Economy

Niederösterreich - an attractive business location

Lower Austria, Austria`s largest province, today ranks among Europe´s leading business destinations. Its location in direct proximity to Central and Eastern Europe and contacts established over generations make Lower Austria the economic and cultural hub between the old and new members of the EU. With the expansion of the EU, Lower Austria has become Europe´s strategically important core region. The construction and development of new markets in the East opens up enormous economic prospects. Lower Austria ist taking an aktive part in shaping a new, dynamic and supranational economic region mainly because of its excellent function as an infrastructural hub. With the international airport Vienna-Schwechat, the highly efficient trans-European road and rail network and the economical Rhine-Main-Danube waterway, Lower Austria has an excellent infrastructure at its disposal. Moreover Lower Austria is focused on state.of-the-art technology and has already established itself as an innovative high-tech location in Europe. The Technopol Program further promotes the networking of business and research.

Lower Austria continually boasts a top performance in decisive economic data: aboveaverage growth, more businessstart-ups, and more business locations - especially among foreign firms. Plus tax advantages including the reducation of the corporate tax rate to 25 percent. Lower Austria has been recording economic growth levels above the Austrian national average for a number of years now (2006: + 3,7 % growth rate compared to Austria: 3,1 %). The admission into the EU and the opening of the eastern European marketplace have also contibuted to the growth dynamic. Currently about 74 % of Austria´s exports go to the European Union. Lower Austria´s exports have grown by over 33 % since 2003, 22,7 % of Lower Austria´s total exports is destined for Cee countries (Central and Eastern European Countries).

 Vienna hac over recent years been able to attract a lot of investment, mainly due to the strong purchasing power of its population, the good economic infrastructure and the proximity to the former Eastern States. The Vienna Region (Vienna / Lower Austria / Burgenland) provides a bridge between East and West and serves as a location with a tradition of excellence in industry, science and research. Together, the three provinces offer optimal conditions as a business destination: from broader EU business assistance to dynamic growth to highly qualified workers, thanks to internationally recognized universities and academic institutions.

For information:
ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria
Niederösterreichring 2, Haus A
3100 St. Pölten
Tel.: +43 2742 9000 19600, Fax: +43 2742 9000 19609
E-Mail: headoffice@ecoplus.at
http://www.ecoplus.at/ecoplus/e/default.asp)

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