Austrian Consulate in Wroclaw [PHOTOS]

Ambassador Thomas Buchsbaum said that the Consulate would be the first to have both Lower Silesia and Opolskie under its jurisdiction, the latter inhabited by a large German-speaking minority. "The Consulate is going to serve citizens and organise events. It will be a meeting place for people who share a passion for all things Austrian and would like to do a little bit of networking, and a place to provide consular help and assistance to Austrian citizens outside of Austria and to Polish citizens as well. We are also going to take an active part in the initiatives involving Austria in the region. The Consulate is going to complement the offer of other Austrian institutions in the region: Austrian libraries in Wroclaw and Opole, Austrian courses offered by the University of Wroclaw and the Austrian Institute in Wroclaw. Austria is going to take an active part in the programme of the European Capital of Culture Wroclaw 2016," says the Ambassador.

Both Lower Silesia and Opolskie are important regions for Polish-Austrian economic affairs. PORR, STRABAG or UNIQA are known both in Silesia and the whole of Poland, and the same goes for MAGNA, S&T (IT supplier), Atrium (real estate) and Arlberg Mountain Railways. Lower Silesia alone is home to over 50 Austrian companies, and the volume of commercial exchange with Austria tops 600 million EUR. Opolskie is similar to Lower Silesia in that it continues partnership cooperation with Austria's federated state Styria. A Styrian business delegation visited Opolskie in April this year as part of the Styria Days celebrations.

"I would like to contribute to promoting Austria in the region: to showcase a beautiful and modern country which is an EU member and well known both for its culture and tourist opportunities and economic success and innovation. The latter is a great chance for us to learn and gain new experience. I would like to promote civic attitudes and transnational cooperation to use the European platform in developing a partnership between Poland and Austria in all areas of their activity," said Dr Edward Wąsowicz, new Honorary Consul, manager and academic teacher. Ambassador Buchsbaum thanked former Honorary Consul Maciej Formanowicz and former Honorary Vice Consul Jolanta Charzewska-Miller for their twenty years of commitment and integrated activity and wished the new Honorary Consul success and satisfaction in performing his mission.

New Austrian Consulate in Wroclaw (address):

ul Skwierzyńska 21/10

53-521 Wroclaw

(+48) 782 173 777