Pröll: “Additional World Bank Offices in Vienna Strengthen Austria” Austria as future official seat of three of the five World Bank Organizations. On the occasion of the signing of the agreement, Finance Minister and Austrian Governor of the World Bank Josef Pröll said that “through this agreement we have succeeded in linking the World Bank more strongly to Austria, thereby promoting Vienna’s position as an important site for international organizations.”
Negotiations between Austria and the World Bank Group took place on July 21, 2010, with the signing of the agreement symbolizing the crowning conclusion of Austria as the future official seat of three organizations of the World Bank Group.
“We have succeeded in attracting the World Bank Group to Austria and thereby further reinforced Vienna’s position. That also serves as an important sign, particularly at the present time, because Austria is one of the driving countries behind discussions on constructing a new international regulatory reform,” said the Finance Minister. The agreement now creates the conditions for using Vienna’s best possible synergy effects. Pröll: “We have succeeded in supporting the World Bank’s plans to decentralize to the benefit of Austria, thereby expanding the current location of buildings.
Efforts toward locating international organizations began as early as 1979, when the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSZE) was situated next to the United Nations. Through these efforts, Austria succeeded in strengthening its international profile and the potential of Vienna as an attractive location. Shortly thereafter, the World Bank Group opened the “Vienna Center for Financial Reporting,” the “Invest in Western Balkan Program” as well as a program of “Foreign Investment Advisory Services, ”all of which focused on improving the climate of investing and promoting direct investments in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
For further information, please contact:
The Austrian Ministry of Finance, Press Office
Tel. (+43-1) 514 33 - 500 004