Austrian Ambassador Eisl Visits Bernama To Forge Understanding

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Austria’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Gerhard Eisl, paid a visit to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) on Thursday to reinforce ties and foster closer engagement. 

Eisl and a member of his staff were received at the news agency’s headquarters by Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Acting Deputy Editor-in-Chief for News Service Mohd Shukri Ishak.

They later attended a bilateral meeting, where Eisl was briefed on the agency’s dynamic role, as well as its wide range of operations and products.

Both parties exchanged views on the media industry, with a focus on the impact of new media and transformative digitalisation tools in shaping today’s media landscape.

They also discussed the footprint of Austrian businesses in Malaysia and the embassy’s ongoing initiatives in the country.

Malaysia and Austria established diplomatic relations on August 6, 1962, and since then, the two nations have witnessed tremendous progress across all areas of cooperation, including frequent high-level exchanges.

Currently, there are about 60 Austrian companies operating in Malaysia, with the majority of them in the high-value industries, including semiconductors, advanced technology, automobiles, and lifestyle consumer products.

Notable companies include AT&S, Doppelmayr, Andritz AG, Softwareq, KTM Motorcycles, MAM and Swarovski. 

According to media reports, Austrian exports to Malaysia reached €737mil (RM3.5bil) in 2024, while its direct investment hit a record €2.2bil (RM10.5bil), making Malaysia Austria’s top trade destination in ASEAN.

-- BERNAMA