The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a central body of state adminis-tration of the Czech Republic re-sponsible for formulating foreign policy and the protection of the interests of the Czech Republic and its citizens abroad. Its com-petence is defined in §6 of Act No. 2/1969 Coll.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also operates diplomatic mis -sions abroad, including embas-sies, consulates, and delegations to international organisations. Mainly through this network, the Czech Republic promotes its ec on omic and commercial interests abroad and enhances the general awareness of the pro-duction and investment potential of the Czech economy.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí

Loretánské náměstí 101/5118 00 Praha 1Phone: +420 224 181 111Fax: +420 224 182 031e-mail: info@mzv.cz

Detailed information about the Ministry

of Foreign Aff airs of the Czech Republic

and its role in economic diplomacy and

export-promoting activities is available

at the following websites:

www.mfa.cz, www.czech.cz,

www.export.cz

The Ministry of Finance is a central body of state administration re-sponsible for the State Budget, the State Final Account, the Treasury of the Czech Republic, fi nancial mar-kets and the protection of consumer

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADEThe Ministry of Industry and Trade is a central body of state administra-tion for the economic and com-mercial policy, the affairs of small and medium-sized enterprises, the energy and raw material policy of the state, and co-ordination of the Czech Republic’s foreign trade policy in relation to the different countries and in support for export.

Organisations directly managed by the

Ministry of Industry and Trade (as of

1 January 2009):

Czech Trade Inspection � Assay Of-fi ce � Offi ce for Technical Stand-ardisation, Metrology, and State Quality Control � State Energy In-spection � Czech Offi ce for Weapons and Ammunition Testing � Invest-ment and Business Development Agency CzechInvest � Czech Trade Promotion Agency/CzechTrade � Czech Metrology Institute � State Research Institute for Material � Ministry of Industry and Trade Services Administration.

Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu

Na Františku 32110 15 Praha 1Phone: +420 224 851 111Fax: +420 224 811 089

Politických vězňů 20112 49 Praha 1Phone: +420 224 851 111Fax: +420 224 221 575e-mail: posta@mpo.cz

More information at:

www.mpo.cz

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interests on the fi nancial market (with the exception of fi nancial market supervision, which falls under the competence of the Czech National Bank). Furthermore, the Ministry is responsible for admin-

Ministerstvo financí

Letenská 15115 00 Praha 1Phone: +420 257 041 111Fax: +420 257 042 788e-mail: podatelna@mfcr.cz

More information at:

www.mfcr.cz

The Ministry for Regional Develop-

ment is a central body of state administration for regional policy, housing policy, development of housing resources, leasing of resi-dential and non-residential facil-ities, zoning, building regulations, investment policy, and tourism. The Ministry for Regional Devel-opment also manages the financial resources provided in the areas of the housing and regional policies of the state; it co-ordinates the activities of other ministries and central bodies of state administra-tion in the implementation of the housing and regional policies of the state, including the co-ordina-tion of the financing of these ac-tivities (unless the Ministry itself directly manages these financial resources).The Ministry for Regional Devel-opment also provides information and methodological assistance to higher-level self-governing units, towns, municipalities and their associations and supervises activi-ties connected with the process of integrating them into European regional structures.The Ministry for Regional Devel-opment plays a very significant role in the realisation of the regional and structural policy of the European Union, the so-called economic and social cohesion policy. The main task of this policy is to ensure that regions whose development is lagging behind the European average attain the same level with the aid of investment in infrastructure and several other areas. The aims of this economic and social cohesion are realised in practice with the use of structural funds.The co-ordination of the field of activity of these operational pro-grammes in the Czech Republic is entrusted to the Czech Ministry for Regional Development, while the management and operation of in-

MINISTRY FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj

Staroměstské náměstí 6110 15 Praha 1Phone: +420 224 861 111Fax: +420 224 861 333e-mail: posta@mmr.cz

More information at:

www.mmr.cz

dividual operational programmes is the province of the relevant ministries. In addition to its role as a central co-ordinator, the Ministry for Regional Development also works as a direct control organ of several of the programmes and is responsible for their successful drawing up.

