Welcome to „Discover CEE“!

This is Raiffeisen Bank International’s blog and information platform for leading experts, analysts and successful entrepreneurs and companies, to share their ideas, visions and experiences about doing business in CEE. Our goal is to connect opinion leaders, inspire entrepreneurs and businesses and show the potential, diversity and beauty of the entire CEE region.

  • Austria and the “new normality”: Economic experiences of the “first mover”

    By Matthias Reith, RBI | As in most if not all other countries, also in Austria the lockdown and the subsequent easing of restrictions are the major drivers of business cycle dynamics since March. On March 16th, earlier than most other Western European countries, Austria implemented a complete lockdown, especially in the consumer-related service sectors, […]

  • 4 factors how to make an impact with sustainable investments

    By Michal Kustra, RCM | Michal Kustra, Member of the Management Board of Raiffeisen Capital Management and responsible for Sales in Italy and CEE as well as for the Center of Competence CEE, shares with us his four main factors how to make an impact by responsible banking. Sustainable investment is the fastest growing segment in […]

  • Holidays at home

    By Patricia Lang-Schönberger, RBI | During times where the Corona situation is ever so present – and new corona cases are steadily increasing again – you might not want to travel abroad but rather stay at home and enjoy the beauty of your own home country. Together with our colleagues from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania and […]

  • Is cloud computing secure?

    By Stefan Jakoubi, Philipp Reisinger, SBA Research                 Since its inception in 2006, we have to ask continuously if cloud computing is actually secure. It is a controversial topic which causes vivid debates and led to a divide between proponents and critics, whereby both sides bring valid arguments […]

  • Data protection: „We should be proud to have – with GDPR – the strongest and most modern data protection rule in the world”

    Interview by Marlene Schloffer, RBI Daniela Bollmann, data protection officer at RBI, about her job, why she is proud of GDPR, what kind of data banks collect, how the customers benefit from this and how to prepare for and respond to a data breach. What is the purpose and goal of a data protection officer […]

  • EUR/USD: New spring with positive spillover effects on CEE

    By Sebastian Petric, RBI Purposeful European crisis management was key for the recovery of the EUR versus the USD. That being said, optimism with respect to the EUR and the EU crisis response may hit a ceiling from a mid-term perspective. Sebastian Petric, CFA sheds light on this and other crucial drivers of EUR/USD and […]

  • Culinary highlights

    In summer, due to rising temperatures and brighter evenings, friends and families meet outside for a barbecue or a nice dinner. We have looked at some countries where our CEE network banks are doing business, to see which culinary highlights are ideal for a wonderful summer evening. Be inspired by the beloved Siberian dish Pelmeni […]

  • Do not fight the ECB in CEE

    By Gunter Deuber, RBI “Do not fight the Fed” is considered a core motto on international financial markets and among professional market observers. In the current crisis, this applies equally to the ECB. The ECB’s action is currently seen by financial market players as sufficiently decisive and timely (e.g. rapid announcement of the flexible PEPP […]

  • EU COVID-19 crisis response: A look from the CE/SEE perspective

    By Gunter Deuber, RBI From the perspective of the CE/SEE region, there are currently some positive aspects emerging from the rather swift and joint economic policy response to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Overall, the EU is making available some 5-6% of GDP as an anti-cyclical crisis response. For comparison: Joint EU economic policy efforts in […]