Bank of China expected to expand in Vienna in 2016
Bank of China may open an office in Vienna at the beginning of 2016, with plans to make Austria its hub for central and eastern Europe (CEE), if conditions and regulations are favourable. Bank of China would focus first on corporate business but is also ready to conduct retail operations, as Chinese investors have shown increased interest in Austrian companies.

Bank of China is expected to open an office in Vienna at the start of next year and could make Austria its hub for central and eastern Europe (CEE) if the conditions are favourable, Forbes Austria reported yesterday.

“The decisive thing for us is how advantageous the legal framework is for foreign banks,” the magazine quoted the deputy chairman of the bank’s international operations, Lam Kwong Siu, as saying.

The bank, China’s fourth-biggest by assets, would examine tax benefits and conditions for Chinese expatriate staff, take a close look at costs and gauge market potential.

“If having examined all of these conditions Austria shows it is a strategically useful portal for the CEE region, then we will establish it as headquarters as well,” he said.

We want to learn more about companies listed on the Vienna stock exchange. They are very good and are growing healthily

Austria is in talks with banks about restructuring a bank tax, which the banks complain is a burden on them in addition to European requirements.

Bank of China would focus first on corporate business but was also ready to conduct retail operations, the report said, adding Chinese investors were interested in Austrian companies.

“We want to learn more about companies listed on the Vienna stock exchange. They are very good and are growing healthily,” it quoted the executive as saying, adding Bank of China could help them get dual listings in Hong Kong.

Bank of China did not immediately respond to a Reuters request to comment. The bank, which already has offices in Europe, earns more overseas than its top four rivals.