News in Brief

Austrian Business Agency Ranked Best Investment Promotion Agency Worldwide

The Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2009 report of the World Bank Group ranked ABA-Invest in Austria as the top global performer among 181 investment promotion agencies. The benchmarking study carried out by independent experts assessed the response of these agencies to two simulated investment projects – a software developer and a beverage manufacturing company – as well as the quality of their websites. Investments in Austria have totaled EUR 5.65 billion since the Austrian Business Agency started in 1982. 
 

Austria Chosen as World’s Best Country for Retirement

U.S. economic journal, Forbes, searched for the world’s top ten countries best suited for retirement. The results: Austria ranked first due to its high standard of living, good medical care, elegant architecture of Austrian cities and beautiful landscapes. Criteria such as visa regulations, quality of life, climate and English skills of the local residents were other key factors. Austria was followed by Thailand, Italy, Panama, Ireland, Australia, France, Malaysia, Spain and Canada. The country’s ranking doesn’t come as a surprise since earlier this year Vienna earned first place in a ranking for cities offering best quality of lifestyle.