During a strategic visit to Montenegro, Wolfgang Kindl, Member of the Management Board of UNIQA Insurance Group AG, reaffirmed the Group’s long-term commitment to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) – the world’s fastest-growing insurance region. Together with Adel Bahtanović, President of the UNIQA SEE region, Kindl highlighted the Group’s strong performance, ambitious growth targets, and the cultural transformation driving cross-border collaboration in Southeast Europe.
CEE: The fastest-growing insurance region worldwide
“Central and Eastern Europe is currently the fastest-growing and most dynamic insurance market in the world. The region’s economic momentum is unmatched – with several CEE countries posting GDP growth rates well above the EU average,” says Wolfgang Kindl.
UNIQA operates in 14 countries, with a historically strong presence in Austria and 11 CEE markets including Montenegro and Serbia. Across all international markets, UNIQA serves around 160 million people. “The insurance markets in Central and Eastern Europe continue to offer substantial catch-up potential – not only economically, but also in terms of insurance penetration. UNIQA is already among the Top 5 insurers in our core markets and well positioned to benefit from the region’s dynamic development. While EU member states in CEE are expected to grow three times faster than the euro area in 2025 and twice as fast in 2026, insurance spending per capita remains significantly below Western European levels. This convergence process presents a long-term opportunity for profitable growth, which we are actively pursuing through targeted distribution, strong partnerships and digital innovation,” Kindl adds.
Strong performance and ambitious growth targets
In the first half of 2025, UNIQA International reported a premium increase of 10.8 percent in international markets, compared to 4.8 percent in Austria. The Group’s overall premium volume rose by 9.7 percent to €4.4 billion, with a strong technical result and an excellent net combined ratio of 90.5 percent
“This year, we are growing above market average in our international markets. Our goal is to maintain this above-average momentum until 2028,” says Wolfgang Kindl.
UNIQA’s successful single-brand strategy and strong local presence continue to be key drivers of this ambition.
Segment breakdown: UNIQA International by premium volume
In the first half of 2025, UNIQA International generated a total premium volume of €1.5 billion. The business split reflects a strong focus on property and casualty insurance, which accounts for 75 % of premiums, followed by life insurance with 20% and health insurance with 5 %
CEE already contributes majority of customers and premiums
Currently, around 80 percent of UNIQA’s customers and approximately 40 percent of its premium volume come from CEE. The profitability of the international business remains high, and the contribution of CEE subsidiaries to the Group’s overall result is expected to increase further.
“We are proud of our performance in CEE. It is not only a growth engine for UNIQA, but also a region where we can make a real impact – economically and socially,” Kindl concludes.
UNIQA SEE: A Region Shaped by Collaboration and Shared Development
Since March 2022, UNIQA has been working to bring together six Southeast European markets – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania – into a single, agile regional unit. The goal: to build on shared strengths and cultural proximity, and to create structures that allow for faster decision-making and more efficient operations.
Building a Community Across Borders
“Rather than just aligning structures, we focused on building a community – one that thrives on collaboration and shared purpose.,” says Adel Bahtanović, President of the SEE region. “Our teams collaborate across borders, languages and hierarchies. We learn from each other every day – and that’s what drives our progress.”
Strong Numbers, Strong Impact
Today, UNIQA SEE serves nearly 2,5 million customers, employees 2,000 people, and generates €464 million in gross premiums (14,6% y/y). UNIQA SEE contributes significantly to the Group’s overall result.
Cultural Transformation as a Catalyst
The transformation is not only operational – it’s cultural. Teams from different countries work together on product development, IT solutions, and customer service improvements. Knowledge is shared openly, and ideas are developed jointly, regardless of seniority or location.
Openness Fuels Agility
“We’ve created a space where everyone can contribute – whether they’re in Sofia, Belgrade or Podgorica,” Bahtanović explains. “This openness helps us respond faster to change and build solutions that are truly relevant to our customers.”
Scaling Up for Sustainable Growth
What makes this transformation particularly impactful is the scaling potential. Many of the SEE markets were relatively small in size and structure. By joining forces, they now benefit from shared platforms, pooled expertise and coordinated strategies – unlocking efficiencies and growth opportunities that would have been difficult to achieve individually.
UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation: Empowering Young Talents and Diversity
The UNIQA SEE FUTURE Foundation, established by UNIQA Insurance, supports young people and organizations in Southeast Europe who excel in sports, culture, and sustainability. Tennis legend Goran Ivanišević serves as sports mentor and brand ambassador, guiding emerging athletes like Luna Vujović. The Foundation also champions gender equality in the arts: in partnership with the Sarajevo Film Festival and Slano Film Days, it supports the Female Filmmakers Support Programme, empowering women directors through mentorship and funding. Additionally, the Mentorship Program for Visual Artists offers a unique platform for emerging talents from the region to develop artistically and gain international visibility. Through these targeted initiatives, the Foundation drives positive change and reflects UNIQA’s commitment to social responsibility and community development
UNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions: Adapting to a Changing Climate
As damages from human-induced global warming continue to rise, the need for adaptation and resilience has never been greater. UNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions, a subsidiary of the UNIQA Group, supports companies across Austria and Central and Eastern Europe in building resilience and advancing sustainability. With a team of over 50 experts in risk engineering and sustainability, the company offers bespoke risk assessments, loss prevention strategies, and professional training. By integrating innovation, risk management, and environmental responsibility, UNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions enables clients to proactively identify and mitigate emerging risks - especially those related to climate vulnerability and operational resilience - helping them to navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape and secure their future.
“As a region, we are not only growing, but evolving - driven by openness, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. By empowering the next generation and supporting sustainable solutions, we are helping to build resilient communities and create real impact across Southeast Europe”, says Adel Bahtanović, President of the UNIQA SEE region.
The information provided by KomuniK
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