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175 years of Salzburg Chamber of Commerce: A milestone for the region!
Find out the history of the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1850, and your role in economic development to this day.
175 years of Salzburg Chamber of Commerce: A milestone for the region!
On September 30, 1850, the Chamber of Commerce was founded in Salzburg - an event that is still on everyone's lips today, 175 years later. At a time when the region was shaped by Napoleonic wars and political upheavals, the founding of the Chamber of Commerce was a step towards economic independence. Salzburg was separated from Upper Austria at the time and fought with a decline in the population and a modest residential building, which produced an average of only 13 new houses per year between 1831 and 1851. Hunger and economic hardship were omnipresent, and the bourgeoisie longed for more say in the economy.
The laying of the foundation stone for the first Chamber of Commerce in Austria took place in Vienna in 1849. The following year the new Chamber Act was issued, which not only enabled the founding of chambers in the entire monarchy, but also introduced democratic elections. The Salzburg Chamber of Commerce began to bundle the economic interests of the region and to actively contribute in legal framework conditions, for example by campaigning for a rail connection to Vienna and Paris. This connection was realized in 1860 and ensured an upswing in tourism.
A center for economy and training
Over the years, the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS) played a central role in the development of Salzburg to a dynamic business location. After the Second World War, a platform was created with the establishment of the “Salzburg Economy” newspaper to position the region's economic issues. In 1993 the renaming to the Chamber of Commerce was renamed, which underlines the advocacy of the entire economy in the state of Salzburg.
The WKS currently has more than 63,500 members who work in various economic sectors. In 2024, of these 9,619 members were rested. The organizational structure includes seven divisions and 96 specialist organizations. The growth in the areas of trade and handicrafts as well as information and consulting, both of which from 2019 to 2024 have recorded significant growth, is particularly striking.
| division | Members 2019 | Members 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Trade and craft | 20.908 | 25.102 |
| industrial | 413 | 404 |
| Trade | 13.910 | 14.187 |
| Bank and Insurance | 104 | 85 |
| Transport and traffic | 3.944 | 4.167 |
| Tourism and Leisure Management | 8.926 | 9.293 |
| Information and consulting | 9.104 | 10.295 |
The WKS has its headquarters in the city of Salzburg and six district offices to represent the interests of its members throughout the region. Particularly noteworthy is the Salzburg Economic Development Institute (WIFI), which offers extensive training and further education programs in order to meet the requirements of the dynamic economy.
The history of the Chamber of Commerce is closely linked to the development of Salzburg, and it is impressive to see how the region has changed over the years. As the WKO reports, the success story of the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce continues to continue as part of an ongoing tradition that relies on progress and innovation spirit. If the past 175 years have shown one, the WKS remains an essential partner of the Salzburg economy.
In the future, it remains to be hoped that the Chamber of Commerce will continue to show a good hand for the advocacy of the economic concerns of the Salzburg population. According to the motto that you are strong together and you can achieve more with a united voice!