Page 5 - mega 07-08 2021

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MEGA INTERVIEW

As one of the largest foreign investors in the country, together with the strength of
Erste Group, Steiermärkische Sparkasse intends to continue and intensify its sup-
port activities for attracting more high-quality strategic foreign investors to the
country, actively promoting and supporting North Macedonia on its way toward the
EU. The potential accession to the EU is another major milestone for the country to
move forward in the right direction. As a reliable partner, we will make our signifi-
cant contribution to move this political decision forward

of the region. This is our way of in- guide the people through this tough
vesting in the future and in the next time with clear instructions and mea-
generations. Brain drain is an ongo- sures. The number of new infections
ing challenge in the region. With our could mostly be controlled through a
measures, we want to work positively comprehensive security concept. The
against this problem. It is our aim to population also made its contribution
create a professional perspective for by observing most of the measures
young people in their home countries in a very disciplined manner. Since
and to minimize emigration. the vaccination facility in Austria
gained momentum, the situation has
Also, tell us a bit more about the eased more and more. Also for Steier-
presence of the Group and its plans märkische Sparkasse we developed a
for the future for the region? strict security concept to protect our
clients and employees. We have al-
G. Bucher: As one of the largest ways been in regular contact with our
foreign investors in the country, to- subsidiary banks in order to be able
gether with the strength of Erste to better assess the overall situation.
Group, Steiermärkische Sparkasse Digitization became a daily compan-
intends to continue and intensify its ion, and everyone learned to deal with
support activities for attracting more it. Trough transformation processes
high-quality strategic foreign inves- and the willingness to be flexible we
tors to the country, actively promot- got trough the crisis and proofed that
ing and supporting North Macedonia Steiermärkische Sparkasse and their
on its way toward the EU. The poten- subsidiary banks are reliable financial
tial accession to the EU is another partner.
major milestone for the country to
move forward in the right direction. What is going on with the Aus-
As a reliable partner, we will make trian economy? How strong was the
our significant contribution to move impact from the pandemic? Is the
this political decision forward. economic recovery underway?

You are a member of the Manag- G. Bucher: 2020 was an enormous-
ing Board of Steiermärkische Spar- ly challenging year worldwide in light
kasse Group in Austria. How is Austria of the health and economic crisis. In
coping with the Covid-19 pandemic? a wavelike economic development,
the real GDP sank throughout 2020
G. Bucher: The past year demand- to 7.5%, and therefore collapsed more
ed a lot from all of us. Public life as we strongly than it did following the fi-
knew it, could no longer take place. nancial crisis (-3.8%) in 2009. The first
Also, Austrian politics did their best to half year of 2021 is over and today the

346 july/August 2021