| The land-locked country of Austria has an important | | | | about half of Austria's foreign direct investment is in |
| position at the centre of Europe where it is a | | | | the countries of central and eastern Europe. The |
| significant hub between East and West. The freight | | | | focus of development in the freight services sector |
| transport industry has evolved and developed in | | | | has mirrored this trend. |
| response to this increasingly important role, with new | | | | Although the boom years have now passed, Austria |
| streamlined freight services available to facilitate | | | | still has the potential to attract international firms |
| trade between Austria and its trading partners in | | | | seeking convenient access to developing markets in |
| Eastern Europe. | | | | eastern and central Europe and the Balkan countries. |
| Until the late 1980s, the government and its state | | | | Approximately 350 United States companies have |
| owned industries played an important role in the | | | | made investments in Austria, most with this in mind, |
| Austrian economy but since the early 1990s. most of | | | | and there is scope for considerable further expansion |
| these state owned firms have been privatised either | | | | of Austria's role as a bridge between east and west. |
| wholly or partially. Austria now has a well developed | | | | Apart from within the European Union, there is |
| economy and is one of the richest countries in the | | | | significant trade with the United States and so there |
| European Union, fourth after Luxemburg, Ireland and | | | | are also many shipping companies serving this sector |
| the Netherlands. | | | | of the international freight market. The total value of |
| In fact, Vienna is the fifth richest region in Europe, | | | | trade with the United States is 13 billion dollars. |
| just behind Inner London, Luxemburg, Brussels and | | | | Imports from the United States total over 5 billion |
| Hamburg. The sophistication and efficiency of the | | | | and exports to the United States were nearly 8 billion |
| shipping companies and freight companies operating in | | | | in 2007. |
| Austria reflect the high standards that would be | | | | Although there are some large iron and steel |
| expected of such a rich and well developed country. | | | | producers, chemical plants and oil corporations, most |
| The economy of Austria is heavily integrated with | | | | enterprises in Austria are relatively small. |
| neighbouring Germany and increasingly with the | | | | The service sector is very important in Austria and |
| countries to its east. The freight transport industry | | | | generates the majority of its Gross Domestic |
| has established connections and networks to ensure | | | | Product. This includes, for example, finance, consulting |
| that freight transport is effective within these | | | | and law firms in Vienna which also operate in central |
| regions. | | | | and eastern Europe. Very well known Austrian firms |
| The economy in Austria has been growing well, with | | | | include AKG Acoustics, Wienerberger, Red Bull, |
| growth of around 1% per annum during 2001-2003 | | | | Swarovski and Doppelmayer. The freight transport |
| but then accelerating to nearly 3% in 2004 and | | | | industry has evolved to serve the needs of this |
| 2005.This was fueled by booming exports and | | | | diverse market, connecting producers with markets in |
| primarily higher growth in Central and Eastern Europe. | | | | the east and west. |
| Having joined the European Union in 1995, and | | | | Austria has a unique position as an East-West hub. It |
| adopted the Euro in 2002, the effects of European | | | | also has a unique position as a moderator between |
| integration on the economy of Austria have been | | | | industrialised and developing nations and has been |
| highly positive. Trade with other European Union | | | | active in bridge building to the east, increasing |
| countries accounts for nearly three quarters of | | | | contacts at all levels with Eastern Europe and the |
| Austrian imports and exports, dominating the | | | | states of the former Soviet Union. |
| country's international freight. | | | | In this way the role of Austria as hub between East |
| Expanding trade and freight forwarding with the new | | | | and West is about more than simply its geographical |
| EU members of central and eastern Europe that | | | | position and its tradition of neutrality has allowed the |
| joined the EU in May 2004 and January 2007 make | | | | country to develop a role as broker and moderator |
| up a major element of Austrian economic activity and | | | | between the developed counties of the West and |
| account for 14% of all trade activity. In addition, | | | | the emerging economies of the East. The |
| Austrian firms have made sizeable investments in | | | | combination of these factors create perfect |
| these countries and there is a trend towards moving | | | | conditions for the growth of the freight services |
| labour intensive low tech production to these | | | | industry in Austria as the importance of its hub |
| countries of central and eastern Europe. In fact, | | | | position consolidates in future. |