RIYADH: Imports from Saudi Arabia to Austria totaled €442.4 million ($477.9 million) in 2023, an increase of 146.2 percent on the previous year.
Oskar Wustinger, the Austrian ambassador to the Kingdom, said exports from his country to the Kingdom also showed a strong upward trend, increasing 11.9 percent to €537.8 million.
At a reception hosted by the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh, he described the growth in trade as “impressive” and said Austrian exports to Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2024 had also surged, up 57 percent on the same period last year.
Some 200,000 Saudis visited Austria last year, he added, describing it as “a big increase and new record with a further increase this year.”
According to the embassy’s website, Saudis made up the largest group of tourists from Gulf region with over 194,600 arrivals and 540,000 overnight stays.
The ambassador said he expected to see a further increase in tourism, with many visas already issued through the new “cascade” system.
Wustinger, who took up his current role in September last year, said the “very good relations” between Austria and the Kingdom were based on solid friendship and covered many fields.
During his tenure, he hopes to expand cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, mobility, mining, tourism, tourism infrastructure, the entertainment sector, green tech and renewable energy.
He said: “Vision 2030 is impressively bold and very ambitious,” adding he continued to be amazed by the rapid pace of change and the “energy, enthusiasm, and creativity of Saudi youth which is the biggest treasure of all.”
The ambassador also highlighted several Austrian companies which have established a presence in Saudi Arabia in the past few years, such as Hoerbiger and Andritz, adding that TUV Austria had celebrated the opening of its regional headquarters in Riyadh in May.
“Austrian businesses have world-leading expertise, break new ground, and think outside the box,” he said.
During his speech, the ambassador also listed numerous trade missions organized by the Austrian Embassy, including the commercial section which focused on green tech, tourism know-how and infrastructure.
He said another trade mission to Riyadh this month would bring a delegation to Abha to learn more about the developing tourist region of Aseer.
There was cooperation in the world of football, too, he said, with an increasing number of Saudi teams — including Al-Hilal — holding summer camps in Austria.
He also highlighted Austria’s National Day as “a very good occasion to bring together colleagues, Saudi friends, contacts and business people who are involved in trying to further enhance Austria and Saudi relations in the cultural field, economic and political fields.
