United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain 2018/2019

CZECH REPUBLIC Your Trade Partner

2018/2019 United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain

Czech Republic – Your Trade Partner Compiled by the PP Agency s.r.o. in cooperation with

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic

Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic

Czech Chamber of Commerce

International Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic

Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’ Associations of the Czech Republic

CzechTrade – Czech Trade Promotion Agency

CzechInvest, Investment and Business Development Agency

CzechTourism – Czech Tourist Authority

Czech Centres

Centre for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

Deadline: 25 June 2018 ® Teritoriální publikace Česká republika – Váš obchodní partner Published by the PP Agency s.r.o.

Myslíkova 25, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic E-mail: journal@ppagency.cz, www.ppagency.cz

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 03

FOREWORD Dear Readers, Businessmen, Partners, and Friends of the Czech Republic, It is my pleasure and honour to address you today with a few words about Czech-UAE economic and business relations. Since our political relations have for decades been on an excellent level and with no outstanding issues, our main activities in the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the UAE are focused predominantly on developing mutual economic and business relations in all aspects.

The UAE has been our largest trade partner among the GCC countries for a long time and currently is the 4th biggest importer of Czech-made goods among all non-European countries. The mutual trade turnover in 2017 reached its historical maximum of 933 million USD and is continually growing. Ninety per cent of this trade turnover (837 million USD) was from Czech exports to the UAE. This confirms the fact that the Czech Republic is one of the most export-oriented economies in Europe.

The Czech Republic exports mostly industrial goods to the UAE market.

In the long term, 20 % of our exports consist of various information technology products, 20 % of telecommunication equipment, and 10 % of glassware. Cars, electrical distribution panels, transmitters and foodstuffs (namely milk products) are other important parts of the Czech exports to the UAE. Czech Škoda cars can be seen on the streets of all seven Emirates. Also Czech Akawi cheese, cereals, and glassware are seen in many local households and supermarkets. Czech medical beds and special medical equipment are used by many local institutions and hospitals. However, not everybody knows that many hotel lobbies, Dubai metro stations and government buildings are adorned with magnificent Czech crystal chandeliers. One of the most recent eye-catching installations is the 27-metre-high chandelier installed in the foyer of Dubai Opera. This breathtaking artwork by Czech glass-blowing masters is composed of 30 000 individually crafted glass pearls and 3 000 internal LED sources and it even moves according to different types of music.

Other sectors with the greatest potential for further cooperation and business are water resources and distribution, transportation and electricity generation, as well as logistics, healthcare, medical tourism, food trade, information management and telecommunication technologies for civilian, defence, and national security use. The potential is also in mutual investment activities, where bilateral Agreements on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments and on the Avoidance of the Double Taxation and Fiscal Evasion guarantee us a fair business environment.

Three years ago, as a reaction to the constant growing numbers of Czech companies and professionals doing business in the UAE, the Czech Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates (CBC) was established. It has been registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the first business council from Central and Eastern Europe to further promote business with local entities.

Today, CBC has more than 200 members.

The Czech Republic participates regularly in the largest UAE trade fairs and exhibitions with its national stands. It goes without saying that it will not miss the largest and most important world event in this respect – Dubai EXPO 2020. A unique sustainable technology called S.A.W.E.R. (Solar Air Water Earth Resource) will be the main feature of the Czech pavilion. The technology can turn a desert into a green landscape, merely by obtaining water from the air and using it, after it has been fermented with algae, for cultivating a desert.

The Czech Embassy in Abu Dhabi always stands ready to provide information, diplomatic services, and assistance to further promote our bilateral economic and business relations between our dynamic and friendly countries.

Alexandr Sporýš Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Arab Emirates 04 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

Dear Friends, I am very pleased to be able to address you in connection with the issue of the publication “Czech Republic – Your Trade Partner”.

Thank you for your interest in promoting relations between our countries.

This year, 2018, is of special importance for our country, because it is the year when we commemorate the centenary of the birth of our independent Republic in 1918. During its existence, the Czech Republic has become a modern country in the heart of Europe, a member of the European Union, NATO, and other important international organisations.

From my talks with partners in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman – countries of my accreditation – I have discovered with pleasure that they view the Czech Republic as a safe country, which is a reliable and trustworthy partner offering traditionally broad opportunities for business and investment collaboration with the Gulf countries.

The total trade turnover with all three of them is increasing every year and the mutual contractual base helping to promote this collaboration is broadening.

The Czech Republic is also regarded as a country with a rich history, well developed culture and education, earning it the attribute of a country of marvellous people. Last but not least, the Czech Republic has gained the image of a country providing high-quality services, available at friendly prices.

In the past three years, the interest in the Czech Republic by the people of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman has increased significantly, not only with regard to healthcare (rehabilitation, physiotherapy), but also to relaxation and innovation. This interest is greatly boosted by the launching of direct flights operated by ČSA between Prague and Riyadh in the summer months.

I would like to assure you, dear friends, of the readiness of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Riyadh to further promote collaboration with you and to provide assistance in all the business activities you pursue with partners in the Czech Republic. At the same time, I would like to thank you for your collaboration and am looking forward to my next meeting with you.

Jiří Slavík Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 05

FOREWORD Dear Readers, It is my privilege to introduce to you this exciting publication, which has the aim of presenting the Czech Republic, its economy, business environment, and the many opportunities of doing business and investing in this country, to its business partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The political and business links between the GCC countries and the Czech Republic are numerous and often have a long history. This is well illustrated by the example of Kuwait, which has had a friendly relationship with the former Czechoslovakia since Kuwaiti independence in 1961. The Czechoslovak Embassy was one of the very first embassies to open in Kuwait and I am very proud that free, post-communist Czechoslovakia contributed to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 with its specialised chemical-protection army corps. For decades now, Kuwaitis have greatly enjoyed going to the major Czech spas, especially Teplice and Karlovy Vary. We are glad to see a continuation of this tradition in the present day, with increasing numbers of Kuwaiti tourists coming to our country. Bilateral trade in goods between the Czech Republic and Kuwait has been steadily on a growth trajectory in the last couple of years, reaching approximately USD 93 million in 2017. The ambition of the Czech Embassy in Kuwait is to further expand the economic and business ties between the two countries and to see mutual trade growing even more in the years to come. For this reason, we organised a number of projects of economic diplomacy in Kuwait in 2017 with the aim of promoting Czech food producers in Kuwait and to showcase the Czech Republic as an attractive tourist destination.

With respect to Qatar, the political, economic, and business links have grown exponentially since the inception of mutual relations in the 1990s. In particular, the economic and trade relations between the Czech Republic and Qatar have been on the rise in the last couple of years and bilateral trade volume reached an all-time high of USD 128 million in 2017 – a marked increase from the USD 79 million in 2013. These numbers are encouraging and it gives me great satisfaction to see this positive trend in the relations of the two countries. The Czech Embassy in Kuwait, which is also accredited for Qatar, has unwaveringly been supporting and promoting all measures with the potential to further contribute to the strengthening of Czech-Qatari relations. We have started procedures which should ultimately facilitate and encourage a greater flow of travellers from Qatar to the Czech Republic. We are making progress towards concluding two key bilateral economic agreements, i.e. the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the agreement on the protection of investment, between Qatar and the Czech Republic. Finally, the Embassy is also involved in the organisation of upcoming business events and delegations in 2018 and beyond.

