RIYADH — “In fact this visit has a long history, I became president of Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry nearly four years ago and on top of my agenda is the GCC region. Austria has long tradition in trading with the region. Three years ago in Vienna I met with Dr. Kurt Altmann Austrian Commercial Counsellor for Saudi Arabia and Yemen and we discussed the trade mission here and we went for plans, by identifying the sectors. We have a big delegation of 16 enterprises and I have 22 representatives accompanying me,” Eng. Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told Saudi Gazette during his first visit to Saudi Arabia.

“The visit at this time is very important to us as Saudi Arabia has launched Vision 2030 and we think that many of our companies fit in this vision. This my first visit to Saudi Arabia and I am confident that it is the right decision and time for this visit as I am positively surprised by what I have seen during the two days that I have been here. Saudi Arabia is a very fast developing country under the outstanding Vision 2030.”

On the cooperation of the Vienna Chamber in achieving vision 2030, Eng. Ruck said: “We have here several companies that could be participating in Vision 2030 especially in the fields of healthcare, solar energy and transportation. They are all industries that are fitting in Vision 2030 mega projects.”

There are Austrian enterprises in Saudi Arabia such as assembly plants and top engineering offices that can increase the contribution. “Since one of the goals is to raise the ratio of SME from 22% to 35%, this is also one of our goals, we have in Austria ‘Know How’ that we can contribute to the vision,” he further said.

The Vienna Chamber hosts more than 140,000 enterprises. The main three pillars in the Vienna Chamber are education, start up enterprises and start exporting, therefore, the Austrian Economic Chambers maintains 120 commercial offices abroad to support our enterprises going to international markets. One of our main goals is to increase the foreign trade which is one of the main success factors of the Austrian economy.

“Our trade mission will contribute to the development of the bilateral trade between Austrian and Saudi-Arabia,” he added.

On the volume of trade in terms of imports and exports and the fields, Eng Ruck said that bilateral Austrian- Saudi trade volume is €433 million, from which approximately 80% are exports to Saudi Arabia and 20% are imports. During the years before the volume was double this volume, “however our goal is to go up again and increase the bilateral volume of trade. Among many others the main fields of cooperation are healthcare, industrial mining, solar energy and water sewage. One of our companies contributes since more than 40 years to the supply of water from the Arabian Gulf.

“Also Austria is a leading country in e-government all over Europe which means that maybe there would be collaboration in the same between the two countries, as Saudi Arabia is very advanced in e-government. “

“We are interested in bilateral investments that boost the relations between the two countries and the two economies and I am convinced that with Vision 2030 there will be great opportunities. Saudis are investing in Austria mainly in real estate sector,” Eng. Ruck added.

On Austrian investments in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Altmann said: “We have a number of Austrian subsidiaries here and the most important are assembling works special vehicles, oil industry supplies such as oil tubes, water technology such as of water supply from Jubail to Riyadh and assembly for railway switches in Riyadh”.

“One of the interesting fields is education we own Modul University, a business university specialized in hospitality based in Dubai and China. Discussions during this present visit revealed that there is a big demand in Saudi Arabia in this field and there might be a possibility of having a subsidiary of the university here in the kingdom. As with the new major projects there will be a bigger demand for skilled workers”. Eng. Ruck said

On his impression about Saudi Arabia, Eng. Ruck said “I have met future oriented and friendly people that are focused on solutions, this is the impression that I will take home”.

Zaid Maleh, managing director of Modul University in Dubai, said: “Modul University was opened one and half year ago and it has 300 students, 18 of them are Saudis, some of which work at Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage and others work in the private sector”.

Modul University Dubai is the first and only Austrian university in the Middle East with all programs accredited and recognized internationally.

Eng. Walter Ruck was elected as president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce & Industry in June 2014. who worked as an independent construction industry contractor and served with the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry for four years in key positions directing the Crafts and Trades Sectors. The focus of the work of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry is active support for company members, achieved through advocacy, advice, the provision of a range of services, information and training programs for businesses and a global presence via the Austrian Trade Offices of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (www.advantageaustria.org/sa) — SG