Vienna celebrates: msg Plaut opens new office in times of economic change!

Vienna celebrates: msg Plaut opens new office in times of economic change!

Austria's economic landscape is facing exciting but also challenging times. This became clear on June 3rd, 2025 during the ceremonial opening of the newly expanded office floor of msg Plaut in Vienna-Simmering. The motto of the event was:“Austria’s economy in transition – between structural challenges and innovation potential”. In front of an audience of colleagues and interested parties, it was a great opportunity to discuss the changes and challenges facing the Austrian economic landscape.

Among the prominent guests were Jürgen Zehetmaier, the founder and owner of the msg group, as well as the board members Georg Krause and Klaus Sickinger. The managing directors Gerhard Krennmair and Horst Bratfisch joined this select group. A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Martin Kocher, the former Federal Minister for Labor and Economic Affairs. Kocher drew a sobering conclusion and described the current recession as the longest since the Second World War. He sees its causes in economic weaknesses and structural deficits.

The opportunities on the way to recovery

But the ex-minister also highlighted Austria's strengths: "We have excellent skilled workers, a strong research landscape and key industries such as quantum technology, semiconductors and renewable energies," said Kocher. He called for an active innovation ecosystem in which both politics and business should join forces. Jürgen Zehetmaier discussed the importance of sustainable customer relationships and local expertise in the globalized IT market and emphasized the increase of over 11,000 employees in the msg group, which generates annual sales of around 1.5 billion euros.

With the goal of doubling sales to three billion euros by 2030 through the use of artificial intelligence and intelligent cloud architecture, the office expansion impressively shows the growth trajectory of msg Plaut, which has grown from 80 to over 220 employees since 2019. Georg Krause emphasized that digital transformation requires space for new ideas in order to successfully shape this change.

Economic perspectives and challenges

In the context of these developments, the OECD published its current country report for Austria, which appears every two years and analyzes economic developments as well as aspects such as competitiveness and productivity. Economic growth of 1.5 percent is forecast for 2025, but at the same time the report also makes a number of recommendations. These include, among other things, long-term sustainability in the pension system, strengthening public finances and promoting innovation and competition.

Finance Minister Magnus Brunner emphasized the importance of these recommendations and reported on measures that have already been implemented, such as the national carbon management strategy. He also pointed out that Austria is one of the high-tax countries despite tax cuts. OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann was optimistic that the Austrian economy will recover from the recession, but sustainable fiscal policy is essential to effectively address the existing challenges.

Discussions on improving the digital infrastructure and social mobility are at the top of the agenda. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler also emphasized the progress in climate policy, particularly through the eco-social tax reform and the expansion of renewable energies. Austria has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2040, with the fight against inequality also becoming a political focus.

The challenges are great, but the spirit of innovation and the will to change remain central drivers on our path to a sustainable and prosperous future.

For more information on the latest OECD country report, please visit BMF or BMWE. You can find a more detailed look at the developments of the msg group at Leadersnet.