The Czech Embassy in Kuwait has been consistently promoting the Czech Republic as a modern industrial country, with great know-how and technological expertise in sectors such as automotive, transportation, advanced machine engineering, robotics, optics, avionics and information and communication technology (ICT). The country has a long tradition and excellence in the power, electrical, and mechanical engineering industries. Czech scientists have achieved substantial scientific breakthroughs in chemistry, medicine, biomedicine, or genetics. Our researchers and scientists in medicine have given the world some unique medicines and solutions. The Czech Republic is home to some of the world-leading developers of anti-virus software, cutting-edge ICT companies, and pioneering social media application developers. We have become one of the world’s hubs for the research and development of nanotechnology and its applications, such as nanofibers and optics, and advanced batteries.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you pleasant reading of the publication which you are holding in your hands, and which can give you a unique insight into the Czech Republic’s economy, industry, and the many opportunities of doing business and investing in my country. It also highlights the most prominent companies and products that the Czech Republic has to offer to the world and the GCC region in particular.

Martin Dvořák Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar 06 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

Photo: CzechTourism (Martin Rak), Cover photo: the firm’s archives (AGADOS, spol. s r.o.; BERNDORF BÄDERBAU s.r.o.; BONATRANS GROUP a.s.; GLENTOR s.r.o.; GMR GAS s.r.o.; GRANDHOTEL PUPP Karlovy Vary, akciová společnost; Pontex, spol. s r.o.; SUDOP BRNO, spol. s r.o.; TOS VARNSDORF a.s.)

Prague – Hradčany

Contents FOREWORD

Foreword by Mr Alexandr Sporýš, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Arab Emirates 04 Foreword by Mr Jiří Slavík, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen 05 Foreword by Mr Martin Dvořák, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar 06 Czech Exporters 09 Useful Information 12

20 24

26 29 30 33

Useful Contacts in the Czech Republic Useful Contacts in UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait The Most Important Websites

ECONOMICS

BUSINESS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

CONTACTS

KEY SECTORS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC Czech Engineering – Tradition and Future Czech Automotive Industry Stepping up Its Dynamics Czech Food Industry – Hidden Potential Nanotechnologies Entering into Big Business

INSTITUTIONS PRESENT THEMSELVES

Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic Czech Chamber of Commerce International Chamber of Commerce in the CR Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’ Associations of the Czech Republic Czech Trade Promotion Agency/CzechTrade CZECH-SAUDI Chamber of Commerce CzechInvest – Business and Investment Development Agency CzechTourism – Czech Tourist Centre Czech Centres Centre for Regional Development of the CR

Czech Economy in 2017 14 Mutual Relations between the Czech Republic and the Gulf Countries 17

Business Companies in the Czech Republic Tax System of the Czech Republic

Medical Equipment Made by Czech Companies is Conquering the World The Czech Republic, Attractive Tourist Destination Tradition Seven Centuries Old Long Tradition of Wood Production

34 38 43 46

50 50 53 53 54 54 57 57 60 60

64 65 66

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 07

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Mariánské Lázně

Czech Exporters

Photo: CzechTourism

Czech enterprises that present their products and services in this publication intend to expand their exports and seek trade partners in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman,Kuwait, and Bahrain. The firms are listed according to the branch codes - NACE. 13.92

16.23

20.51

20.51

20.59

22.10

22.20

22.21

22.29

23.10

23.10

Manufacture of made-up textile articles, except apparel ARGUN s.r.o.

68 Manufacture of other builders’ carpentry and joinery Osud wood, s.r.o.

47 Manufacture of explosives Austin Detonator s.r.o.

51 Manufacture of explosives Explosia a.s.

56 Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.

ORITEST spol. s.r.o.

63 Manufacture of rubber products BONATRANS GROUP a.s.

25, 67 Manufacture of plastic products Fatra, a.s.

58 Manufacture of plastic plates, sheets, tubes and profiles Fatra, a.s.

58 Manufacture of other plastic products ERILENS s.r.o.

35 Manufacture of glass and glass products BCL, Brilliant Crystal + Lighting spol. s r.o.

19 Manufacture of glass and glass products Merry Crystals s.r.o.

55

23.13

23.19

23.41

24.50

25.10

25.11

25.29

25.40

25.70

25.92

Manufacture of hollow glass RÜCKL CRYSTAL a.s.

45 Manufacture and processing of other glass, including technical glassware Skleněná bižuterie, a.s.

44 Manufacture of ceramic household and ornamental articles Rudolf Kämpf s.r.o.

41 Casting of metals TOS VARNSDORF a.s.

02 Manufacture of structural metal products PROMAN s.r.o.

22 Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures PROMAN s.r.o.

22 Manufacture of other tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal MEVA a.s.

59 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition Explosia a.s.

56 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware NÁSTROJE CZ, s.r.o.

52 Manufacture of light metal packaging MEVA a.s.

59 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 09

FOREWORD

10 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

42.00

43.33

43.33

43.99

46.10

46.44

46.69

46.74

46.90

55.00

55.10

55.10

56.21

71.11

71.12

71.20

71.20

72.10

72.19

74.30

84.22

86.10

86.10

86.90

86.90

93.29

Civil engineering SUDOP BRNO, spol. s r.o.

Floor and wall covering Osud wood, s.r.o.

Floor and wall covering Fatra, a.s.

Other specialised construction activities n.e.c.

BERNDORF BÄDERBAU s.r.o.

Wholesale on a fee or contract basis GF Machinery s.r.o.

Wholesale of china and glassware and cleaning materials Rudolf Kämpf s.r.o.

Wholesale of other machinery and equipment D2Drives s.r.o.

Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies NÁSTROJE CZ, s.r.o.

Non-specialised wholesale trade ARGUN s.r.o.

Accommodation Státní léčebné lázně Janské Lázně, státní podnik Hotels and similar accommodation Léčebné lázně Jáchymov a. s.

Hotels and similar accommodation GRANDHOTEL PUPP Karlovy Vary, akciová společnost Event catering activities GRANDHOTEL PUPP Karlovy Vary, akciová společnost Architectural activities Pontex, spol. s r.o.

Engineering activities and related technical consultancy SUDOP BRNO, spol. s r.o.

Technical testing and analysis Český metrologický institut Technical testing and analysis Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha, s.p.

Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities Technický a zkušební ústav stavební Praha, s.p.

Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering GF Machinery s.r.o.

Translation and interpretation activities Skřivánek s.r.o.

Defence activities Explosia a.s.

Hospital activities Státní léčebné lázně Janské Lázně, státní podnik Hospital activities Léčebné lázně Jáchymov a. s.

Other human health activities Lázně Teplice v Čechách a.s.

Other human health activities Státní léčebné lázně Bludov, státní podnik Other amusement and recreation activities Státní léčebné lázně Janské Lázně, státní podnik

62 47 58 08 65

41 61

52 68 55 40

39

39 28

62 21 36

36

65 31 56 55 40 37 48 55

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

25.99 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.

ERILENS s.r.o.

35 26.51 Manufacture of instruments and appliances for

measuring, testing and navigation

ORITEST spol. s.r.o.

63 27.11 Manufacture of electric motors, generators

and transformers

ZEZ SILKO, s.r.o.

49 27.11 Manufacture of electric motors, generators

and transformers

D2Drives s.r.o.

61 27.12. Manufacture of electricity distribution

and control apparatus

ZEZ SILKO, s.r.o.

49 27.40 Manufacture of electric lighting equipment

BCL, Brilliant Crystal + Lighting spol. s r.o.

19 27.40 Manufacture of electric lighting equipment

ELITE BOHEMIA 42 27.40 Manufacture of electric lighting equipment

MEVA a.s.

59 27.50 Manufacture of domestic appliances

MODELÁRNA LIAZ spol. s r.o.

16 27.90 Manufacture of other electrical equipment

ZEZ SILKO, s.r.o.

49 28.11 Manufacture of engines and turbines, except

aircraft, vehicle and cycle engines

Doosan Škoda Power s.r.o.

32 28.14 Manufacture of other taps and valves

GMR GAS s.r.o.

11 28.40 Manufacture of metal forming machinery

and machine tools

TOS VARNSDORF a.s.

02 28.41 Manufacture of metal forming machinery

TOS VARNSDORF a.s.

