Wolfgang Anzengruber becomes Ukraine Special Coordinator
The former Verbund CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber is taking on this task on a voluntary basis. It is about networking companies and institutions. Because it is "completely clear" that ultimately taxpayers cannot bear the reconstruction costs estimated at 500 billion euros, she said.
Anzengruber: "Challenging and Complex Task"
Already, 200 companies are directly active in Ukraine, providing jobs and security in the country, the Foreign Minister explained at a press conference in Vienna. "There are many excellent Austrian companies with know-how." Anzengruber mentioned the areas of sustainable energy, hydropower, infrastructure, as well as the machinery industry, road construction, the residential and service sector, and insurance and financial sectors. The office of the special coordinator is a "challenging and complex task." He "feels connected to the Austrian economy," Anzengruber explained his motivation. He wants to support Austrian companies in realizing their potential.
Of course, the security of investments is a concern. Insurance issues are something "we need to solve," said Anzengruber, referring to institutions like the Kontrollbank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). And Meinl-Reisinger added that reconstruction is also "a question of security guarantee": The more international companies have the courage to operate there, the more this also serves "in the broadest sense to support security." She also explained that the issues of rebuilding energy infrastructure, housing construction, and energy efficiency in Ukraine are already arising, even though the war is still ongoing.
Ukraine Focus of Meinl-Reisinger
Meinl-Reisinger had made Ukraine one of her work priorities. Her second foreign trip in the office of the Foreign Minister took her to Kyiv, where she met, among others, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She also appointed the then ambassador to Ukraine, Arad Benkö, as her chief of staff. Austria has so far supported Ukraine with more than approximately 300 million euros in state financial and humanitarian aid. There is already a national contact point for the reconstruction of the country attacked by Russia in 2022, called the "Point of Contact".
Austrian companies have had access to export guarantees totaling 500 million euros for the reconstruction of basic infrastructure through the Austrian Ukraine Facility since May 2024 until 2029. According to the Foreign Ministry, Austria was the sixth largest foreign investor in Ukraine before the war began. 1,000 Austrian companies are active in Ukraine, 200 of which have their own branch - these employ approximately 25,000 workers.
The Upper Austrian Anzengruber has already held several management positions - including at Salzburg AG and the Palfinger Group. From 2009 to 2020, he was the CEO of Verbund AG. He will be based in the Foreign Ministry as the Ukraine Special Coordinator.
FPÖ Criticizes
The FPÖ criticized the appointment of the special coordinator. "The most expensive federal government of all time is once again creating a top job for a person from the ÖVP environment, this position brings absolutely nothing to Austrians," said the FPÖ spokesperson for foreign policy, Susanne Fürst, in a statement. A reconstruction in Ukraine can only occur after a hopefully soon end to the war, with Austria having no responsibility or obligation for it.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.