Editorial

Dear clients and colleagues, I am delighted that you are reading the first issue of the MTX Group Magazine. After reviewing this almost final version, all that is left is writing this last piece of text. It is a huge advantage that I can read the contents of this issue in the light of current events, just moments before it gets printed and delivered to you. Why? We are experiencing the biggest health crisis since 1918. Covid has changed the world, which means that all Europe will have to insource and change supply chains. For the first time ever, we are beginning to realize what the green goals of the Paris agreement and the COP26 summit will entail, how much we are dependent on imported raw materials and goods, and how open and volatile our economy can be. If we look at it from the broader perspective, we can see the first effects of Brexit, the inevitable change in the European demographic curve, the global growth in debts, and generational and cultural clashes. This might seem grim at first, but we are returning to normal, to working together every day to make the world a better place. You can read about it in this magazine, and it is something that makes me hopeful. The role of our senior management is to make strategic decisions in the long run. These choices include actively making the Czech manufacturing industry more sustainable, more so than anyone else. And to be truly up to date, we will follow the ESG framework. Most of our businesses produce a significant amount of carbon. This means we will be facing stringent decarbonization demands. On the other hand, we are a company with unique production expertise. From my point of view, it is not possible to simply move emission-heavy production to third countries or in some way become dependent on them. It is against not only my own personal convictions but also the strategic interests of the Czech Republic and, by extension, those of Europe. The pandemic and subsequent developments have clearly shown us our weak spots, when we had to order special containers to be shipped halfway around the world just to obtain basic materials. We are simply an integral part of our society. Always prepared to deliver anything from our portfolio. And we are always willing to help, be it supporting local communities or setting up a vaccination center. Further ahead, another important aspect of our support is working with schools. Currently, we are often the only ones who are able to pass on our professional skills such as smelting or rolling, and we also have an unparalleled knowledge of metallurgy and processing of aluminum, brass, and other metals, including their automated production, treatment, and environmental impact. Let me return to our everyday activities. There is not a moment during our internal meetings or conversations with customers when we are not always growing, at least one small step at a time. In annual planning and evaluation, this translates into more than CZK 1.5 billion in investments. This goes into employee development, new and more environmentally friendly technology, vegetation around our factories and improving efficiency. All of this is covered in the following pages. I believe this brief introduction will give you a picture of our direction and way of thinking.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue.

Petr Otava