02 28.90 Manufacture of other special-purpose machinery

GF Machinery s.r.o.

65 29.20 Manufacture of bodies (coachwork)

for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers

and semi-trailers

AGADOS, spol. s r.o.

15 30.20 Manufacture of railway locomotives

and rolling stock

BONATRANS GROUP a.s.

25, 67 31.01 Manufacture of office and shop furniture

PROMAN s.r.o.

22 31.09 Manufacture of other furniture

Osud wood, s.r.o.

47 32.13 Manufacture of other furniture

Skleněná bižuterie, a.s.

44 32.50 Manufacture of medical and dental instruments

and supplies

ERILENS s.r.o.

35 33.00 Repair and installation of machinery

and equipment

Doosan Škoda Power s.r.o.

32 33.17 Repair and maintenance of other

transport equipment

BONATRANS GROUP a.s.

25, 67 35.22 Distribution of gaseous fuels through mains

GMR GAS s.r.o.

11

FOREWORD

Useful Information State Symbols of the Czech Republic Coat of Arms

National Flag

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country situated in Central Europe and bordering on Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Poland.

BASIC DATA

Prague

Population 10 610 055 (as of May 2018) Area 78 864 sq. km Capital city Praha (Prague) Parliamentary system Parliamentary democracy Language Czech Highest peak Sněžka (Snow Mountain – 1603 metres above sea level) Time zone Central European Time GMT + 1, summer time GMT + 2 Currency 1 koruna česká/Czech crown (Kč/CZK) =100 halers 1 BHD = CZK 54.972 (average 1/18 - 5/18)

1 KWD = CZK 68.754 (average 1/18 – 5/18)

1 OMR = CZK 53.756 (average 1/18 – 5/18)

1 SAR = CZK 5.511 (average 1/18 – 5/18)

1 AED = CZK 5.628 (average 1/18 – 5/18)

For the most recent exchange rate please see

https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter Internet domain .cz The President of the Czech Republic is Miloš Zeman

MEMBERSHIP

Mariánské Lázně – the Colonnade

The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, WTO, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, OECD and many other organisations.

Český Krumlov

NOTABLE PERSONS

Czechs are considered a very cultured nation, which has given the world a number of significant persons. The most important rulers and heads of state are Emperor Charles IV and the Presidents T.G. Masaryk and Václav Havel. World renowned personalities include the scientists Jaroslav Heyrovský (holder of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry), Otto Wichterle, Czech chemist who invented contact lenses, and Antonín Holý, who helped to create a drug used in the treatment of AIDS. Other world renowned persons are Tomáš Baťa, creator of a shoe empire Other practical information concerning travel conditions to visit or reside in the Czech Republic are to be found at www.czech.cz

Photo: CzechTourism (COEX.cz, Ladislav Renner, Aleš Motejl), Map source: Roads and Motorways Headquarters

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List comprises the following cities and sites: Prague, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora, Litomyšl Castle, Telč, Lednice-Valtice area, Zelená Hora (Green Mountain – St. Jan of Nepomuk Church, Holašovice, Kroměříž (castle and gardens), Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, Tugendhat Villa in Brno (architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe), St. Procopius Basilica and the Jewish Quarter in Třebíč. In 2005, the Moravian-Slovakian Verbuňk recruitment dance was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. In 2010 another entry on the List was the Shrovetide Carnival and Falconry and, in 2011, the Moravian-Slovakian Ride of the Kings. More information can be found at www.unesco-czech.cz.

BERLIN HAMBURG HANNOVER

SZCZECIN ZIELONA GÓRA

BERLIN

BERLIN

DORTMUND KASSEL

LEIPZIG

POZNAŃ

Legnica ROTTERDAM KÖLN ERFURT

Görlitz

DRESDEN Jena

WARSZAWA ŁÓDŹ

WROCŁAW Jelenia Góra

Gera Zwickau

Świdnica

CHEMNITZ

Wałbrzych

GDAŃSK ŁÓDŹ

Opole

Plauen

Tarnowskie Góry Kędzierzyn-K.

Zabrze Bytom Dąbrowa G. GLIWICE Ch. SOSNOWIEC KATOWICE Ruda Ś.

Mysłowice Racibórz Rybnik Tychy Żory

BAMBERG

Bayreuth

Bielsko-Biała

FRANKFURT AM MAIN WÜRZBURG

Erlangen

WARSZAWA RADOM

KRAKÓW LVOV (UA) RZESZÓW

BANSKÁ BYSTRICA POPRAD

Fürth

super-G in Alpine skiing and in the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding. She is the first person to win two gold medals at the same Winter Olympics, using two different types of equipment (skis and snowboard) and the first woman to do so in single Winter Olympics.

NÜRNBERG MANNHEIM HEILBRONN

Žilina MÜNCHEN INGOLSTADT

Regensburg

KOŠICE POPRAD

Trenčín

MÜNCHEN

KOŠICE ZVOLEN

Passau Trnava

Linz MÜNCHEN

St. Pölten

Wels

WIEN

Nitra

BANSKÁ BYSTRICA ZVOLEN

BRATISLAVA

SALZBURG

GRAZ SOPRON GRAZ

BUDAPEST GYŐR

TRIESTE

between the Two World Wars, and Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State. In the field of culture, great names are those of the composers Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček, Antonín Dvořák and Bohuslav Martinů, the writers Franz Kafka, Karel Čapek, Jaroslav Seifert (holder of the Nobel Prize), Jaroslav Hašek, Bohumil Hrabal, and Milan Kundera. Oscars have been awarded to film directors Miloš Forman (born in the Czech Republic), Jiří Menzel, and Jan Svěrák. Other famous people of culture are the painters František Kupka and Alfons Mucha and the photographer Jan Saudek.

Sportsmen who have gained international fame are, for example, Emil Zátopek – long-distance runner – best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5 000- metre and 10 000-metre races, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life. He was nicknamed the “Czech Locomotive”.

Gymnast Věra Čáslavská won a total of 22 international titles between 1959 and 1968, including seven Olympic gold medals, four World titles and eleven European championships.

Martina Navrátilová - is a former Czechoslovak and later American professional tennis player and coach. In 2005, Tennis magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through to 2005. She is considered one of the best, if not the best, female tennis players of all time.

Jaromír Jágr – is the most successful European hockey player who has ever played in the NHL and is considered one of the greatest professional hockey players of all time.

Petr Čech – is considered as one of the greatest and most respected football goalkeepers of his generation.

Barbora Špotáková - track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw. She is a two-time Olympic and World Champion.

Petra Kvitová - professional tennis player. She turned professional in 2006 and has won 23 career single titles, which includes two Grand Slam titles at the Wimbledon Championships in 2011 and 2014.

Martina Sáblíková - speed skater, specialising in long-distance races. She is an Olympic gold medal winner and a multiple European and World all-round champion. She became the first Czech to win two Olympic gold medals at one Winter Games in the 2010 Olympiad.

Ester Ledecká - snowboarder and Alpine skier. At the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Ledecká won gold medals in the

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Dialling code: +(420). More detailed information about telephone numbers can be found on the www.zlatestranky.cz website.

Licences for operating mobile networks on the territory of the Czech Republic have been awarded to the following companies: 02 Czech Republic a.s., T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s., Vodafone Czech Republic a.s., and Air Telecom a.s.

The most popular credit cards in the Czech Republic are Eurocard/Mastercard and Visa. *ČNB = Czech National Bank

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 13

ECONOMICS

Czech Economy in 2017 In 2017, the Czech economy, which renewed its growth in 2014, continued on its way up at quite a distinctive rate. The upward trend was shown by both gross domestic product and gross value added in all the quarters of the year. Higher dynamics were achieved also by industrial production, but other sectors, too, including services, were doing well.

of CZK 432.9 million. In national terms (exchange of the ownership of goods between domestic and foreign entities) the balance sheet surplus in 2017 amounted to CZK 152.6 billion, a CZK 11.1 billion decline year on year. The development of foreign trade was favourably influenced especially by machinery and transport vehicle export, which showed a favourable balance, while the balance sheet of the mineral fuels and lubricants group and the group of chemicals and related products showed a deficit.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

In 2017, GDP was 4.5 % higher in comparison with 2016, according to preliminary estimates. All the relevant factors contributed to its growth, in particular foreign demand and household consumer spending.

