Canada-Austria relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Austria share many common interests and similar perspectives on global issues and challenges. Austria is an important multilateral partner for Canada, and the two countries work together on a range of issues, particularly human rights and the rule of law. The Embassy of Canada to Austria, in Vienna, represents Canada’s interests in the country. The Austrian Embassy in Ottawa represents the country in Canada.
Trade and investment relations are strong between the two countries. People-to-people ties are underpinned in particular through academic and youth exchanges. Austria’s membership in the European Union and its close ties within central and southeast Europe make it a valuable interlocutor for Canada on a wide range of issues in the region.
Academic connections
Academic ties between the two countries are close and growing. Austria boasts Canadian Studies Centres at the universities of Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz. There is also a significant array of exchange programmes between Austrian and Canadian universities. The Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies at the University of Alberta, for instance, was founded as an initiative of Austria’s Ministry of Science and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a leading centre for central European studies in Canada and has one of the most significant collections of Austrian and Habsburg materials in North America. Austrian academics and scholarly institutions actively take advantage of existing Austrian-Canadian partnership programs, as well as selective doctoral and post-doctoral research fellowships.
The International Experience Canada program provides opportunities for Austrian and Canadian youth to obtain temporary work permits in the partner country. Similar exchanges are possible for those 18 to 30 years through the Working Holiday Program, launched in 2018 under the Youth Mobility Arrangement.
Trade relations
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement provides further opportunities to grow the bilateral economic relationship between Canada and Austria. Merchandise exports to Austria were $287.9 million in 2022. Imports from Austria were $2.7 billion in 2022.
In 2022, the Canadian direct investment position in Austria was $6.7 billion. The direct investment position from Austria in Canada was $1.5 billion in 2022.
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Austria work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- European Union (EU)
- La Francophonie
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- Pacific Alliance
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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