On the meeting of the Ambassador of Belarus with the leadership of the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers

On March 11, 2021, the Ambassador of Belarus to Austria Andrei Dapkiunas met with the leadership of the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers in Vienna.

The Austrian Federal Economic Chambers coordinate the activities and represent the interests of the Austrian business community at national and international levels. It functions as an umbrella organization of 9 regional chambers and more than 100 industry unions and associations. More than half a million Austrian enterprises are members of the Chambers.

The vice-president of the Chambers, Dr. Richard Schenz, and the regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Mr. Gregor Postl, represented the Austrian side.

Dr. Schenz has been holding the post of the vice-president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers for over two decades. His sphere of competence covers the development of cooperation with the states of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Since 2000, Dr. Schenz has been heading the International Chamber of Commerce ICC-Austria.

The Ambassador of Belarus and the vice-president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers discussed topical issues of the Belarusian-Austrian relations in the trade and economic spheres. In particular, they exchanged views on preparations for the next meeting of the Belarusian-Austrian Business Council and organization of a visit of an Austrian business delegation to Belarus. They also discussed prospects for the implementation of the agreement on expanding business ties between the Austrian and Belarusian regions reached in November 2019 during the high-level talks.

In 2020, the trade turnover between Belarus and Austria amounted to USD 155.9 million (83.7% to the level of 2019). The volume of Belarusian exports to Austria increased by a quarter and amounted to USD 26.3 million. The turnover of services amounted to USD 147.2 million (76.1% to the level of 2019). Austria was the third largest investor to Belarus in 2020. The volume of Austrian investments increased by 47.4% and amounted to USD 645.3 million.