PRICES

The inflation rate measured by the 2017 consumer price index was 2.5 %. In comparison to 2016, inflation rose by 1.8 percentage points. The year-on-year consumer price increase was mainly due to the growth of prices in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group and in rental prices, fuels, and catering and accommodation services categories.

INDUSTRY

In comparison with the previous year, industrial production in 2017 increased by 5.7 %. A yearon-year increase was shown by most sectors. The manufacturing industry as a whole rose by 6.0 %.

The greatest increase (19.6 %) was shown by the manufacture of chemical substances and chemical preparations, the manufacture of computers and electronic and optical devices (9.9 %), the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products (9.8 %), and the manufacture of motor vehicles (9.1 %).

Slightly below the 2016 level were the mining, clothing, leather, and metalworking industries.

WAGES

In the 1st to 3rd quarters of 2017, the average gross monthly wage of employees (full-time equivalent) was CZK 28 751. In a year-on-year comparison, this equalled to an increase of CZK 1 773 (6.6 %). The real wage increased by 4.1 % (consumer prices in the period under review were up by 2.4 %). The greatest absolute rise was shown by the health and social care sector (CZK 2 277), the information and communication sector (CZK 2 214), and public administration (CZK 2 204). The highest percentage increase in wages was shown by the accommodation and catering sector (12.6 %).

FOREIGN TRADE

In foreign trade (cross border movement of goods), Czech exports increased by 5.7 % and imports by 7.9 %, so that the trade balance ended in a surplus

Jana Bondyová Czech Statistical Office; www.czso.cz

Macroeconomic Indicators of the Czech Republic 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Gross Domestic Product (current prices)

CZK, billion

4 022.5

4 041.6

4 077.1

4 312.5

4 597.9

4 770.9

5 049.9

Gross Domestic Product

%, real, y/y

2.0

-0.9

-0.5

2.7

5.4

2.5

4.5

%, y/y

5.9

-0.8

-0.1

5.0

4.6

3.5

5.7

Registered unemployment

%

8.6

9.4

8.2

6.7

6.8

7.7

7.7

General unemployment rate according to selective labour force examination3)

%

6.7

7.0

7.0

6.1

5.0

4.0

2.9

%, y/y

1.9

3.3

1.4

0.4

0.3

0.7

2.5

%, average

2.1

3.5

2.7

0.4

0.3

0.6

2.4

162 897.0

157 167.0

162 302.4

175 017.0

157 880.0 162 716.0

180 433.0

1)

1)

Industrial Production 2)

Inflation Rate Inflation (HICP)

4)

Exports

5)

USD, mil.

Exports

%, y/y

Imports5)

USD, mil.

Imports5)

%, y/y

5)

22.5

-3.5

3.3

7.8

152 122.0

141 515.0

144 319.9

154 233.0

3.1

10.1

141 366,0 143 041.0

-9.8

161 944.0

20.2

-7.0

2.0

6.9

-8.4

1.2

13.2

Balance of Trade5)

USD, mil.

10 775.0

15 652.0

17 982.6

20 784.0

16 514.0

19 675.0

18 439.0

CZK/EUR 6)

average

24.586

25.143

25.974

27.634

27.283

27.033

25.647

CZK/USD 6)

average

17.688

19.583

19.565

22.400

24.600

24.432

21.668

Source: Czech Statistical Office, Czech National Bank (ČNB); General note: y/y shows year-on-year change in the indicator; 1) Data after revision under the ESA 2010 system of accounts, 2017 estimate 2) Unemployment to total population ratio = number of eligible job seekers aged 15-64 years/population in per cent, situation at the end of the year; 3) LFSS = Labour Force Sample Survey; 4) HICP = Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, inflation rate by EU method; 5) Foreign trade data expressed in USD are the sum of the different monthly values in CZK calculated by the average monthly exchange rate announced by the Czech National Bank; 6) Czech National Bank

14 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

TRADITION

AND PROGRESS AGADOS, spol. s r.o.,

the traditional Czech producer of trailers of total weight between 300 and 10 000 kg; some of which can achieve speeds of 130 km per hour.

AGADOS, spol. s r.o. | Průmyslová 2081 | 594 01 Velké Meziříčí | Czech Republic Phone: +420 566 653 301 | Fax: +420 566 653 368 | E-mail: ostry@agados.cz | www.agados.cz

ECONOMICS

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

SkySpotter 150 A Monitoring beyond limit

A versatile and reliable medium-range UAV helicopter SkySpotter 150 A is developed by well-qualified constructors and experienced aviation engineers from Czech joint-stock company LIAZ a.s.

After more than half a century of production of trucks, the Czech company LIAZ a.s. is currently engaged in the development and production of unmanned helicopters. Helicopter concept allows the user to operate within a smaller vicinity with no substantial landing/ take off area required. Its capacity to hover and perform agile maneuvering makes rotary wing UAVs well suited to applications like inspections where precision maneuvering and the ability to maintain a visual on a single target for an extended period of time is required.

SkySpotter 150 A is able to perform such tasks which are difficult to implement by conventional manned helicopters.

SkySpotter 150 A was created to carry out a wide range of civilian, rescue and military reconnaissance tasks.

These are some of them: protection of land borders and shoreline of the state, delivery of “survival packages” and first-aid materials to remote areas, monitoring and surveillance of dense gathering of people, assessment and monitoring of transport infrastructure, inspection and assessment of oil and gas pipelines condition, identification of possible emergency areas, detection and monitoring of fires, tracing of persons in areas affected by fire, geological prospecting and evaluation of oil and mineral deposits.

SkySpotter 150 A has proven itself as a reliable, fully autonomous unmanned helicopter during day/night flight operations in difficult weather conditions, various climatic and natural zones.

The basic LIAZ SkySpotter 150 A complex includes: n SkySpotter 150 A unmanned aircraft 2 units n LIAZ GSOS gyro-stabilized electro-optical sensor 2 units n LIAZ GCS ground control station 1 unit n LIAZ TC transport container 1 unit

In the standard configuration the SkySpotter 150 A will carry out a payload of 28kg during 7 hours. A remote control of UAV with payloads is controlled via a radio signal from the LIAZ GCS (Ground Control Station) for a distance up to 100 km. The radio signal also provides data transfer from the payload.

LIAZ a.s. is a reliable supplier of unmanned helicopter complexes and a provider of specialized systems and other specific services (including a whole range of payload systems and software) as well as technical tools associated with the use of a helicopter (SkySpotter 150 B and SkySpotter 150 C simplified specialty versions). It delivers tailor-made systems to meet individual customer´s needs.

With the SkySpotter 150 complex, every customer receives a ready-made solution tailored to his own specific needs and the LIAZ´ s professional staff provides qualified technical assistance and maintenance support all over the globe.

LIAZ a.s.

Kamenická 743, 460 06 Liberec C z e c h RRepublic e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 16 Czech

For more information, please contact us info@liaz-uav.com +420 485 130 448

Mutual Relations between the CR and the Gulf Countries SAUDI ARABIA

estate area. The Czech Embassy in Riyadh is doing its best to support these plans in collaboration with CzechInvest Agency, which the Embassy in Riyadh keeps informed about all the new plans.

