The IV Economic Salon dealt with the central challenges in the face of economic upheavals and a tightening global competition. The focus of the IV economic salon is the focus of the IV economic salon, the securing of national and international supply chains, the supply of clean energy and contemporary infrastructures as well as the role that take on Lower Austria. Under the direction of ORF-UKRAINE Correspondent Christian Wehrschütz, Kari Ochsner (IV-NÖ), Andreas Matthä (ÖBB), Achim Kaspar (association), Hanna Zamazeeva (state energy agency Ukraine) discussed, among other things, the reconstruction of Ukraine.
In his opening statement, Kari Ochsner discussed the chances of Austria’s industry.
“There are three great economic chances in Europe that we have to use as an Austrian industry,” he emphasizes. “Firstly, Germany, our most important export partner, plans to invest 500 billion euros in the modernization of its infrastructure. Second, the EU strengthens its defense with 800 billion euros – which not only includes military but also infrastructural projects such as the expansion of barracks and offers great opportunities for domestic businesses without a conflict with neutrality. Ukraine after the war with up to 700 billion euros a gigantic project, the largest reconstruction program since World War II. ”
As part of an IV-NÖ delegation trip, Ochsner was on site in spring: “This visit moved me twice: The suffering that arose from the Russian war of aggression is shocking. At the same time, you can feel an unbroken optimism and the clear will to be part of the western Europe. Expertise in the renewable.
Achim Kaspar, board member of the association, visited Ukraine to get his own picture of the progress in reconstruction of the energy infrastructure. “Europe has woken up and has recognized that convenient dependencies and regulation do not create any security of supply. In order to take advantage of the opportunities of the transformation, we have to reflect on our strengths: internal market, innovative strength and cooperation. It is time to position Europe again about performance, opportunities and competitiveness,” said Achim Kaspar.
Hanna Zamazeeva, Head of State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving on Ukraine, expressly spoke out for increased cooperation with Austrian companies. “I visit the Europa-Forum Wachau to find cooperation opportunities in the field of energy, energy efficiency and decarbonization. Ukraine is interested in Austrian technologies and equipment and would like to integrate Austrian manufacturers into the Ukrainian market. The goal is a WIN-WIN cooperation, including through joint financial instruments and the integration of local financial institutions of the two countries,” said Hanna Zamazeeva.
The CEO of ÖBB, Andreas Matthä, underlined the central importance of the train.
“In order for Europe to become a Europe, we need more Europe. That means more uniform standards, because in the end Europe also needs more trains. As can see that in climate change, but we ultimately see this in the entire question of resilience and also in the security of supply. The Austrian rail industry as a fourth largest export for rail industrial goods is also an important partner for the modernization of the Ukrainian rail network. Here are our colleagues in Ukraine with advice and action, ”said Andreas Matthä.