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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
Leitl Demands Reduction of Public Debt
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber sees potential for efficiency in the administration, as well as in the health and pension system
April 1, 2011
AWO: "Great Italian Interest in Austrian Steel Know-How"
Foreign Trade Austria (Außenwirtschaft Österreich, AWO), sees good opportunities for domestic firms in Italy's steel industry.
March 31, 2011
Leitl Promotes Green Electricity Amendment
The Economic Chamber President welcomes the initiative of the Minister of Economy: green electricity is promoted, reduced the backlog of planned investments.
March 24, 2011 · Updated: March 24, 2011; 01:34
Economic Chamber: Austria's Economy in Distress because of ÖBB-Structuring
"Significant price increases and deterioration of rail services will lead to shift of traffic to roads."
March 24, 2011 · Updated: March 24, 2011; 00:49
WKÖ: No EU Interference in Tariff Negotiations
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber expects no interference from Brussels in domestic collective agreement negotiations.
March 22, 2011
Awards for Austrian Products at British Food Fair
Economic Delegate Karabaczek: Austrian food producers scored in product innovation and top-quality in the UK.
March 19, 2011
Disaster in Japan Stops Exports
Current events in Japan have an impact on foreign trade. About 70 Austrian companies are affected.
March 18, 2011
Leasing Business Boom in Austria
Because of capital requirements and rigid lending conditions, leasing gains in importance as a financing alternative.
March 18, 2011
Opportunities for Austrian Medical Technology in the UK
An Austrian study showed Austrian buinesses the opportunities offered by the British market: Austrian exports increased by 15% in 2010.
March 17, 2011
WKÖ: "The Manufacturing Industry has not Processed the Crack Caused by the Crisis yet"
Production value of Austrian industry remains behind pre-crisis values despite a recovery.
March 16, 2011
Austria Intends to Participate in World Bank Projects
AWO has been leading companies to international financial institutions: the World Bank annually awards about $ 70bn in loans for development projects
March 15, 2011
WKÖ Leads Austrian Education Exporters to China
WKÖ Secretary-General Hochhauser: Hong Kong continues being the gateway to China; Austrian exports rose to over € 500m.
March 12, 2011
Significant Savings Potential by the Administration
Efficiency potential in public expenditure of over € 500 million. Felderer: "Significant savings potential”.
March 11, 2011
AWO Presents Business Opportunities for Austrian Companies in China
Big opportunities in consumer goods & lifestyle, plastics and automotive industries were informed in Vienna, Linz and Graz by Außenwirtschaft Österreich (AWO, Foreign Trade Austria).
March 11, 2011
Economic Chamber Demands Redeployment of "Manual Workers Regulation" in Favor of Research
The Austrian Economic Chamber presented a list of demands to the federal government. Critics say it is to no purpose.
March 10, 2011
Leitl Favors EU Financial Transaction Tax
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber says: "The EU Parliamen has taken an important step towards EU financial transaction tax"
March 10, 2011
Austria's Businesses Satisfied with Government Research Initiative
The strategy of the Federal Government regarding RTI (Research, Technology and Innovation) is an important step for the location Austria, according to the opinion of the Economic Chamber.
March 9, 2011
Leitl: "Austria Continues as Top Investor in Bulgaria"
Bulgarian President Parvanov for economic talks at the WKÖ: Foreign trade volume between Bulgaria and Austria amounts to € 900m.
March 9, 2011
Demand for Minimum Wage meets with Hostility
The proposal by the Minister for officials, Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, to introduce a minimum wage of € 1300, is mere populism, according to the Economic Chamber.
March 8, 2011
Leitl: "Research Support Should Be Pushed Now!"
The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) speaks in favor of increasing the research bonus.
March 5, 2011
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