Mutual collaboration is developing in the area of healthcare, especially as regards the transfer of Czech spa know-how and the assistance of healthcare personnel in local hospitals. In mid-2009, a joint project for the provision of spa services was completed

by Darkov Spa and Saihat Society for Social Services in the Eastern Province not far from Dammam. In 2010, a rehabilitation facility, the Czech-Saudi Rehabilitation Centre, was opened in Riyadh, employing mainly Czech medical personnel. The Centre specialises in the treatment of post-injury patients. In 2013 the centre was enlarged so as to be able to serve more patients.

In construction, a new field of collaboration has opened up, namely the transfer of interior design services, especially in connection with the furnishing of palaces and residences with Czech glassware.

BAHRAIN

Diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Bahrain were established in the form of a common letter to the UN Secretary General in May 1993 and a follow-up exchange of notes in June 1993, embodying the recognition of the Czech Republic and the establishment of diplomatic relations as from 1 January 1993.

Contractual Area In April 2001 the two countries signed in Prague

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

Although diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were established only in 1995, collaboration between the two countries started developing soon thereafter in the areas of politics, science, education, culture, and especially business.

Contractual Area General Agreement between the government of the Czech Republic and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of mutual collaboration in many areas, which entered into force on 20 January 2003.

Agreement on Mutual Support and Protection of Investments, which entered into force on 13 March 2011. The Agreement on Prevention of Double Taxation was signed in April 2012 and was ratified by Parliament in December 2012. The Agreement entered into force on 1 May 2013. The Agreement on Air Transport initialled in October 2011 is currently in comment process.

In 2006, a Memorandum on Collaboration was signed between the two countries´ Health Ministries.

Balance of Trade In the second half of 2017, Czech exports to Saudi Arabia began to grow and reached the value slightly exceeding the 2016 level.

This was due to higher exports of traditional items (cars, especially Hyundai Tucson from the Nošovice car factory). Other important Czech export items were computer components, iron semi-finished products and other steel and iron products, and dairy produce.

A new item in Czech exports is printed matter, ranking third on the list of Czech exports. Another new feature is the growing presence of IT firms in the market. In the second half of 2017, an increasing number of non-typical contracts was negotiated to be signed in 2018, hopefully auguring well for Czech exports to maintain their actual rising trend.

Preparations are in progress to realise the transfer of technologies for the production of Tatra trucks in Saudi Arabia.

In 2017, Saudi investors began to show growing interest in possibilities of investing in the Czech Republic, not only in the real

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 17

ECONOMICS the Agreement on Air Transport and in October 2007 the Agreement on the Support and Protection of Investment, which came into force in 2009. In May 2011, they signed the Agreement on the Prevention of Double Taxation, which came into force in April 2012, and in January 2016 the Agreement on Air Transport between the Czech Republic and Bahrain, becoming effective on 31 July 2017.

Balance of Trade The leading item on the list of Czech exports is cars, of which most are Hyundai cars manufactured at Nošovice. The second largest item is iron and steel constructions.

Other important export items are computer components, distribution boxes, etc.

KUWAIT

No problems are burdening the economic relations between the Czech Republic and Kuwait. The Czech Republic regards Kuwait as an important state of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a country with an economic potential and also as a trade partner with good prospects.

Contractual Area Agreement on Air Transport in force since 21 April 2005 Agreement on Cooperation in the Area of Healthcare and Medical Sciences, in force since 11 March 1980 Agreement on the Support and Protection of Investments, in force since 21 January 1997 Agreement on the Prevention of Double Taxation and Income Tax and Income Derived from Property Tax Evasion, in force since 3 March 2004 Balance of Trade Mutual trade exchange between the Czech Republic and Kuwait practically involves Czech exports, as exports from Kuwait to the Czech Republic are negligible.

The main export items are cars, tyres, cooling and freezing systems, air conditioning systems, switchboards, building machines and materials, chandeliers, glassware, sports equipment, food, furniture, iron and steel tubes, pumps and oil pipeline pipes, medicines and pharmaceuticals.

OMAN

Diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Sultanate of Oman were established on 1 March 1993 by an exchange of notes between the two countries, mediated by the Czech Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The first ever official visit of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs to Oman, accompanied by a large trade delegation, took place in February 2016, in the course of which a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Czech Confederation of Industry and the Oman Chamber of Commerce was signed.

18 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

Contractual Area Agreement on Cooperation between the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Oman Chamber of Commerce of 2004 Agreement on Air Transport, initialled in March 2011 Agreement on the Prevention of Double Taxation – the first round of expert talks took place in June 2012, with the second round in December 2012 in Muscat. On the Czech side, the Agreement has been prepared for signing, on the Oman side comment procedure is in progress.

Balance of Trade The main Czech export items are cars, followed by computers, turbines, explosives, switchboards, tyres, lighting fixtures, sanitary equipment, valves, and paper.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The United Arab Emirates are among the most important trade partners of the Czech Republic in the Near East. After the establishment of SAE in December 1971, the most important Czech investment in SAE was the project for the construction of a power station and the Umm al-Nar distillation unit in Abu Dhabi, completed by the Škodaexport foreign trade company in 1984.

Since the year 2000, Czech exports to SAE have been growing steadily.

Contractual Area Agreement on the Support and Protection of Investments Agreement on the Prevention of Double Taxation Agreement on Air Transport Exploratory talks opened in 2017 on the drafting of the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the governments of the Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates. The final text will be formulated during expert talks later this year.

Balance of Trade Some 20 % of Czech exports are accounted for by PC components and recording equipment, another 20 % by telecommunication equipment, and 10 % by glass products (mainly glass beads) on a long-term basis. Other important export items include transmission equipment, distributors and food, especially dairy produce.

The proportion of technically more complicated products, such as comprehensive data processing systems, switchboards, electricity distribution panels and pumps, has been growing in recent years. Food exports are also important, where the largest items are Akawi cheese, milk powder, sugar, chocolate, cocoa and sweets. A contract has been signed with the SAE army for the supply of radiolocation equipment.

The number of Czech firms permanently based in SAE is increasing. In 2017, nine Czech firms were newly registered in SAE, raising the total number of Czech firms having their registered offices in SAE to more than 30.

Owing to the growing number of Czech firms present in the market, Club of Czech Businessmen was set up in SAE in 2014, the aim of which was to form an informal meeting platform for Czech firms and Czech professionals operating in SAE on a long-term basis. In April 2015, the Club was transformed into a new entity, the Czech Business Council (CBC), registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce as an entity with its own legal subjectivity. The main mission of CBC is to exchange experience, contacts and business opportunities between its members and to support Czech firms newly entering the SAE market.

Source: materials compiled by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs

‫اﻟرثﻳﺎت اﻟﻜﺮﻳﺴﺘﺎل اﻟﺘﺸﻴﻜﻴﺔ اﳌﺸﻬﻮرة ﻋﺎﳌﻴﺎ‬

Bohemian luxurious crystal lightings manufacturer

Production on the highest standards, traditional glass hand processing - cutting and painting

Large size chandeliers BCL “Maria Theresa” Chandeliers decorate the most noble halls, hotels etc. around the whole world.

BCL, Brilliant Crystal & Lighting CZECH REPUBLIC 471 14 Kamenický Šenov, Nádražní 365 • Теl.: 00420 487 767 488 • E-mail: bcl@cbox.cz

www.bcl-lightings.cz C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 19

BUSINESS

Business Companies in the Czech Republic The theme of this article is the legislation applicable to business companies in the Czech legal system. It will focus on the individual types of business companies in the Czech Republic, their definitions and basic characteristics. At the same time, the principal steps that must be taken for the establishment and incorporation of these business companies are referenced.

TYPES OF BUSINESS COMPANIES

The legislation concerning business companies in the Czech legal system is governed mainly by the following legal regulations: the Act on Business Corporations, the Civil Code, and the Act on Public Register of Legal Entities and Individuals. The Business Corporations Act determines the different types of business companies in the Czech Republic, namely the General Commercial Partnership and the Limited Partnership (known as personal companies), and the Limited Liability Company and the Joint Stock Company (known as capital companies). These forms of business companies are distinguished by the Iranian legal system as well. In the Czech legal system, we can also find the European Company and the European Economic Interest Grouping. The most widespread forms of business companies in the Czech Republic are the Limited Liability Company and the Joint Stock Company.

