Upper Austria - a region with future
Due to the reunification of our continent within the framework of the European Union, Upper Austria was moved back from the edge to the heart of Europe. Our Land will use its favourable geographical position to be a strong partner for other European regions.
The Danube area, which also includes Upper Austria, has always been a connecting link at the crossroad between the East and the West as well as between the North and the South through out history. That is why we see ourselves nowadays as a dialogue partner and a connector in the "Europe of 27".
Especially our economy understood to use those links and connections to the European partner countries and regions. With around 17 per cent of the national population, Upper Austria provides 26 per cent of total national exports. The fact that export is not only representing our economical strength, but it also leads Upper Austria to the stage of the lowest unemployment rate within the Austrian regions.
We particularly emphasize the energy sector. More than 30 per cent of the total primary energy consumption are produced from renewable energy sources. Upper Austria is on the way of realising the Kyoto targets and we are doing everything to achieve sustainability in all areas of our environmental and energy politics. A situation evidenced by the fact that Linz, the capital city, is one of the cleanest industrial cities in Europe.
Upper Austria is also very proud of its culture, which links the traditional to the contemporary. The Ars Electronica and the Brucknerfest are the main cultural events in this context. These diverse and ambitious cultural activities in our Land are also honoured by being nominated as "European capital of culture 2009".
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Dr. Josef Pühringer |
