„Doing Business in the Czech Republic“

Briefing for the Members of the Delegation of the Chamber of CommerceBusiness Trip to České Budějovice (24 April) and Brno (25-26 April)

Ambassador of the Czech RepublicH.E. Mr. Petr VOZNICA

“CZ-SI trade has been influenced by global challenges, but we survived!”

-6 000 000

-3 000 000

0

3 000 000

6 000 000

9 000 000

12 000 000

15 000 000

18 000 000

21 000 000

24 000 000

27 000 000

30 000 000

v tis

. K

č

Vývoz Dovoz Obrat Saldo

“CZ-SI trade has been influenced by global challenges, but we survive!”

 Export Import Balance Trade-off

EUR No. Index EUR No. Index EUR No. Index EUR

1993 97 371 19. - 45 531 25. - 142 902 23. - 51 840

2004 308 216 20. 108,8 298 251 25. 112,2 606 467 22. 110,4 9 965

2005 359 001 21. 116,5 304 459 28. 102,1 663 460 23. 109,4 54 542

2006 384 999 22. 107,2 381 162 29. 125,2 766 161 26. 115,5 3 837

2007 497 322 22. 129,2 439 945 28. 115,4 937 267 24. 122,3 57 377

2008 563 794 20. 113,4 458 881 29. 104,3 1 022 675 25. 109,1 104 913

2009 441 000 22. 78,2 339 170 31. 73,9 780 170 25. 76,3 101 830

2010 528 104 23. 119,8 401 121 31. 118,3 929 225 29. 119,1 126 983

2011 583 231 24. 110,5 456 500 32. 113,7 1 039 731 27. 111,9 126 731

2012/I 45 206 25. 96,0 34 214 32. 100,3 79 420 31. 97,8 10 992

“Czech Republic - Your Partner”

CZECH REPUBLIC (basic data)

Area: 78.864 km2

Population: 10.4 mil. (tbc. after census, March 2011)

Official language: Czech

Languages used in business: English, German, Russian, Slovak

Political system: parliamentary republic

Currency: 1 Czech Crown (CZK)

actual exchange rate 1 € = 24,23 CZK

Capital: Prague (population 1.2 mil)

Administrative division: 14 regions (incl. Capital City of Prague)

“Why to start business in the Czech Republic?” “Is the investment environment in the Czech Republic friendly enough?”

CSS as an invitation to (not only but) the Czech RepublicPositive investment conditions; most notable factors are • sustained enhancements to the business environment • ability of pre-eminent intellectual capital while the others shall not be left out of consideration• political and economic stability• no discrimination• investment protection• property right protection• profit repatriation• acquiring real property

“Main Reasons to Invest in the Czech Republic”

• safe investment environment• skilled workforce• high share of secondary and tertiary education within the population• favorable labor costs and price stability• central location in Europe• compact and high-quality infrastructure• transparent system of investment incentives• strong focus on R&D• stable social and political system• EU membership• mentality, culture and attitudes close to western countries• enviable life style

“CzechInvest – agency for the infusion of foreign investment”

Investment opportunities• automotive industry• aerospace industry • electrical engineering and electronics• nanotechnologies• life sciences• cleantech• high-tech mechanical engineering• IT and software development• business support services• R&D

“The Embassy of the Czech Republic provides support to government-to-government but also business-to-business activities”

The aim of Czech Embassy support is to provide a comprehensive, free of charge “service” for small and medium-size (primarily) enterprises • survey and analysis of economic trends, • provision of economic information needed/requested• good offices between CZ and SI enterprises/agencies• establishment of business forums/workshops/presentations of CZ enterprises/agencies • create conditions for active participation at international fairs• development of projects supporting economic diplomacy (AGRA 2011)• organization of business delegations to SI ,

South Bohemia Region - traditionally industrial and agricultural land with opportunities for cooperation in tourism

South Bohemia region – České Budějovice (www.jiznicechy.cz) - area 10 056 km2 (12,8% of the Czech Republic)- population 637 460- 637 municipalities, from it 53 towns- known by its lakes (fish ponds) and beautiful villages- region with developed engineering, textile industry, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and food-processing industry;South Bohemia Regional Chamber of Commerce (www.jhk.cz) - aim to support development of entrepreneurial atmosphere and enforcement of entrepreneurs´ interests - Director Ing. Jiří Stráský

South Moravia Region – mechanical and electrical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, international fairs, vineyards

South Moravia region – Brno (http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jihomoravský_kraj ) - area 7 196,5 km2 (9% of the Czech Republic)- population 193 930- 673 municipalities, from it 48 towns- known by its history (Great Moravia, Battle of Austerlitz) and today International Fair Brno- region with developed mechanical and electrical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, food-processing industry, agriculture and high quality of wine;Regional Chamber of Commerce Brno (www.rhkbrno.cz) - aim to support entrepreneurs´ activities, enforcement and security of interests of Czech companies - Director Ing. Petr Bajer, CSc.

“The Embassy of the Czech Republic provides support to government-to-government but also business-to-business activities”

How to find us?

Embassy of the Czech Republic

Riharjeva 1

Ljubljana

tel.: + 386 1 420 24 50

e-mail: ljubljana@embassy.mzv.cz

,

“Who else? Important contacts in Doing Business in the Czech Republic”

Ministries

Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mzv.cz

Ministry of Industry and Trade http://www.mpo.cz

Ministry of Agriculture http://www.mze.cz

Agencies

CzechTrade (supporting trade) http://www.czechtrade.cz

CzechInvest (business and investment] http://www.czechinvest.org

Confederation of Industry and Transport http://www.spcr.cz

General Information

Business Info (gateway for business) http://www.businessinfo.cz ,