ESTABLISHING AND INCORPORATING BUSINESS COMPANIES

Business companies in the Czech Republic are established on the basis of a Memorandum of Association. A Memorandum of Association establishing a capital company (a Limited Liability Company and a Joint Stock Company) requires the form of a public deed, i.e. it must be written in the form of a notarial record. In establishing a Joint Stock Company, the adoption of the Articles of Association is required. Where the law permits the establishment of a company by a single founder, the company is established by a founder´s deed having the form of a public deed. A Czech business company is then incorporated by entry in the Companies Register (known as a constitutive entry), which is decided by the Regional Court relevant with regard to the company’s registered office. With a view to shortening the time of registration and entry of a business company in the Companies Register, and also to save public finances in the judicial sector, it is possible for a Notary to carry out a direct entry in the Companies Register 20 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

under certain situations, namely in the case where the data being entered are based on the notarial record and when the Notary has been provided with all the documents required to be submitted for entry in the Register or for filing in the Collection of Deeds, and the person authorised to propose the entry makes such a request. However, entry in the Companies Register may be performed only by the Notary who has written the basic notarial record or all the existing basic notarial records and notarial records on certifications. This possibility is only optional, i.e. the founders can always apply to the relevant Registration Court. The Companies Register is one of the public registers governed by the Act on Public Registers of Legal Entities and Individuals. It is a system of public administration maintained in electronic form, and conducted by the Registration Court (i.e. the competent Regional Court) relevant for the company’s registered office. Open to the public, it contains the most important information about business companies (the company name, company registered office, the names of members of the statutory bodies of the company and their number, the amount of contributions, registered capital, etc.) and other data determined by the Act on Public Registers of Legal Entities and Individuals.

At the same time, information on business companies is available on the websites: http://portal.justice.cz/Justice2/Uvod/uvod.aspx (where deeds entered by the companies in the Companies Register can also be found in electronic form) , or www.obchodnirejstrik.cz.

The proposal for entry in the Companies Register must be filed only by means of an electronically completed form, which is normally available at: https://or.justice.cz/ias/ui/podani. The proposal for entry must be sustained by documents on the facts which are to be entered in the Companies Register, and by deeds to be filed in the Collection of Deeds in connection with this entry (especially the documents on establishment – Founder´s Deed, Memorandum or Articles of Association, documents on the object of the business activity, documents on the payment of contribution – e.g. the declaration of the contribution manager on the payment of the contribution, documents on the company’s registered office, etc.) An essential condition for having a company entered into the Company Register is the payment of the court fee. The amount of the court fee depends on whether the entry in the Companies Register is made by the notary or the court. In case the entry in the Companies Register is made by the court, the fee is CZK 12 000, in the case of a joint stock company and other types of trading companies it is CZK 6 000. In case the registration is carried out through the intermediary of the notary, after all the required terms and conditions have been met, the court fee shall be CZK 8 000 for the joint stock company and CZK 2 700 for other types of companies. If the registration of a Limited Liability Company is carried out by the notary, the entry may be exempted from the obligation to pay the court fee, provided the following conditions are met: the registration is made on the basis of a notarial deed proving the founding of the Limited Liability Company and

www.cmi.cz

CMI is a Czech national metrological body which provides a comprehensive range of metrological services at the highest technical level in all fields of scientific, technical and economic activities. CMI is a signatory of the CIPM MRA mutual recognition arrangement (www.bipm.org) and most of its metrological services are accredited.

info@cmi.cz

CMI SERVICES  Calibration  Measuring with the most accurate 3D measuring instrument Zeiss XENOS  Verification of established measuring instruments  Outsourcing – comprehensive care of measuring instruments, especially in the automotive industry  Metrological safeguarding of readily packed goods  Approval of types of measuring instruments  Compliance assessment of non-automatic weighing instruments (Directive EU NAWI), measuring instruments (Directive EU MID) and radio and telecommunication end equipment (Directive EU RED)

 Production of reference materials in the field of physical chemistry and gas mixtures (accreditation) and other services for chemical measuring  Education and training of metrologists in the private sector  Personnel certification  Accredited provider of inter-laboratory comparisons (organisation, function of pilot laboratory, evaluation)  Consultancy, measuring audits and metrological consulting  Research, development and production of etalon radionuclide sources

PROMAN s. r. o.

Za Pivovarem 830, 537 01 Chrudim Tel.: +420 469 699 570, +420 469 622 280 e-mail: proman@proman.cz Proman s.r.o. was established in 1994, in Chrudim. For the whole of its existence it has been a purely Czech company. From the very beginning its specialisation has been the supply of a full range of racking systems. For its clients, the company designs racking systems according to their demands, ensures their realisation and provides a warranty and post-warranty service.

The firm has its affiliations in Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. Its products, however, can also be found in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Germany, Austria, and Ukraine. The company operates in about 20 European countries. Its products comprise all types of racking systems:

n

pallet racks conventional stationary drive-in and drive-through racks gravitation mobile

n

shelving racks conventional stationary gravitation mobile multilevel construction

n

cantilever racks stationary mobile

cantilever racks n automated shuttle systems n

The above systems can be supplemented according to the client´s requirements and in accordance with the type of material to be stored.

One of the categories supplied is a mobile shelving rack suitable for archives, libraries, hospitals, museums, etc. The deliveries designed for museums in particular are widely diversified to meet the requirements of the different objects to be stored. Therefore, the deliveries include not only shelving racks, but also different types of accessories.

The multilevel construction is fixed on a chassis, which can be operated by hand or by electric motor.

A limiting condition for the installation of these systems is the access into the space where the shelves are to installed. If the user has suitable space for the installation of mobile shelves, the following can be a solution: n Rails â&#x20AC;&#x201C; always hot dip galvanised rails laid on an existing floor rails laid on a false floor covered with chipboard and PVC rails laid on the upper floor layers and a concreted over

n Chassis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; always painted with komaxit Welded steel construction, usually divided. Inside the construction are metal beams connected by a continuous bar for driving the wheel.

A chain drive installed in front under the cover transmits the driving force to the wheels. The operator uses a control wheel. Each control wheel has a fail-safe device against the spontaneous travel of the racks.

The actual storage racks are anchored into the chassis. n These racks can be supplemented with additional elements, such as drawers pull-out shelves systems for suspension board storage folding tables at the front of the shelves chassis locks sealing elements (rubber, brushes) Most of these elements are manufactured in the Czech Republic according to our documentation, so that we are in a position to meet even the most intricate requirements of the system users.

www.proman.cz

comprising all the requisites provided for by the Civil Code and the Business Corporations Act, where the obligations to be met in the case of pecuniary payment are stipulated.

GENERAL COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

The Czech legal system defines the General Commercial Partnership as a partnership of at least two persons who participate in its business activity or the management of its property and are jointly and severally liable for its debts. On the other hand, a Limited Partnership is a partnership where at least one partner bears limited liability for its debts (limited partner) and at least one partner has unlimited liability (general partner).

