"…for improving [our] trade relations, we, I think, are well advised to use all the existing platforms that we have. And between Russia and Austria we have joint economic commission, we have business councils, and these are the instruments we should further develop and expand," Brix told RIA Novosti in an interview.
According to Brix, there are still negative trends in the trade turnover between Russia and Austria, though the Russia's exports to Austria increased by 1.6 percent in 2015.
The ambassador added that it was also important to develop inter-regional cooperation between Russia and Austria and the creation of some platforms for cooperation with "the dynamic Russian regions" would serve both countries' interests.
The European Union and its allies introduced several rounds of sanctions against Russia since 2014, accusing it of involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations, and introduced countermeasures in August 2014, banning certain food product imports for a year from the countries that imposed restrictions against Russia. Austria is among a number of European nations who have spoken of the negative impact the Russian food ban could have on their economies.
