Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (de: Wirtschaftskammer Österreich or WKÖ) coordinates and represents the interests of the Austrian business community on a national and international level. Within the Austrian Economic Chambers’ system it functions as the national umbrella organization for the nine State Chambers (one in each of Austria's federal State or Bundesland) and 110 trade associations for different industries. Most State Chambers and associations have local offices to provide services in close proximity to members. The Presiding Committee of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber consists of President Christoph Leitl, the Vice Presidents Richard Schenz, Martha Schultz, Matthias Krenn, Christoph Matznetter, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller and Jürgen Roth, Secretary General Anna Maria Hochhauser and Deputy Secretary General Herwig Höllinger.

Membership is compulsory and includes all Austrian companies in operation. The resultant membership, some 430,000 businesses drawn from a diverse selection of business areas such as trade and craft, commerce, industry, transportation, tourism, services industries, finance and insurance.

Representation of membership interests at all levels of government. By law governments are obliged to consult with Chambers on legislative projects and important regulation. In many laws a provision is made to involve Chambers in decision-making and administrative procedures. Information and advisory service to members: Typical issues include taxation, labour law, vocational training, industry-specific legislation, industry-wide advertising and market research.

Trade associations engage in negotiations with their respective sectoral countrywide union. Economic Promotion and Development as well as training and consulting are mainly organised by a specialised department in each region (WIFI, Wirtschaftsfoerderungsinstitut).

Business Support and Promotion of International Trade is provided by a specialised department at a national level (AWO - AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT ÖSTERREICH), 110 field offices around the world (Austrian Trade Commissions) plus a network of specialised experts within the State Chambers. Public law (Wirtschaftskammergesetz) provides a legal foundation for the Austrian Federal Economic Chambers, supplying the legal framework for all Chambers, their co-operation, mandatory membership, and rules for setting membership fees. Although established by public law the Federal Economic Chambers are exclusively business driven.

Every 5 years entrepreneurs elect officers and representatives for the trade associations and the Chamber (amounting to a total of more than 10.000 officers) from their own ranks. In these elections free associations of entrepreneurs field their candidates to compete for the leadership of the Chambers and individual trade associations. Some of these entrepreneurial associations are affiliated with political parties while others are independent platforms. Since 1999,Dr. Christoph Leitl has been elected President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber thrice.

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