Austria

Hamburg's connection to Austria

Hamburg and Austria have enjoyed a strong partnership for centuries - in terms of culture, history and tourism, but also a strong economic connection, and the Port of Hamburg is indispensable for Austria's foreign trade. Numerous Hamburg companies from industry, logistics and services are active in Austria. Austria's central location in the heart of Europe not only offers an attractive investment location, excellent educational institutions, well-trained specialists and cutting-edge research, but also a modern infrastructure. The strong industrial sector - mechanical engineering, steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, renewable energies - offers a wide range of opportunities.

Many international companies have been based here for decades, so Austria continues to be a hub for South-East Europe. The close relationship between the cities of Hamburg and Vienna, also in political terms, enables a close exchange in a variety of ways.

HamburgAmbassador Robert Pfarrwaller

Robert Pfarrwaller, born in Vienna, lived in the Hanseatic city for over 10 years and has worked internationally in various management functions for over 45 years, currently in the electrical engineering sector. Through his various honorary functions and his historical connection to Hamburg, he sees himself as a door opener for Austrian and Hamburg companies and also works closely with German and Hamburg companies in his professional life.

After an international career at Philips spanning more than 30 years, including as Managing Director of the German Philips GmbH in Hamburg, he can look back on professional experience with work-related stays in Singapore, China, Australia, the Netherlands, USA, Switzerland, Germany (Hamburg) and, of course, Austria. Currently a member of the board of the French Rexel S.A. Group and Cluster Director for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Adriatic, he is familiar with all areas of an internationally active company.

He has been active as a HamburgAmbassador for over 10 years and has accompanied countless delegations to Hamburg with different focuses.

Expertise for Hamburg

Middle-aged man in a suit holding documents, standing attentively among seated people in a conference setting. — © Carsten Schulz

Robert Pfarrwaller is a committed bridge builder with an excellent network of German and Austrian companies, institutions, ministries, research organisations and universities.

As a HamburgAmbassador, he is committed to making Hamburg even more widely known in Austria as an innovative business location, logistics hub, research metropolis and attractive travel destination.

He actively promotes the development of networks between decision-makers, political institutions, companies, universities and other organisations. As an active functionary of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, board member of the Vienna Federation of Industry and Rotarian, he has a good network for Hamburg companies.

Current topics include cooperation on urban development, hydrogen/renewable energy, culture, digitalisation/AI, start-ups, transport and logistics. He is also committed to connecting the port of Hamburg, together with the port representative office in Vienna. Pfarrwaller is also active in an advisory capacity in Austria on the subject of energy transformation and the future of omni-channel retail.