istration of taxes, customs duties and fees, fi nancial management, fi nancial supervision, for examining the management of self-governing units, accounting, audit, and tax consultancy, foreign-exchange mat-ters including the state’s receivables and payables to foreign countries, the protection of foreign invest-ment, regulation of raffl es, lotteries, and similar games, the management of state property and privatisation of state property. The Ministry is responsible for state contributions towards building savings and state contributions towards supplemen-tary pension insurance, for prices, and for operations against the legalisation of profi ts from criminal activity, intrastate co-ordination of the use of international sanc-tions to maintain international peace and security, the protection of fundamental human rights and for the struggle against terrorism. The Ministry assesses the import of subsidised products and adopts pro-tective measures against the import of such products.

The Ministry of Finance represents the country through its membership in international fi nancial institu-tions and fi nancial bodies of the Organisation for Economic Co-op-eration and Development (OECD), the European Union, and other international economic groupings, provided this membership does not appertain exclusively to the Czech National Bank.

The Ministry of Finance co- ordinates the receipt of foreign assistance.

The Ministry of Agriculture is a central body of state administration for agriculture with the exception of the fund for the protection of agricultural land, for water management with the excep-tion of the protection of natural water storage, the protection of water resources and the quality of surface and ground water, and for the food-processing industry. It is also the central body of state administration for forestry, game keeping, and fisheries, with the exception of national park areas.The Ministry of Agriculture is the central body of state administra-tion in matters of commodity markets that organize trade in agricultural and forestry goods, including processed products. The Ministry of Agriculture supervises the State Agricultural and Food Inspection body, the Veterinary Administration of the Czech

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

Ministerstvo zemědělství

Těšnov 17117 05 Praha 1Phone: +420 221 811 111Fax: +420 224 810 478e-mail: info@mze.cz

More information at:

www.mze.cz

Republic, the Central Institute for Supervision and Testing in Agri-culture, and the Czech Inspector-ate for Breeding Livestock.The Ministry of Agriculture is the central body of state administra-tion in matters of veterinary care, phyto-sanitary care, food admin-istration, prevention of cruelty to animals, and for the protection of rights to new varieties of plants and breeds of animals.

The Confederation of Industry is a voluntary non-political and non-governmental organisation that brings together employers and enterprises in the Czech Re-public. It is the largest alliance of employers and represents a pre-dominating part of Czech indus-try. Its mission is to participate in shaping the Czech Government’s economic and social policy in or-der to create optimum conditions for business development in the country and to assert the common interests of its members.The Confederation’s membership includes some 2 247 entities.This includes 117 direct member com-panies and 29 so-called collective members, which are organis ations joining firms based on their com-mon industry, professional or regional interests.

CONFEDERATION OF INDUSTRY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC REPRESENTING THOSE WHO CREATE VALUE

Svaz průmyslu a dopravy České republiky

Jankovcova 1569/2c170 04 Praha 7Phone: +420 234 379 500, 234 379 488Fax: +420 234 379 489, 234 379 463e-mail: spcr@spcr.cz

More Information on the Confeder-

ation of Industry of the Czech Republic

and Branch Associations at:

www.spcr.cz

Relationship of the Confederation

with foreign countries and interna-

tional organisations:

The Confederation establishes bilateral cooperation with partner confederations of industries, chambers of commerce, and other economic institutions abroad on the basis of cooperation agree-ments. The Confederation is a member of important interna-tional organisations of employers and businessmen – BUSINESS-EUROPE, IOE, and BIAC.

The Confederation represents and promotes the common interests of its members with the goal of creating an environment that is conducive to enterprise and employment while respecting ethical principles of business that will lead to long-term, sustainable prosperity for Czech society.It provides expert support and assistance for its members nego-tiating individually in EU institu-tions, as well as through CEBRE (Czech Business Representation in Brussels), an information ser-vice concerning regulatory meas-ures approved and in preparation.It works organisationally to promote trade relations between Czech and foreign entities by means of trade missions, confer-ences, bilateral and multilateral negotiations, and through the participation of its members in trade fairs, exhibitions, and pro-fessional seminars.

