Commission to provide ECU 2.6 million for textile areas in Austria
As part of the RETEX initiative, Austria is to receive ECU 2.6 million (OS 32.5 million) from the Structural Funds for modernization in the textiles and clothing industry as well as for economic diversification in the regions dependent on the textiles industry. The money will go to projects in Lower Austria, Styria and Vorarlberg which depend heavily on textiles. This assistance will concentrate on introducing new manufacturing technologies and products, their proper marketing, the promotion of cooperation schemes between firms, and vocational training measures. The total investment volume of the programme is ECU 16.2 million. The EU contribution will be matched by ECU 2.6 million from the public authorities in Austria, which should help to mobilize approximately ECU 11 million from the private sector. The following measures are planned: - Support for ten to fifteen research and development projects; - Ten to fifteen cooperation schemes (e.g. joint market studies and marketing schemes, joint design initiatives and environmental product development); - Training and re-training for 100 to 150 workers (approximately 60% women), covering management qualifications, knowledge in quality assurance, and the application of new technologies. These measures are intended to help developments outside the textile industry, particularly in the services sector, and strengthen the competitiveness of the textiles and clothing industry. The programme will be of benefit above all to SMEs and will run until the end of 1997.
Countries
Austria