trainees is not satisfied with their apprenticeships.
October 8, 2011


State Visit: "Huge Potential for Austrian Companies in India"

The Indian President Shrimati Patil absolved a state visit in Austria and met the Austrian President Heinz Fischer and the head of the Austrian Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl.
October 8, 2011


“Austrian Exports to Turkey to Double“

According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Istanbul, Austrian companies could benefit strongly from the persisting economic boom in Turkey.
September 26, 2011


German and Austrian Economy Claim Improvements for Company Loans

Representatives of the German and Austrian Economy fear adverse impacts for company loans from the new Basel III rules.
September 20, 2011


Austrian Textile Industry is Optimistic

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce sees a positive development in the domestic textile industry, especially in the export sector.
September 12, 2011


Austrian Tourism Industry Satisfied

In spite of a rainy July, the domestic hotel industry is quite satisfied with the summer season 2011. This is mainly due to the summerly August.
September 6, 2011


Leitl: „Austrian Economy Suffers from Lack in Skilled Labor“

According to Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, 70% of all enterprises have difficulties in finding highly-skilled workers.
September 6, 2011


Industry Raises Alarm over Lack of Technicians and Apprentices

voestalpine CEO Eder and WKÖ president Leitl call for measures against the shortage of skilled personnel. They want to increase the attractiveness of technical jobs and raise the retirement age.
August 23, 2011


Unions Call for Massive Wage Increase

Austrian unionists demand a substantial premium above the inflation rate. They argue that employees should benefit from the strong economic development.
August 19, 2011


Crisis Reaches Retail Sector

Austria’s retail industry starts to feel the effects of a high inflation rate and the euro crisis. In May, revenues declined by 2.3%.
July 21, 2011


Austrian Banks React to ECB’s Interest Rate Decision

The Austria banks quickly passed on the interest rate hike to their customers. Christoph Leitl regards the decision as an impediment for budgetary consolidation.
July 8, 2011


Austrian SME Increase Investments

Sentiment in the SME sector is improving: 60% are planning to grow in the medium to long term. Enterprises increasingly rely on internal financing.
July 6, 2011


Foreign Trade: € 35m for Promotion of Exports

82% of Austrian exports go to other European countries. The state and the Economic Chamber start a new initiative to increase trade with BRIC countries.
July 4, 2011


New Employment Record in June

The number of unemployed fell by 2.3% to 268,866 in June. The positive development has lasted for 16 months already.
July 1, 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


Retail Sector: New Discussion about Sunday Opening

The current dispute is about the right to open shops on certain lucrative Sundays. The operator of a shopping center has brought in an action at the Constitutional Court.
June 20, 2011


Majority of Enterprises Satisfied with Business Development

According to the Economic Chamber’s business barometer, the climate for investments has improved further. Enterprises worry about labor force availability.
June 15, 2011


Exports on Track for New Record

New highs of Austrian exports are expected in 2011 and 2012. The growth rate was 24.2% in the first two months of the year.
May 26, 2011


Austrian Companies Are Looking for Opportunities in Russia

A delegation of 140 people pursues contacts with potential partners during the state visit of President Fischer. The country’s economy is predicted to grow by 4% in 2011.
May 19, 2011


Leitl: "Reforms, Despite the Positive economic Outlook Should Not Be Forgotten"

Spring forecast by the EU Commission: Clearly improved growth prospects for Austria and the European Union
May 14, 2011


Austria's Manufacturing Industry Warns of a Shortage of Apprentices in the Technological Field

There is a shortage of applicants for the manufacturing industry-related and production-oriented technology areas; the demographic trends will intensify the problem.
May 13, 2011


Romania Offers Export Opportunities for Austria's Environment Industry

18 top Austrian companies active in the areas of environmental technology and renewable energies are present in Bucharest.
May 12, 2011


WIFI International: Partnership with TOBB University of Ankara

The Austrian (WKÖ) and the Turkish (TOBB) Economic Chambers have signed a Letter of Intent for an educational partnership with WIFI.
May 11, 2011


Resistance to Privatization Plans

The SPÖ criticized the plans of its coalition partner ÖVP to reduce public participation in order to abate debt.
May 10, 2011


Austria's Export Are Heading for Another Record Year

Exports grew by 24% to € 18bn in the first two months of 2011, continuing to be a crucial pillar of the Austrian economy.
May 7, 2011


Optimism in Chemical Industry for 2011

2010 represented a comeback for the chemical industry. A production value increase of 16% to € 14.2bn was reached, and exports grew by 16.7%.
May 7, 2011


Leitl and Sorger Demand Privatizations

Economic Chamber’s President Christoph Leitl and Industrialists' Association President Veit Sorger spoke in support of privatization at a press conference.
May 5, 2011


WKÖ Considers Nevada as Optimal Trading Partner

Nevada is diversifying towards renewable energies: huge opportunities for Austrian companies are expected.
April 29, 2011


Optimism in Austria's Textile Industry

Austria's textile, garment, footwear and leather industry (TBSL) recorded more employees and annual sales above € 4bn in 2010. However, massive increases in raw material prices are cause for worry.
April 28, 2011


WKÖ on Mongolia: "A Country with Development Potential"

The Austrian Economic Chamber sees a huge trade and investment potential for the domestic economy in the sparsely populated country.
April 21, 2011


Austria's trade as a Job Creation Engine

77,000 jobs were created by trades and crafts in the last eight years. The manufacturing industry lost 17,000.
April 14, 2011


Hundstorfer and Leitl Promote Increase in Retirement Age

The Austrian Minister of Social Affairs as well as the Head of WKÖ (Austrian Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl, want to reduce public payments for pensions.
April 11, 2011


Leitl: Export Year 2011 Started in a Fulminant Way

Exports increased in January by 26%; the target for the full year is to achieve the pre-crisis year’s record export volume of € 117bn.
April 9, 2011


Leitl: "Austria is Very Well Positioned for the Opening of the Labor Market"

Experts estimate immigration potential to be between 15,000 to 25,000 people; gains from migration for Austria, as from 1 May, about € 900m.
April 8, 2011


Austrian Paper Industry Shows Itself Cautiously Optimistic

2010 was marked by a production volume increase of 9%. Investment behavior remains hesitant.
April 7, 2011


Austria's Economy Remains Small Structured

About 238,000 or 55.6% of the members of the Economic Chamber are one-person enterprises. Their proportion has even risen slightly recently.
April 7, 2011


Central Asia as a Region of the Future for the Austrian Export Business

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) sees excellent delivery and investment opportunities for the domestic economy in Central Asia.
April 6, 2011


Basel III: Leitl Demands Adaptation for SMEs

The implementation of Basel III should take business financing into account, for which reason national support measures are necessary for capital strengthening of small businesses.
April 5, 2011