Austria Appoints Special Coordinator for Ukraine’s Reconstruction

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger introduced the special coordinator for Ukraine's reconstruction. He is Wolfgang Anzengruber, former chairman of the board of the Verbund energy concern. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Die Presse.

The head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that the Austrian federal government has made Ukraine's recovery a priority - ‘both to support Ukraine itself and in the interests of the Austrian economy and, therefore, the Austrian people’. 

‘I am very pleased that we have been able to attract Wolfgang Anzengruber, a recognised expert who knows entrepreneurship, business and energy issues like few others. That is why he is the ideal candidate to help Austria in its recovery efforts,’ added Meinl-Reisinger.

At a briefing on Wednesday, 30 April, the Austrian Foreign Minister was quoted as saying that about 200 Austrian companies are already operating directly in Ukraine, creating jobs and contributing to stability. 

‘We have strong companies with the necessary experience,’ she stressed. 

In his turn, Anzengruber named the following priority areas: green energy, hydropower, infrastructure, mechanical engineering, road construction, housing, services, insurance and finance.  

According to him, this is ‘a complex and multifaceted job’. 

As The Gaze reported earlier, on 14 March, Meinl-Reisinger arrived in Ukraine for the first time as Austrian Foreign Minister and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She announced then that Austria would provide €5 million to Ukraine for demining and €2 million for grain deliveries.

In April, the National Council of Austria unanimously adopted a resolution titled ‘Protection and assistance to Ukrainian children,’ marking a significant gesture of support for Ukraine's ongoing efforts to safeguard children affected by Russia's full-scale invasion.