Austria aims to woo more Malaysian firms

KUALA LUMPUR: Austria aims to woo more Malaysian companies to invest in the country, said its Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Michael Postl.

Malaysia is currently ranked first in South-East Asia in terms of imports from the country and 38th worldwide in terms of exports into the country. Dr Michael Postl, Ambassador to Malaysia

Postl, who assumed the post in August 2017, said Malaysia was one of Austria’s important trading partners.

“Malaysia is currently ranked first in South-East Asia in terms of imports from the country and 38th worldwide in terms of exports into the country,” he told Bernama after making a courtesy call on Bernama chairman, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang yesterday.

Postl hoped that the values of imports and exports could be further improved.

He said despite all these, there were no big foreign direct investments (FDIs) yet from Malaysian companies into his country, although the FDIs from Austrian companies into Malaysia were valued at over €200 million (€1 = RM4.95). “There are still big potentials to increase,” he said. Postl said Austria was also strategically located in Europe and would be a prime location for business operators to establish and expand their businesses in Europe.

“We think that Vienna (Austria’s capital city) has excellent transfer facilities. We have direct flights to all countries in the western Balkan several times a day and flight connections to all countries in eastern Europe.

“So, for companies interested in the European market we think that Austria offers opportunities,” he said. — Bernama