Ex-Manager Anzengruber becomes Ukraine special coordinator-Diepresse.com
The former composite boss is supposed to volunteer the help for and contacts to Ukraine. 200 companies are already working directly in Ukraine, which ensure jobs and security on site, says Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) presented the Austrian special coordinator for the Ukraine re structure on Wednesday afternoon: the former Verbund-CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber Take this task on a voluntary basis. It is about networking companies and institutions. Because it is « completely clear » that ultimately the taxpayers cannot apply the reconstruction costs of an estimated 500 billion euros, she said.
200 companies are already working directly in Ukraine, which ensure jobs and security in Ukraine, the Foreign Minister said at a press conference in Vienna. « There are many excellent Austrian companies with know-how. » Anzengruber called the areas of sustainable energy, hydropower, infrastructure and machine industry, road construction, the residential and service sector and insurance and financial areas. The office of special coordinator is a « challenging and complex task ». He « feels connected to the Austrian economy », Anzengruber explained his motivation. He wanted to support that Austrian companies perceive their potential.
Meinl-Reisinger: « Support for security »
The security of the investments arises, of course. Insurance topics are something that « we have to solve, » said Anzengruber, who at institutions such as the control bank and the European Bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD). And Meinl-Reisinger added that reconstruction is also « a question of the security guarantee »: The more international companies believe that they are working there, the more it also serves « in the broadest sense of support for security ». She also explained that the topics of reconstruction of energy infrastructure, housing and energy efficiency in Ukraine are already facing, even though the war is still raging.
Meinl-Reisinger had made Ukraine one of her work focus. Her second trip abroad in the office of Foreign Minister led her to Kiev, where she met President Wolodymyr Selenskij. And she made the then ambassador in Ukraine, Arad Benkö, her head of cabinet. So far, Austria has supported Ukraine with more than around 300 million euros in state financial and humanitarian assistance. With the « Point of Contact » there is already a national point of contact for the reconstruction of the country attacked by Russia in 2022.
Austria before war sixth largest foreign investor
Austrian companies have been available for the reconstruction of the basic infrastructure since May 2024 to 2029 via the Austrian Ukraine Fazility export guarantees of a total of 500 million euros. According to the Foreign Ministry, Austria was the sixth largest foreign investor in Ukraine before the start of the war. 1,000 Austrian companies are active in Ukraine, 200 of them with their own branch – these employees around 25,000 workers.
The Upper Austrian Anzengruber already worked in several management functions – among other things at the Salzburg AG and the Palfinger Group. From 2009 to 2020 he was CEO of the Verbund AG. He will be located as a special Ukraine coordinator in the Foreign Ministry.
Criticism by FPÖ
The FPÖ criticized the order of the special coordinator. « The most expensive federal government of all time creates a top job for a person from the ÖVP environment, the Austrians brings nothing at all, » said the FPÖ spokeswoman for foreign policy, Susanne Fürst. A reconstruction in Ukraine could only take place after a hopefully soon end of the war, whereby Austria has no responsibility or even an obligation (Apa.)
