Austrian Trade Commission in South Africa
Situated in Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of 70 Austrian Trade Commission offices of the Foreign Trade Organisation of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. The Austrian Trade Commission in South Africa was established to promote Austrian products and to build up relationships between South Africa and Austrian corporations. As representatives to the Austrian economy, the Austrian Trade Commission oversees the interests of its country on both sides, home and abroad. The Austrian Trade Commission in South Africa also supports relationships between Austria and countries such as Mauritius, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Burundi and Kenya, to name a few. The Austrian Trade Commission plays an intermediate role between countries and Austrian companies. Austrian Airlines has also resumed their services within South Africa.
It only makes sense for the Austrian Trade Commission to establish ties between Austria and South Africa, as the South African market is not only rich in minerals and agricultural products, but has nineteen of its companies make it into the Forbes Global 2000. This achievement is not an easy feat, as the Forbes Global 2000 lists the companies of the world stock exchanges by market value, profit, turn over and assets. This truly makes the South African companies a force on the international market, by being ahead of countries such as Russia, with 9 companies on the list, Mexico with 17 global companies and Austria with 10. Some companies who were founded in South Africa, but are currently based around the world, are Old Mutual ranked 185 and Anglo American at 116. Proving the South African trade and companies are growing and strengthening every year.
Austria and South Africa also have ties through the Lipizzaner horse breed, as both these countries, are the only two countries world wide that host a spectacular show, entertaining thousands of people and astonishing them with the Lipizzaner’s grace, agility and beauty. Only fitting as the Lipizzaner breed was created by Charles, Archduke of Austria. Several Lipizzaners were rescued from a war torn Austria in 1944, and so the Austrian Lipizzaners were established in South Africa.
Austria has also influenced South African art, as Jean Welz, born in Austria in 1900, influenced the style of nude portraits, landscapes and still life paintings. South Africa joined Austria at the Cannes Festival in 2005, again united by the arts. With Austria and South Africa being connected on so many different levels, trade, export and import is just a small part of it.