Hello Missouri!
Ambassador Petra Schneebauer, center left and Economic Counsellor Leon Scheicher meeting with Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri, and prominent Kansas City entrepreneuer and citizen, Andy Rieger of J. Rieger. Photo: Austrian Embassy Washington
From June 24–28, Ambassador Petra Schneebauer visited Kansas City, Missouri, for a series of high-level meetings and engagements aimed at further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Austria and the United States across the political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people spheres.
Ambassador Schneebauer met with Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City and Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri. The meetings provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues of mutual interest and to reaffirm the close ties between Austria and the State of Missouri.
Underscoring the importance of economic exchange between Missouri and Austria, Ambassador Schneebauer met with representatives of the Kansas City Tech Council and regional economic development organizations to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation, including in the field of vocational education and Austria's dual apprenticeship system and workforce development. She also participated in networking events at KC House, organized by the Kansas City Economic Development Council, where she engaged with representatives of FMC Corporation and other local stakeholders. A visit to a state-of-the-art data center offered further insights into developments in digital infrastructure and facilitated an exchange on opportunities for future collaboration.
Touring the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, served as a reminder of how important the Marshall Plan was for rebuilding Austria after World War II and was a highlight of the trip. Thank you to President Truman for being a part of making the Marshall Plan and Europe’s economic revival in the post-war period a reality.
The visit concluded with Ambassador Schneebauer attending the FIFA World Cup match between Austria and Algeria. In addition to supporting the Austrian national team, the Embassy of Austria provided consular assistance to Austrian citizens traveling to Kansas City and engaged with local partners through sports diplomacy initiatives surrounding the tournament. The FIFA World Cup serves as an important platform for fostering international dialogue, strengthening bilateral relationships, and promoting Austria's presence and values on the global stage.
