Entwicklungsagentur Kärnten (EAK), the business agency for Carinthia, is offering a comprehensive portfolio of services to promote Carinthia as a business location. What can investors and business owners expect from EAK?
EAK is the first business address for international investors seeking information in the business location Carinthia. We offer support in all aspects regarding the establishment of a company. Starting with the search for the right location and the coordination of permit procedures, we also establish contacts with important partners such as banks, funding agencies and public institutions. Once a business has decided to settle in Carinthia, we can also offer staff coordination services, such as pre-selecting suitable candidates. Once this is completed and the business has successfully settled, we are available for further cooperation as well, for example, by coordinating shared booths at trade fairs. All our services are free of charge.
In 2007, when the economic crisis was not yet an issue, Carinthia was one of the most successful provinces with regard to business settlements; 2008 in turn became a record year. Even in 2009, the year of the crisis, it showed positive results for the first nine months. What were the success factors?
The overall Austrian location factors such as a stable and lawful economic situation, a moderate taxation system with a corporate tax rate of 25 percent and the absence of a trade and property tax build an important framework for businesses settling in Carinthia. For Italian and German companies, these are fundamental criteria in their decision making process. Carinthia, above all, convinces through its geographic position in the south of Austria, in immediate proximity to the growth markets of Eastern Europe. Its attractive funding landscape attracts particularly innovative and research-oriented companies to Carinthia. Among other things, they can benefit from R&D subsidies of up to 60 percent. Carinthia also offers attractive prices for industrial and commercial properties, which are on par with other provinces. Numerous technology and industrial parks offer prime locations with optimal infrastructure where investors can purchase properties according to their needs as well as rent office and production space. A high quality of life, a skilled workforce and an interesting research landscape are further advantages that speak for Carinthia as a business location.
At Southern Austria’s largest economic congress, the CEE-Economic Forum Velden, “green energy” and environmental technology were a part of the agenda. How current are these seminal issues in Carinthia?
The field of alternative energies has become a core strength within Carinthia’s economy. Carinthia is home to some of the top international players in this field, with companies such as GreenOneTec, Energetica, Kohlbach and Urbas. These companies offer unique know-how and expert knowledge. The Russian region of Sverdlovsk for example has shown interest in exactly these resources and has recently invited three Carinthian companies to submit detailed proposals. I believe that Carinthia is in a very good position in this regard. Now we have to support this sector, particularly in the field of research and development, so Carinthia can maintain and further improve its leadership role.
In the Alps-Adriatic region, Carinthia plays an important role as a hub between East and West. Which are the main target markets for EAK?
We generate the most business settlements from Germany, Italy and other parts of Austria. Approximately one third of our projects originate from one of these countries, which are actively pursued by our project managers. In the last two years, we have begun to increase our activity in the Russian market. Our first success story was the settlement of the Russian company Kraftool Alpen GmbH. This tool manufacturing company wants to expedite their distribution within Europe from their Carinthia location. This of course has encouraged us to continue our active pursuit of this market.
Which special projects do you carry out besides traditional business settlements?
In addition to our traditional investor service, we also offer investors a portfolio of certified Carinthian investment projects. This might be projects in the industrial/commercial sector, as well as in the tourism sector. Investors have the opportunity to participate through either a purely financial investment or a financial share including operational activity. Once an investor has decided on a concrete project, we accompany them throughout the complete investment process. |
