The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Austria in partnership with the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Central Europe and the Austrian Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce organised a conference on the topic of Business and Investment Opportunities in Azerbaijan in the beautiful halls of the Industriellenvereinigung in Vienna.

H.E. Mr. Rosvhan Sadigbayli, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Austria as well as Mr. Gerald Gerstbauer, President of Austrian Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, held opening remarks, followed by a presentation of the investment environment in Azerbaijan by Mr. Nemat Naghdaliyev, Trade Envoy of Azerbaijan to
Central European countries, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and a presentation on industrial parks and Alat Free Economic Zone by Mr. Mirza Aliyev, Advisor to the Trade Envoy of Azerbaijan to Central European countries, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan. Mr. Mirza Babayev, Chief Advisor to the Trade Envoy of Azerbaijan to Central European countries, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, presented investment opportunities in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan and Mr. Kubilay Karahan presented LIEBHERRs activities in Azerbaijan.

The guests were invited to a lunch buffet which gave opportunity to further discussions and networking.

The annual General Assembly of ataz took place on December 22st, 2023 at the new office of ataz, followed by a lunch at the Park Hyatt Hotel Vienna. President Gerald Gerstbauer presented the past activities of ataz and discussed the plans for 2024 with the Chamber's members. ataz is looking forward to a fruitful and eventful year 2024.

ataz thanks all its members and friends for their support and wishes a successful, heathly and happy New Year 2024.

The annual General Assembly of ataz took place on December 21st, 2022 at the Park Hyatt Hotel Vienna. President Gerald Gerstbauer presented the past activities of ataz and discussed the plans for 2023 with the Chamber's members. ataz is looking forward to a fruitful and eventful year 2023.

ataz thanks all its members and friends for their support and wishes a successful, heathly and happy New Year 2023.

Elisabeth Köstinger, former Minister of the Republic of Austria, was the keynote speaker of the latest ataz Boardroom Talk which took place on June 13th, 2022. A selected round of guests met at the Park Hyatt Hotel Vienna and discussed the latest developments in Europe and the Caucasus, especially with regards to the supply of energy. ataz President Gerald Gerstbauer hosted the Board Room Talk and moderated the discussion round.

Amongst the attendants were Prof.Markus Hengstschläger (MedUni Vienna), Tillmann Fuchs (Vienna Airport), Gerd Pollhammer (Siemens Austria AG) Alexander Schierhuber (Austrian Railways), Herbert Scheibner (Scheibner Business Development), Werner Neuwirth-Riedl, Orkhan Ismayilov (Lansky, Ganzger + partner), Dorothea Gros (atos IT Services and Solutions). 

This year's ataz Honorary Council Meeting took place on May 5th, 2022 at the renowned Hotel Interalpen Tyrol, owned by our dear ataz Member Liebherr. The meeting had a strong focus on the cooperation between Azerbaijan Railways and Austrian Railways and included the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between Rail Cargo Austria, represented by GD Gottfried Eymer and ADY Container, represented by GD Natig Jafarov. Another highlight of the event was the appointment of H.E. Rovshan Sadigbayli, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Austria, as new member of the ataz Honorary Council. 

The participants were given a tour of the impressive Liebherr Werk Telfs by its GD Martin Längle and had the opportunity to view the different construction steps of Liebherr's excavators and other vehicles and products. 

Amongst the participants were: H.E. Rovshan Sadigbayli (Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Austria), Javid Gurbanov (CEO of Azerbaijan Railways), Dr. Layla Gasimova (Director of the Azerbaijan Cultrue Centre), Gottfried Eymer (CEO Austrian Rail Cargo), Natig Jafarov (CEO ADY Container), Leopold Berthold (CEO of Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH), Martin Längle (CEO of the Liebherr Werk Telfs), Dorothea Gros (COO Atos IT Solutions), Alexander Schierhuber (CEO Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft), Orkhan Ismayilov (Lansky, Ganzger + partner) and Dr. Gerald Eder (CEO Hydrophil).

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, the Cultural Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan and ataz invited to a concert of the "Shahriyar Imanov Trio" in the premises of the Cultural Center. The celebration was initiated by opening statements of Leyla Gasimova, Director of the Cultural Center of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Vienna, Gerald Gerstbauer, President of ataz, H.E. Galib Israfilov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Austria, and Martin Engelberg, Member of the National Council of Austria.  

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We are wishing Mr. Heinritzi all the best in his new position!

The latest keynote speaker of the ataz Board Room Talk on July 24th, 2019 was Karlheinz Kopf, Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. A selected round of CEO's met at the Park Hyatt Hotel Vienna. ataz President Gerald Gerstbauer hosted the Board Room Talk and moderated the discussion round.