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

In Czech legislation, the Limited Liability Company is defined as a company where the members are jointly and severally liable for its debts up to the amount at which they have not fulfilled their contribution obligations as entered in the Company Register at the time a creditor requested them to do so. A Limited Liability Company in the Czech Republic may be founded by a single person, the maximum number of founders (members) is not limited by law. Unlike this, Iranian legislation requires the minimum of 2 founders to establish a Limited Liability Company. The share of a member in a Czech Limited Liability Company is determined by the ratio of his contribution to the registered capital, unless the Memorandum of Association states otherwise. The Memorandum of Association may provide for various kinds of shares, where a member may own more than one share, and of various kinds (if the Memorandum of Association states so). The minimum amount of contribution, i.e. the monetary quantification of the value of the object of contribution to the registered capital, is CZK 1, unless the Memorandum of Association determines that the amount of contribution is higher. Thus, the registered capital of a Czech Limited Liability Company may even amount to CZK 1. A member must fulfil his contribution obligation within a period determined by the Memorandum of Association, at the latest within 5 years of the company´s incorporation or of the assumption of the contribution obligation during the company´s existence. A member may not be relieved of his contribution obligation, except in the case of the registered capital being reduced. A member who is in arrears of the fulfilment of his contribution obligation may be expelled from the company by a General Meeting. Before filing the proposal for the entry of a Limited Liability Company in the Companies Register, the complete contributions agio must be paid and at the same time each monetary contribution must be paid at least to the amount of 30 %. Obligatory bodies of a Czech Limited Liability Company are the General Meeting and executives. Besides these obligatory bodies, a company may also set up a Supervisory Board.

JOINT STOCK COMPANY

In the Czech legal system, the Joint Stock Company is defined as a company whose registered capital is divided into a certain number of shares. The registered capital is quantified in Czech crowns, but in the case of a Joint Stock Company keeping its books in euros according to a special legal regulation, its registered capital may be quantified in euros.

The minimum registered capital must be at least CZK 2 000 000. The approval of the Articles of Association is required for the founding of the company. The founding comes into effect when each founder has paid the issue agio and the sum of at least 30 % of the nominal or book value of the subscribed shares at a time determined by the Articles of Association, and to a bank account identified in the Articles, not later than the moment the proposal for the company´s entry in the Companies Register is submitted.

A Joint Stock Company in the Czech Republic may be established by a single founder. A Joint Stock Company is established without a public offer of shares, it is thus founded only by the contributions of the founders who subscribe all the shares. The Trading Corporations Act makes it possible for the founders of a Czech joint stock company to choose between the dualistic and monistic structures. In the case of the dualistic structure the company is required to set up the board of directors and the supervisory board in addition to the general meeting. In the case of the monistic structure, the company, instead of those two bodies, is only required to set up the board of directors with a statutory director. In that case the board of directors may have only one member. This means that in practice the situation may arise when the sole member of the board of directors will be simultaneously the company´s statutory director.

Law Office of Hartmann, Jelínek, Fráňa and Partners www.hjf.cz Member of Czech Service International www.czech-service-international.com Note: 1 USD = CZK 21.668 (average exchange rate fixed by the Czech National Bank in December 2017) C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 23

BUSINESS

Tax System in the Czech Republic In the main points, the Czech tax system is similar to the systems used by the other EU and OECD states.

Personal income tax payers are all natural persons having their residence on the territory of the Czech Republic or persons usually residing there. The tax period is the calendar year. The tax base consists of all income, which the law divides into income from employment, income from business, income from rental, capital income, and other income. The basic rate is 15 %. In addition, a solidarity increase of the tax is levied on the income of natural persons to the amount of 7 % of the above-limit income, i.e. the natural person´s income exceeding the approximately CZK 120 000 monthly income limit (four times the average monthly wage).

Corporate income tax payers are all types of juristic persons in dependence on their registered seat or the registered address of their place of business. The tax period is the calendar year or another twelve-month period.

The tax base is formed by the profit, i.e. the difference between income and expense relating to the tax period concerned. The total amount of income and expenses are ascertained from the company account books, which are kept in accordance with Czech national accounting standards. Only tax eligible expenses, i.e. expenses incurred to earn or maintain income, may be deducted

24 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

2. INDIRECT TAXES The Value Added Tax has been harmonised with EU legislation. Currently, persons liable to registrate for VAT are persons with a turnover of more than CZK 1 000 000 a year. Persons with a lower turnover may register voluntarily.

The rates are 10 %, 15 %, and 19 %.

Excise duties, too, have been harmonised with the relevant EU directives.

Excise duty is levied on mineral oils, spirits, beer, wine, tobacco products, electricity, solid fuels (coal and coke), and natural gas.

Ministry of Finance www.mfcr.cz Note: 1 USD = CZK 21.668 (average exchange rate fixed by the Czech National Bank in December 2017)

USEFUL LINKS Ministry of Finance www.mfcr.cz Czech Tax Administration www.financnisprava.cz OECD Tax Database www.oecd.org/ctp/taxdatabase OECD Taxing Wages www.oecd.org/ctp/tax-policy/ taxing-wages.htm

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

1. DIRECT TAXES

from the income. The depreciation of assets is made on an individual basis. The rate is 19 %.

There is also the road tax, the immovable property tax, and the tax on the acquisition of immovable property.

GHH-BONATRANS GHH-BONATRANS is the premium supplier of wheels, axles, wheelsets for all kinds of rail-bound applications, such as highspeed trains, EMU/DMUs, trams, metro cars, passenger coaches, locomotives and freight wagons. We deliver them assembled or loose to OEM, railway and city network operators, maintenance shops, and leasing companies in every single European country and into all railway markets worldwide. We also assist our customers in traffic data collection and analysis and help them to increase service lifetime and decrease life cycle costs, plus we also refurbish complete running gears and generate customer value through professional maintenance services.

The biggest plant, and the only source of black wheels and axles, is located in Bohumin, the Czech Republic. Our plant with the longest history (dated from 1808) is located in Oberhausen, Germany, and our newest facility (opened in 2015) in Aurangabad, India.

We have an extensive reference list of products and solutions supplied to Europe and Americas, as well as to Asia and Africa. Preceding recent investment into rail-bound transportation, within and between big cities of the Arabian Peninsula, the region had been set for development. And it will remain an important market for us in the years to come. We are helping to move around both people and freight. Haramain high-speed trains from Talgo, 1000+ of the latest generation freight cars from Greenbrier, and other rolling stock for state and city operators are equipped with our top-notch wheelsets and parts thereof. Knowing that sand, temperature amplitude, and humidity are key operational elements makes a good reason for complex product and extra added value. In this case choice and optimisation of steel grades for wheels, well covered under BONASTAR®.

Noise mitigation is just another good example of challenge from the rolling stock operation.

Noise absorbers can be integrated into any type of wheel (monoblock and rubber sprung resilient), above all for high-speed trains, metro cars and trams, but more often are also considered for freight cars. They ensure operation with less rolling and squealing noise, both effects appreciated highly by passengers as well as those working or living in areas near rail-bound vehicle operation. Such products are designed, manufactured, and supplied under the name BONASILENCE®.

Thanks to high flexibility, technical and manufacturing excellence, and also to our experience and know-how, we keep on meeting the most demanding customer requirements and combine top quality with competitive price. Safe, Reliable, Comfortable, Economical are our long-term approaches to wheelsets and parts thereof, and equally suit the expectations of all our customers. GHH-BONATRANS is entirely committed to increasing its competences and to serving our customers´ needs now and in the future.

Marcel Ujfaluši Head of Business Development and Marketing

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 25

KEY SECTORS

Czech Engineering – Tradition and Future In the Czech Republic, engineering is of key importance for practically all sectors of the economy, GDP creation, the trade balance, and employment. Competitiveness of the engineering industry is the object of interest of foreign investors, and the support of research and development is therefore of decisive importance for maintaining and increasing its level.

This sector in the Czech Republic comprises a wide range of machines, including parts and accessories, which can be used in most areas of the manufacturing industry and other sectors, such as agriculture, transport, forestry, metalworking, metallurgy, mining, the textile, paper, and food industries, and construction.

As regards the territorial structure of foreign trade, traditionally the largest trade partner of the Czech Republic is Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Slovakia, Poland, and Spain.

