The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

About the State of Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg has an area of 2,601 km2, with approximately 350,000 people living in 96 districts. The state is divided into four counties (Bregenz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch, Bludenz). The state capital is Bregenz with approximately 26,000 citizens.

Central location

Vorarlberg lies at the very western corner of Austria. In terms of Europe, however, it occupies a central location with good connections to the main European centres of industry. Vorarlberg lies at the cross-roads of north-south and east-west connections and is very accessible.

76 % of the state boundaries are also national borders. The neighbouring countries are Germany to the north, Switzerland to the west and south, and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the southwest. Not only four nations, but also three trade zones meet at Vorarlberg's borders with Austria and Germany as EU countries, Switzerland as a member of EFTA and Liechtenstein as an EC state.

High export quota

Due to the exposed location, Vorarlberg's companies have always had  to
trade internationally. The total value of exports in 1996 amounted to over €4.8 billion. With its
high export quota, Vorarlberg can be counted as one of the most export-oriented countries in the world.

Culture and tourism

Vorarlberg enjoys an international reputation for its diverse cultural activities, its excellent standard in the international congress-management sector and its creative local cuisine.
Under the motto "working where others holiday", Vorarlberg has been able to combine the advantages of a competitive business location with an exemplary quality of life.

What makes Vorarlberg interesting as a business location

• Proximity of Germany, Switzerland and the rest of Austria
• Vorarlberg is traditionally an industrial region. A third of the labour force work in industry
• 80 % of the gross production is taken up by the electronics, textile and foodstuffs branches
• Since the mid-eighties, an intensive education and technology offensive (technical college, subsidies for innovations etc.)
• Active environmental protection program to guarantee the high quality of life and a healthy environment
• Lower cost of energy for industry and trade compared to the rest of Austria, Germany and Switzerland due to intensive use of water power
• A completed telecommunications infrastructure: digitalisation of the telephone network; fibre optic datanet with international connections etc.
• Quick and unbureaucratic handling of official approvals
• Central location in Europe
• German-speaking area
• Political and social stability
• Traditionally strong economic links to eastern and south-eastern Europe
• High level of education of the population
• Business-friendly corporate taxation system
• Distinctly lower labour unit costs in industry
• Willingness of the employees for motivation and post-education