Read the extract from an online article about top export companies in Austria. Do you know the companies mentioned? Find out what they produce and where they export to. c In spite of challenging economic times quite a number of Austrian companies succeed on international markets. Among these are Red Bull, OEBB, Swarovski AG, Riedel GmbH, Ars Electronica Linz GmbH& Co KG, Donauwalzer Hotelbetriebs- und Import-Export GmbH, Jungbunzlauer Austria AG, Do&Co, and Sacher Hotels Betriebsgesellschaft mbH […] Choose an Austrian company, either from the list above or another one, and prepare a company presentation. Your presentation should include the following information about the company: ■■ facts and figures ■■ mission statement / corporate identity ■■ products or services ■■ exports / export market ■■ marketing and advertising Compile a handout and give your presentation. You are planning to take part in a virtual conference on Business in Europe. Each delegation is required to submit a report about their country as an exporting country. Use all the information in 1–3 and the notes below to write your report (around 250 words). You should: ■■ outline the importance of exports for the Austrian economy ■■ describe the main export goods and services and the top exporting companies ■■ suggest ways in which Austria could increase exports to achieve a positive trade balance 1 Writing guide: Report, p. 206. Speaking 3 Writing 4 ■■ Austria – among the 15 richest countries in the world. ■■ economy based on: service sector (large), industrial sector (sound), agricultural sector (small, highly specialised) ■■ small domestic market, dependency on foreign trade (2019 export quota = 55.6% of GDP) ■■ traditional links to Germany and to other EU economies ■■ trade with CEE-states increasingly significant (geographical proximity) ■■ trade balance usually negative (2019: trade deficit 5.94 billion USD; export value 179 billion USD; imports: 185 billion USD) ■■ in general: stable and wealthy economy; recession in 2020 due to pandemic ■■ possibilities for economic growth: knowledge economy / ’green jobs’ / logistics / medicine Changes in international trade In pairs, discuss what international trade is and try to imagine what your life would be like without it. Which goods would you have to do without? What effects would it have on our economy? Read the information on the next page and answer the questions. 1 What different ways are there to restrict imports? 2 How does international trade affect developing countries? 3 How has world trade changed in the last two decades? 4 What is the role of the WTO? 5 Which trade blocs and trade agreements are mentioned? What is their function? Reading 5 a b Language skills Extras Explore 10 Trading with the world 127 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum de Verlags öbv
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