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The Czech Chamber of Commerce, as stipulated by law, promotes and protects the interests of the entrepreneurial public, caters to its needs, and supports its devel-opment. The Chamber consists of a regional network of chambers, associations, and professional and trade unions on a state-wide scale. The extensive member base may utilise specifi c services, including international support events and programmes.The Czech Chamber of Commerce pro-

vides its members and non-members

with services consistent with standards

of commercial chambers in the coun-

tries of the European Union:

� Organisation of international and bilateral company contact events (outgoing and incoming mis-sions).

� Organisation of accompanying entrepreneurial missions during offi cial visits of state representa-tives to other countries.

� Organisation of entrepreneurial missions on the occasion of the Czech Republic’s offi cial par-ticipation in trade fairs and exhi-bitions abroad.

CZECH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hospodářská komora České republiky

Freyova 27190 00 Praha 9Phone: +420 266 721 300Fax: +420 266 721 692e-mail: offi ce@komora.cz

More information at: www.komora.cz

Our mission is to foster interna-tional co-operation, partnership, and dialogue between the general public and the professional sphere. We focus on co-creating an attrac-tive image of the Czech Republic as a modern and dynamic country in the areas of culture and tourism while supporting external economic relations. Currently there are 24 Czech Centres in 21 countries on three continents. Czech Centres is an independent organization funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.In every area of our activities, Czech Centres present the best of Czech traditions, while promoting the con-temporary trends which emphasise the creative potential of the Czech Republic.In the area of external economic relations, Czech Centres offer services such as organisation of presentations and meetings of Czech organisations with foreign partners. We are a liaison for infor-mation and enquiry services. Czech Centre – Czech House Moscow of-fers an extensive range of services - the Moscow Business Centre provides accommodation (rooms, apartments, offi ces, garage park-ing) as well as catering services.For additional information and spe-cifi c services, please enquire directly to your local Czech Centre.

CZECH CENTRES

Česká centra

Václavské nám. 816/49110 00 Praha 1Phone: +420 234 668 211Fax: +420 234 668 215e-mail: info@czech.cz

More information at:

www.czechcentres.cz

www.export.cz

� Organisation of incoming mis-sions of foreign businessmen for small and medium businesses.

� Mediation of contacts with partner chambers of commerce and other business institutions in foreign countries.

� Provision of complete services to foreign fi rms for their presenta-tion in the Czech Republic.

� Organisation of seminars, work-shops, business forums, and similar professional and regional events.� Participation in European Union

programmes and activities.� Publishes demands and offers of

companies from the whole world and also publishes demands and offers of Czech companies abroad. Makes use of access to interna-tional databases to actively seek new contacts for Czech fi rms.

The purpose of EGAP is to provide protection to exporters and banks fi -nancing exports against non-payment by foreign buyers in consequence of territorial (political) and uninsurable commercial risks. EGAP complies with all WTO, OECD and European Union rules and provisions applicable to export credit insurance with state aid. Its services are comparable to those of other export credit agencies in the world. In addition to export credit insurance, EGAP also provides insurance of pre-export fi nancing, insurance of investments in foreign countries and loans for their fi nanc-ing, as well as insurance against manufacturing risks and insurance

EXPORT GUARANTEE AND INSURANCE CORPORATION (EGAP)

Exportní garanční a pojišťovací

společnost, a.s.

Vodičkova 34/701111 21 Praha 1Phone: +420 222 841 111Fax: +420 222 844 001e-mail : info@egap.cz

More information at:

www.egap.cz

of bonds issued by banks on behalf of Czech exporters for export contracts. EGAP has been providing its services since 1992 - to all exporters of Czech goods and services irrespective of their size, legal form, and the volume of insured export.