Amongst the attendants were Wolfgang Hesoun, CEO of Siemens Austria AG, Elisabeth Stadler, CEO of Vienna Insurance Group, Horst Leitner, CEO of Hofer KG, Robert Schächter, CEO of the Austrian State Printing House, Stephanie Ernst, CEO of Rainer Gruppe, Leopold Berthold, Managing Director of Liebherr, Silvia Grünberger, Partner at Rosam Grünberger Change Communications, Harald Krieger, Partner at Coop Himmelb(l)au,and more.

From Febuary 17th-19th 2019, ataz organized a high ranking delelgation to Baku. The CEO of Austrian Railways (ÖBB) Andreas Matthä, Thomas Kargl (Managing Director ÖBB), Bettina Gusenbauer (Secretary General ÖBB), Leopold Berthold (Managing Director Liebherr), Silvia Grünberger (Managing Partner at Rosam Grünberger Change Communciations), Gabriel Lansky (Managing Partner at Lansky, Ganzger + partner Attorneys at Law), Cavid Hidayatov (Country Manager, TÜV Austria) and Gerald Gerstbauer (ataz President and SVP at Atos IT Solutions and Services GmbH) were part of the delegation.

The visitors had an extensive programme in Baku: meetings with the CEO of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Gurbanov, with the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, with the Director-General of the New Port of Baku in Alat, Taleh Ziyadov and many more. The programme was rounded up by beautiful and delicious dinner evenings.

On November 15th, 2018, the Austrian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (ataz) together with system7-rail support invited to the business breakfast on the topic of "Railways & Digitalization" at the law firm LANSKY, GANZGER + partner (LGP). The railway CEO's of Austria and Azerbaijan as well as infrastructure experts from politics and economy met each other for an exchange of ideas about the future of the railway industry and the strengthening of the two "transport hubs" Austria and Azerbaijan. The keynote speaker of the ataz Business Breakfast was Prof. Bernhard Lichtberger, founder and CTO of system7 Railsupport. The event was rounded off by the opening of the new offices of ataz in Vienna: Ataz President Gerald Gerstbauer, Board Member Gabriel Lansky, WKO Vice President Christoph Matznetter and District Chairman Ernst Nevrivy announced the opening of the new ataz office, and gallery owner Anne-Marie Avramut presented exhibits from her latest show, "Sica Art Work".

ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä and Javid Gurbanov (CEO of the Azerbaijani State Railways) held opening statements. More than 80 guests attended, including Michael Angerer (WKO Eastern Europe / Central Asia), Alexander Andreas Schierhuber (Breitspur Planungsgesellschaft), Rovshan Sadigbayli and Javid Nasirli (both Embassy Republic of Azerbaijan), Hans Jörg Holleis (system7 - metal technology), Gerald Ganzger (LGP), Dorothea Gros (Atos) and many more.

Copyright pictures: Society Magazin

Othmar Karas, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), was the keynote speaker of the second ataz Board Room Talk which took place on October 8th, 2018. The talk was held again at the prestigious venue of the Park Hyatt Hotel in Vienna and was hosted by ataz President Gerald Gerstbauer. Die Presse Editor-in-chief Rainer Nowak moderated the discussion round.

Amongst the attendants were Wolfgang Anzengruber, CEO of Verbund, Leopold Berthold, CEO of Liebherr, Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, Michael Gerbavsits, CEO of Energie Burgenland, and more.

Pictures: Copyright Sima Prodinger

ataz congratulates Mr. Karlheinz Kopf, Chairmain of the ataz Honorary Board and former second President of the National Council, to his new position as new Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

Born in Vorarlberg, he was the second President of the National Council, ÖVP club chairman, Secretary General of the Austrian Business Association and he also is an entrepreneur.

We are wishing him success in all his endeavours.

On December 29, 2017, Mr. Andreas Königsberger, Managing Partner of "Safe Invest", one of the most successful financial service providers in Central and Eastern Europe, was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the states of Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Burgenland. The new representative office is located in St. Pölten.
 
ataz was represented by President Gerald Gerstbauer and Secretary General Dorothea Kipperman at the opening ceremony on May 15th in the new office of the Honorary Consul in St. Pölten. We are wishing Mr. Königsberger all the best in his new position!
 

In cooperation with Siemens Austria AG, ataz was pleased to invite its members and friends to an interesting Business Breakfast on the topic of "The Future of Azerbaijan". After a warm welcoming speech of Gerald Gerstbauer, President of ataz and SVP at Atos IT Solutions and Services GmbH, Gerd Pollhammer, Head of Division Energy Management in CEE at Siemens AG Österreich held a keynote speech on „The Path to Decarbonization and Digitalization – Trends and Innovations“. Georg Weiher, Martin Schreyer and Davide Trebo gave an overview of the status quo, challenges and perspectives of Azerbaijan's energy sector, including an outlook on Azerbaijan's traditional and sustainable energy production.

