DR. KURT ALTMANN

Dr. Kurt Altmann gained his Middle East experience in the following countries:

From 1995 to 2002 as Austrian Trade Commissioner in Amman, covering Jordan and Iraq. During this time, he travelled to Iraq around 50 times, each time between 6 days and three weeks, in order to rebuild Austrian business relationships from scratch after the UN sanctions as a result of the Gulf War.
 

As a result of his activities, Austria developed into Iraq's fourth OECD trading partner, despite the UN Security Council's intensive sanctions regime. Anecdotally, all of these trips from Jordan to Iraq due to the total air embargo had to be made by road.
 

Dr. Altmann not only organized the first official trade fair participations after the Gulf War, but also organized repeated official business delegations and, at the beginning of 2000, the first Austrian-Iraqi Joint Economic Commission with the then Iraqi government - again with the participation of well-known Austrian companies.
 

In Jordan, thanks to his efforts Austrian companies were able to fully participate in the country's economic openings and reforms.

From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Altmann was Austrian Trade Commissioner in Damascus and took take care of the markets of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Dr. Altmann not only expanded the office structurally, but also made it Austria's economic hub for the three Levant countries after also having transferred the trade office from Amman to Damascus.
 

Due to the activities of Dr. Altmann and his office Austrian companies could to participate significantly in the economic boom in Syria as a result of the economic liberalization measures at the time.

Just as successfully, Dr. Altmann introduced and supported Austrian companies together with a long-time Lebanese colleague in Lebanon, despite the political and economic problems that were already emerging at the time (2005: murder of ex-Prime Minister Hariri, 2006: Hezbollah-Israel war).
 

After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent aggression by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Jordan developed into a center for trade with Iraq. This was also reflected in an increasing number of events and trade fairs on the topic of “Rebuild Iraq”. As part Austria’s then EU-Presidency, Dr. Altmann also coordinated with representatives from the USA and EU-countries the participations in the trade fairs that were most beneficial for Austrian and international companies.
 
From 2008 to 2015, Dr. Altmann was Austrian Trade Commissioner in Cairo and in charge for the Austrian commercial and economic activities in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and, after 2011, the then independent South Sudan.
 

While Egypt was initially considered a stabile Arab country on the African continent, the situation began to change at the latest in 2010 and at the end of January 2011 led to the Egyptian Revolution. By monitoring the situation in Egypt and the region and providing timely, individual information to Austrian companies to postpone their intended business trips during this time, Dr. Altmann avoided that Austrian company representatives were in Egypt when the revolution broke out and thus avoided that they exposed themselves to any danger.

In the course of the revolution, the one-year presidency of the Muslim Brotherhood (Mohamed Morsi), its overthrow in 2013 and the beginning of President Sisi’s era, the activity was, on one hand, the continuation of business with companies and authorities under the Morsi regime and then the resumption with the previous institutions and enterprises.

Dr. Altmann was from Egypt in ongoing supportive contact with around 700 Austrian companies. With his team he managed to intensify many businesses and land interesting projects. In the course of necessary financing, this was part of his consulting work in cooperation with Austrian export financing and guarantee institutions.

Until transit deliveries of oil – originating especially from South Sudan - were stopped, Sudan was considered a relatively rich country with a small but wealthy upper class, also based in London.
 
Dr. Altmann also introduced Austrian companies to the local market, continued to take part in trade fairs and supported the Embassy in charge  - among other - in the establishment of a new honorary consul in Khartoum.
 

Mitte August 2015 ging Dr. Altmann als Österreichscher Wirtschaftsdelegierter von Kairo nach Riyadh und betreute von dort das Königreich Saudi-Arabien und Jemen.

In mid-August 2015, Dr. Altmann went from Cairo as Austrian Trade Commissioner to Riyadh and was in charge for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
 
At that time, Saudi Arabia still being a country with a total ban on women driving and strict clothing regulations for women (wearing the abaya was controlled by the religious police under threat of punishment), the situation changed with the announcement of VISION 2030 by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in 2016 (then as Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister, from 2017 Crown Prince).

Since Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman took office, not only internationally known mega-projects but also social reforms have been started - and implemented. Projects such as NEOM (technology region in northwestern Saudi Arabia), The Line (the line-shaped high-tech city in NEOM), QIDDIYA (amusement park under construction that will be one of the world's largest) and others are internationally known in professional circles and the ban on driving for women ended in mid-2018 .
 

As part of VISION 2030, Saudi Arabia is implementing a strategy to move away from oil towards alternative revenues. Dr. Altmann was in contact with around 500 companies in Saudi Arabia (a smaller number of companies but with larger volumes of business) and supported them individually or through continued business delegations to many prominent Saudi companies, including the construction giant and private business conglomerate NESMA and the prominent construction group Saudi Bin Ladin (last also together with the Vienna Economic Chamber President Ruck) and official bodies such as NEOM, QIDDIYA and many others.
 

Given the size of the projects and the existing financing from Saudi authorities, Dr. Altmann motivated Austrian companies of all sizes to work with the Kingdom. Of course, trade fairs and business delegations were also continuously organized.
 

During the pandemic (COVID) 2020/2021, Dr. Altmann worked with Austrian companies also through webinars and digital events.

After returning from Saudi Arabia and establishing a residence in the immediate vicinity of the Vienna city limits, Dr. Altmann opened his own consulting company in 2022 and now works as an independent, international consultant.

A.M.E.C. Dr. Kurt Altmann Middle East Consultations now works with companies from across the European Union and invites you to contact us.