The CzechTrade export promotion agency is a contributory organ-isation of the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. It provides professional informa-tion, assistance, and consultation services to assist Czech exporters in penetrating foreign markets and succeeding there. The Agen-cy’s mission is, through its pro-fessional services, to contribute to the growth of the exports of Czech companies and, as another priority, to build up an excellent name for Czech exports.CzechTrade operates more than thirty offi ces abroad, which pro-vide up-to-date information from the territories, survey trade op-portunities and take advantage of the name of a government agency to establish suitable contacts.In foreign countries, CzechTrade assists companies which are searching for suppliers or business partners in the Czech Republic. Your Czech Supplier is an exclu-sive service that facilitates the es-tablishment of direct contacts with suppliers in the Czech Republic. Detailed information and on-line

CZECH TRADE PROMOTION AGENCY/CZECHTRADE

Čеská аgеntura na pоdporu

оbchоdu/ CzechTrade

Dittrichova 21128 01 Praha 28Phone: 800 133 331From other countries dial: +420 224 907 820e-mail: info@czechtrade.cz

The Centre for Regional Develop-

ment CR (CRR CR) is the imple-menting agency for European programmes operating under the auspices of the Ministry for Re-gional Development of the Czech Republic.CRR CR hosts one of the centres of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), a member of Europe’s largest network (with more than 500 partners) set up and run by the European Commission with

CENTRE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CR – ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK

Centrum pro regionální rozvoj ČR

– Enterprise Europe Network

Vinohradská 46120 00 Praha 2Phone: +420 221 580 201Fax: +420 221 580 284e-mail: crr@crr.cz

More information at:

www.crr.cz

More information at:

www.czechtradeoffi ces.com

the purpose of promoting busi-ness. Its consortium based in the Czech Republic is composed of eleven partners from six cities – Prague, Plzeň, Ostrava, Most, Liberec and Pardubice. The mis-sion of the network is to help es-pecially small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) on entering the EU internal market and doing business there. Its officials pro-vide comprehensive consulting services to businessmen with the aim of broadening the interna-tional cooperation of companies, raising the innovative potential of enterprises in the EU and help-ing SMEs to become integrated more widely in EU framework programmes.

To foreign clients, CRR CR – EEN Prague

off ers:

Information about the Czech Re-public, about the business environ-ment in the CR, Czech legislation, about how to fi nd Czech partners for co-operation, information about starting a business in the CR, sources of fi nancing from structural funds and other information.

registration form are available on the website: www.czechtradeof-fi ces.com/supplier.If a foreign fi rm wishes to meet representatives of Czech fi rms in person, we will organise negoti-ations in the building of the CzechTrade Agency in Prague or, according to agreement, on the premises of the selected Czech fi rms. Czech suppliers are well-known and successful in many industrial sectors and services. In the case of a foreign fi rm wish-ing to offer its products to Czech companies, it can do so through the Sell Leads service – http://www.czechtradeoffi ces.com/SellLeads.

Prague Castle - Daliborka Tower

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CZECHINVEST – THE INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CzechInvest

Štěpánská 15120 00 Praha 2Phone: +420 296 342 500Fax: +420 296 342 502e-mail: info@czechinvest.org

More information at:

www.czechinvest.org

Czech Export Bank (CEB) provides all financial services to Czech enterprises and their foreign partners involved in the export of Czech products and services. CEB provides both sides of the trade relationship with favourable conditions in terms of extended maturities and attractive price. This is done under internation-ally adopted rules governing state support of exports. The bank has broad experience in financing of large transactions of Czech export-ers, but also of export contracts for lesser amounts or partial deliveries. On the one hand, this benefits the bank’s clients and

CZECH EXPORT BANK

Česká exportní banka, a.s.

Vodičkova 34111 21 Praha 1Phone: +420 222 843 216Fax: +420 224 226 162e-mail: ceb@ceb.cz

More information at: www.ceb.cz

Vision of CzechInvest Agency:

“Czech Republic – one of the most

competitive EU states”

CzechInvest – the National Invest-ment and Business Development Agency – is a state-run contribu-tory organisation subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. Its aim is to raise the competitiveness of the Czech economy by giving support to small and medium-sized enter-prises, the business infrastructure, and innovation. It attracts foreign investors to invest in the manufac-turing industry, strategic services, and technological centres and supports Czech enterprises in their efforts to expand.As part of the programme to simplify communication between the state, businessmen, and the European Union, CzechInvest acts as an umbrella organisation for all sources of support to business and enterprise in the manufactur-ing industry fl owing both from EU funds and the state budget. CzechInvest gives publicity to the

Czech Republic in other countries as a locality attractive for inves-tors and is the only organisa-tion entitled to file investment incentive applications to relevant bodies. It also supports Czech companies interested in becom-ing included in the supply chains of supranational companies. With its services and promotion programmes CzechInvest helps domestic firms and Czech and foreign investors in their expan-sion and the development of the business environment in general.