Siemens invited the guests to an extensive Breakfast which gave opportunity to further discussions and networking.

Following the ataz Board meeting, ataz was pleased to invite its Honorary Board members to a festive lunch. Minister Sophie Karmasin, Karlheinz Kopf, President of the National Council, Alfred Gusenbauer, former Austrian Chancellor, ataz President Gerald Gerstbauer and many more came together for a beautiful lunch at the Hyatt Hotel in Vienna.

They discussed the great opportunities and challanges with respect to the New Silk Road. Ataz wants to further the development and exchange of potentials regarding the realisation of the New Silk Road. 

During the first Day the delegation visited the Martyrers Lane and showed their respect.

Later that day, the focus layed on official meetings: The delegation was received by Prof. Hidschran Huseynova, President of the National Committee for Families, Women and Children, and Prof. Salim Muslumov, Minister for Social Affairs

ataz took the opportunity to invite a group of ataz members to meet Rafiga Huseyn-Zade, Vice-president of SOCAR, and organized a formal dinner with Intigam Babayev, Vize-Minister for Youth and Sport, and Fuad Muradov.

The last day consisted of official meetings with President S.E. Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Arthur Rasi-zada. ataz member Liebherr was invited to visit the Port of Baku with Director Taleh Ziyadov. The short trip was a great opportunity for political, economic, cultural and personal exchanges and was a further step in bringing the two countries even closer together.

During his stay in Venice Mr Gerstbauer was invited to visit The Azerbaijan Pavilion at the 57th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia.

The Artists Hypnotica and Elvin Nabizade show Azerbajans deep multicultural roots with their installations: Unity, Under One Sun, Traffic, Sphere and Profile.

President Gerstbauer was impressed by the hospitality. It was one of the most beautiful Pavilions at the 57th Biennale di Venezia.

The ataz Business Breakfast was held on March 14^th with Taleh Ziyadov, Director-General of Baku International Sea Trade Port in Azerbaijan, on the topic of "Port of Baku: a Link between East and West, alongside the ancient Silk Road".

After giving an overview with facts and figures on the Port of Baku, Leopold Berthold provided a brief introduction into Liebherrs Port Equipment.

Leopold Berthold is Managing Director of Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH. Taleh Ziyadov is Director-General of Baku International Sea Trade Port.

Javid Gurbanov, Chairman Ministry of Transport, President Karlheinz Kopf, KommR Gerald Gerstbauer, Embassador Josef Sailler, Trade Delegate Philipp Winkler and representatives of the companies Liebherr und Kapsch visited Turkmenistan.

This year’s General Assembly was held on 6th of November at the office of Lansky, Ganzger + partner. ataz president Gerald Gerstbauer informed about recent activities and presented the plans for the next year. An informal get-together with snacks provided the opportunity for networking and concluded the successful event.

Medical support for ataz: We are happy to welcome Dr. Bob Djavan as a new member of the ataz advisory board!

Bob Djavan is Professor of Urology, Director of the Vienna Urology Foundation, Executive Board Member of the European Society of Urooncology (ESOU) and Chairman of the Regional Office of the European Association of Urology (EAU).

During the last year ataz succeeded in gaining some new high ranking members for its advisory board, which means an important further improvement of ataz' network. On March 13th they were invited to Zillertal in Tyrol for a first meeting and kick off dinner.

The elegant but still cosy atmosphere of Sportresidenz provided the participants with perfect conditions to discuss general issues as well as ataz’ program for 2015/16 and the next delegation to Baku.

Special thanks to Siemens, Generalplan and Morandell for supporting this event!

Picture: (LTR) Günter Dörflinger, Karlheinz Kopf, Martha Schultz, Alfred Gusenbauer, Herbert Scheibner, Gerald Gerstbauer - click to enlarge

Mr. Gurbanov was warmly welcomed by Karlheinz Kopf, Second President of Austria’s National Council and president of the ataz advisory board, ataz president Gerald Gerstbauer and ataz vice president Günter Dörflinger. The guest from Azerbaijan was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Leyla Gasimova  who is also the director of the Austrian Azerbaijani Cultural Center Azculture.

After a tour through the Styrian Landtag guided by Landtagspräsident Franz Majcen, and a tour through the historic city centre of Graz, the day’s proceedings concluded at the cosy winehouse “Winzerhaus Koglberg” in southern Styria.