New Austrian Embassy in Nairobi takes up work
VIENNA, Austria, October 12, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 11 October, the Head of the Austrian Mission in Nairobi, Ambassador Christian Hasenbichler, opened the newly built Austrian Embassy in Nairobi in the presence of Ambassador Nikolaus Marschik, Director General of Administrative Affairs at the Austrian Foreign Ministry in Vienna.
The building was planned jointly by a South African and a Kenyan architect. It combines traditional African features with modern technical equipment, and with this setup enriches the Nairobi cityscape.
The new building, equipped with a state-of-the-art security system, can be easily reached by Austrians abroad. In the planning process, the focus was on enhanced professional handling of visa applications and consular matters as well as on the building’s suitability for critical situations.
By building the new embassy in Nairobi on a site that has long been in Austrian use, a safe compound has been established and rental costs will be saved in the long term.
The construction of a new embassy in Nairobi in times of austerity programs for the Austrian network of Austrian embassies is a clear indication of Austria’s continued engagement in Africa. It also underlines the importance Austria attaches to its bilateral relations with the Republic of Kenya. The city of Nairobi is a regional hub and gateway to the East African region as a whole.
In addition, Nairobi is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations, along with Vienna, New York and Geneva, which means that the representation of Austria is also important in the context of multilateral relations.
SOURCE
Austria – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
