Saudi Arabia is least affected in the current international financial crisis and that has prompted Austria to re-launch its flag carrier Austrian Airlines' full operations to the Kingdom, Ambassador Dr. Friedrich Stift said at a ceremony here Tuesday night. Ernst Leitner, Austrian Airlines Country Manager for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Klaus Ehrenbrandtner, Director-Middle East, Austrian National Tourist Office and several tour and travel agents were also present. Stift said there has been no indication of economic downtrend in Saudi Arabia while other parts of the world are suffering from economic slowdown. Stift said Austrian Airlines stopped its operation to Saudi Arabia in 1994 due to some reasons but its re-introduction of direct flights will not only boost the bilateral political relations but also help in enhancing the trade and cultural exchanges, besides boosting two-way tourism between the two countries. “There has been an 18 percent increase in bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Austria during the first seven months of this year,” he said adding that his country's exports to the Kingdom amounted to 430 million euros while imports stood at 230 million euros. – SG __