All services are free of charge.

on the other hand, it indirectly creates higher employment and improved conditions for business development. Foreign buyers and partners of Czech firms use most CEB products under these favour-able conditions of financing, thus making Czech goods and services more lucrative not only in terms of their price and quality. The Bank’s focus on offering a comprehensive range of prod-ucts for the financing of exports has proven invaluable in recent years. Exporters appreciate this fi-nancial support as a useful form of securing export-related financial needs. Besides standard financing of exports of goods, CEB sees its new role in offering financing of big turn-key projects, construc-

tion works and infrastructure, and especially investments abroad. A number of project and struc-tured financing models allow the realisation of projects at a new scale. Another of the Bank’s goals is to offer Czech companies advantageous financing of their plans to launch production abroad or to invest in establishment or extension of production compa-nies abroad.

Prague - Lesser Town Charles Bridge towers

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The Czech Republic has been gradually strengthening its posi-tion of an established European tourist destination. Membership in the European Union and activi-ties of the CzechTourism Agency and its foreign branches in Europe and overseas have all significantly contributed to achieve this goal. The organisation with the original name the Czech Tourist Author-ity (Česká centrála cestovního ruchu, ČCCR) has existed with the purpose of promoting the country as an attractive tourist destination on foreign and domestic markets since 1993.With regard to long-term studies in the area of the tourist trade, Czech-Tourism has been focusing the majority of its activities on coun-tries that represent the main source markets of incoming tourism into the CR. The fi rst among these are the neighbouring countries (Ger-many, Austria, Slovakia, Poland), followed by other European coun-tries with high numbers of tourists going abroad (Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Spain). The most important overseas countries are Japan, Canada, and the USA.CzechTourism also introduces current and mid-term strategic presentations of the Czech Repub-lic abroad. A new strategy for the Promotion of the Czech Republic came into effect at the beginning of 2004, which was oriented at the promotion of the so-called national products. Five locations have been chosen (Prague, Karlovy

CZECH TOURIST AUTHORITY – CZECHTOURISM

Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism

Vinohradská 46, P.O.BOX 32120 41 Praha 2Phone: +420 221 580 111Fax: +420 224 247 516e-mail: info@czechtourism.cz

More information

in 18 world languages at :

www.czechtourism.com

Vary, Český Krumlov, the sand-stone rock regions, and Olomouc) with a selection of optional trips through their surroundings, and two time products (Christmas, Easter). The Agency switched from territorial and time topics to more generally defi ned products in 2007. They are Historical Treas-ures (castles, chateaux, technical and religious monuments), Czech Health Care Spas, Active Holidays (golf, cycling, adrenalin sports, but also fi shing or foot tourism), Congress, Corporate, and Incen-tive Tourism, and Experience Vacation (gastronomy, music, festivals). CzechTourism focuses on the promotion of golf tour-ism for the Active Holidays. It was a great success to receive the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year 2007 title at the Interna-tional Golf Travel Market fair in Spain (November 2006) awarded to the Czech Republic by the Inter-national Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). The growth of golf tourism is also evidenced by the new slogan: Czech Republic – The Golf Republic.The Czech Republic is currently represented by 26 CzechTour-ism branches abroad (Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany,

Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Swit-zerland, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the USA) and there are plans to open others (for example, in Frankfurt and Yekaterinburg).The CzechTourism Agency also has a number of other activities. It organises TOURFILM, the old-est film festival of tourism-themed films and multimedia in the world (www.tourfilm.cz). Today, the festival is a part of a larger event called the Karlovy Vary Week (Karlovarský týden). The Agency participates in the common promotion of the Visegrad Four (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hun-gary, Poland) on overseas markets (www.european-quartet.com). It also promotes a number of events in the individual regions of the Czech Republic.

Žďár nad Sázavou - St John of Nepomuk Church at Zelená Hora