Austria is interested in expanding economic presence in Bashkiria

UFA, 27 December 2018. /Bashinform News Agency/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

The deputies of the Austrian parliament representing both pro-government political forces and the opposition agreed that the expansion of economic cooperation with Russian regions could have a positive effect on political contacts between Russia and Austria. This was stated by the Austrian deputies of the Austrian-Russian parliamentary group interviewed by the Bashinform News Agency.

In particular, on the question of expanding business in Bashkiria by the Austrian company Lasselsberger and building a plant by the company Kronospan in Ufa amid the economic sanctions imposed against Russia, the Austrian parliamentary deputy and chairman of the Austrian-Russian parliamentary group Karlheinz Kopf (Austrian People’s Party) said:

“With regard to sanctions, they firstly relate to specific individuals and only secondly to some specific products. I regret that we have so far failed to achieve the step-by-step lifting of the sanctions, which I advocated. Because I believe that economic cooperation is the most effective method of solving or preventing political problems. I am a member of the supervisory board of one company, which is located in Vienna and is building a cement plant in the city of Tambov. In February I will go to Tambov to meet with the regional governor. Recently the head of the regional Duma was in Vienna. This is a good example of how economic contacts can also have a positive effect on contacts at the political level. I think this is the best way to interact.”

According to the parliamentarian, this was the main idea of the European Union (EU) - to prevent any political conflicts with the help of economic relations.

The Austrian parliamentary deputy from the opposition Freedom Party Herald Hauser added:

“Our party is very much interested in strengthening and expanding economic contacts with Russia. We know that the Embassy of Russia and the Russian trade mission in Austria are actively working in this area. Also, the Economic Chamber of Austria is represented in Moscow. We are working to improve and expand our economic relations and I, as a representative of the tourist sphere, can say that people make interpersonal contacts that help them to understand each other, get to know each other, and find solutions to problems at different levels. This is important for us - parliamentarians. And when we go to Russia, we see this country, we get to know people, we begin to understand them better and thus find solutions to problems. Therefore, we are very much interested in expanding our economic contacts”, said Herald Hauser.

On October 25, the head of Bashkiria, Radiy Khabirov, discussed during the meeting with the founder of Lasselsberger company Josef Lasselsberger the implementation of the company's investment projects in the republic. According to Josef Lasselsberger, the company plans to double the annual production to 20 million square meters of ceramic tiles. Construction and installation works are scheduled for completion in 2020.

In addition, in 2017, a plant for the production of laminated wood chipboards (LDSP) by the Austrian Kronospan company was launched in Ufa. The first stage of the plant cost 250 million euro.