The Czech Republic is the only one of the Central and East European countries (CEE) to be a member of the prestigious European Committee for Cooperation in the Machine-tool Industry (CECIMO). In 2017, Czech export of machines and transport vehicles (SITC 7) amounted to USD 102 833 843 billion.

Export of machinery and transport equipment (SITC 7) Period

Stat. value USD (thous.) Stat. value (%)

2012

85 099 298

95.4

2013

87 467 453

102.8

2014

96 291 953

110.1

2015

87 542 996

90.9

2016

91 585 417

104.6

2017

102 833 843

112.3

Source: Czech Statistical Office

TRADITION

Czech engineering links up with the industry´s long tradition, when in the period between the two world wars the former Czechoslovakia ranked in the world´s ten most important engineering countries. Over the more than 150 years, radical changes have taken place in this area, at the level of both technological security, the structure of production, and in the framework of the business base.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Engineering is marked for its relatively high sensitivity to the economic cycle. The condition of the Czech economy, the same as that of its largest foreign trade partners, directly influences demand. Although Czech engineering has 26 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

overcome the consequences of the global crisis relatively quickly, it continues to orientate its production intensively to machines and equipment with higher value added based on new knowledge and new patents, partly thanks to foreign investment and the establishment in the Czech Republic of affiliations of foreign research and development institutions.

TEN COMPANIES WHICH BROUGHT WORLD FAME TO CZECH ENGINEERING

There are quite a number of domestic engineering firms whose roots often reach as far as two centuries back into the past. They include important local firms as well as global economy players, important employers, innovators, development and research workers, exporters and investors. The diversity of the sector is highlighted by the following ten selected firms. Škoda Auto (based in Mladá Boleslav) The roots of the car factory, which today ranks among the most important industrial enterprises and the largest employers in the Czech Republic, go back to the end of the 19th century. Its activities also cover the area of professional education. Its portfolio comprises seven model series and more than 40 model versions, which is the broadest offer of cars in the history of the trademark. Innovation is an integral part of the company strategy. For example, as part of the future individual mobility concept, it focuses on electromobility (in compliance with the environmental commitments of the firm and the sector), digitalisation and connectivity. Sales of Škoda cars are growing on a world scale. Particularly positive has been the sale of the new Fabia, Superb, and Octavia model generations. Škoda Transportation (Plzeň) The firm with a tradition of more than 150 years is a leading European manufacturer of municipal and railway transport vehicles.

Its focus is on electric locomotives, underground railway trains, low-floor trams, and railway vehicle components. In 2016 it was awarded two contracts for modern battery trams, for the Turkish city of Eskisehir and for Chemnitz in Germany. It also presented its latest locomotive, Emil Zátopek, for Deutsche Bahn and as part of its strategy of going further west it opened an affiliation in the USA. Its plan is also to enter the Canadian market. To maintain its competitiveness, the firm has linked its manufacturing activities with its own research and development focusing on new technologies, advanced design, and homologation.

Iveco ČR (Vysoké Mýto) The company´s largest manufacturing plant, Iveco Bus, concerns itself with the design, manufacture, and sale of public transport vehicles. Its core programme is the manufacture of city and intercity buses, which it exports to some 30 countries the world over. In its manufacturing portfolio, Iveco has light, medium and heavy-duty utility vehicles. Its focus is on low-emission vehicles, such as hybrid

centre. It scored success with its modern design and rapid traversing speeds. Besides horizontal machining centres its portfolio also includes portal machining centres, vertical lathes – carousels and single-purpose machines used especially in the automotive industry. Together with ČKD Blansko-OS it belongs to ALTA Group operating in Central and Eastern Europe. and natural gas vehicles, with emphasis on sustainable transport and good mobility. It is continuously improving its products and services, comprising innovation, with special regard to the customers´ needs, environmental protection, and safety. Žďas (Žďár nad Sázavou) An important regional employer with a tradition of more than sixty years, Žďas specialises in the manufacture of forming machines, forging presses, scrap and rolled products processing machines, castings, forgings, ingots and tools, especially for the automotive industry. In 2016 it was taken over by the Chinese company CEFC. The strategic investor´s task is to strengthen the firm´s position in the world market, increase the proportion of its exports and find new export opportunities in Asia. While oriented on global markets, the company realises its importance for the region where it is based and is the largest contributor to the town´s budget. It supports local activities financially, contributes to the region´s cultural and sporting activities, and supports healthcare for the local population.

TOS Varnsdorf The firm concerns itself with the development, manufacture, and sale of machine tools. Its specialisation is the manufacture of horizontal boring and milling machines and machining centres. For example its TOStec and WHtec machining centres use the most up-to-date technologies making possible their integration into automatic manufacturing systems. The firm, whose tradition goes back to the year 1903, today exports its products to the entire industrial world. Most of its clients operate in the energy and mining industries, construction and transport. Over the past five years the firm has invested more than CZK 200 million in the technical development of its products and another CZK 600 million in the development of the company as a whole.

Its new undertaking is the establishment of a secondary technical school, where it wants to educate and train its would-be employees.

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

ArcelorMittal Ostrava The company specialises in pig iron and steel production and processing. In its mechanical engineering plant it makes mine supports and crash barriers and is the largest manufacturer of these products in the Czech Republic, in addition to being the largest steel manufacturer, in this country and also one of the largest domestic employers. One of the firm´s important fields of research and development, besides production technology optimisation and the launching of new products, is environmental protection. The company´s export map covers the whole world and includes over seventy countries.

TOS Kuřim The company presents itself as a “stable firm of modern design with an innovative approach”. It is an important machine tool manufacturer, who modernises existing technologies and develops new ones, which it secures by patents. It exports its products to nearly thirty countries, and its great pride is the sale of nearly 90 000 machines to countries all over the world. At the EMO Milan machine-tool fair the firm presented a new product, its TOS FUT horizontal machining

CZ LOKO (Česká Třebová) The domain of the firm, with a history going back to the middle of the 19th century, is railway engineering. It prides itself on knowhow in the area of production, modernisation and repair of driving and special-purpose rail vehicles. It operates on European markets and seeks new export opportunities. In 2016, for example, it participated in the International Exhibition of Rail Transportation in Tehran. At the end of last year, it opened its laser cutting centre in Žamberk, East Bohemia, as a fully automated workplace which participates in the manufacture of cabins, hoods, pneu blocks, radiators, tanks, and other metallic components for locomotives and special rail vehicles.

První brněnská strojírna Engineering Works Velká Bíteš The firm, which specialises in precision engineering, has its roots dating back to the early 19th century. Today it manufactures high-speed turbine engines for aviation, power plants, and the transport industry. Its programme further includes hi-tech machining of metals, galvanic surface finishing, and the assembly of finished products for customers in Europe, America, and Asia. It exports its products to Russia, China, Germany, and Switzerland and is planning to expand more to the USA and India. Its sales, profits, and value added per worker are growing. It develops new projects, invests in technologies and environmentally friendly production. In 2014 it won the Business Project of the Year competition, category Innovation, organised by CzechInvest Agency and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Znojemské strojírny Engineering Works The engineering works is a subcontractor for the supply of machined parts for European and American manufacturers operating in a large number of areas, including aviation, textile industry, printing, rail vehicles, diesel engines, compressors, and pumps. It specialises in the machining of technically demanding parts. It continuously innovates its production. Its sales include sub-deliveries of parts for the Airbus A 380, the world´s largest airliner. The result of the firm´s success is the annual growth of its turnover and revenue.

Jana Bohutínská Taken over from Komora Monthly C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 27

PONTEX Ltd.

Bezová 1658, 147 14 Praha 4 Czech Republic e-mail: pontex@pontex.cz www.pontex.cz

DESIGN, CONSULTING, ENGINEERING SERVICES AND STRUCTURAL DIAGNOSTICS

• Bridges and Footbridges • Motorways, Highways and Roads

• Structural Diagnostics • Electro Engineering • Civil Engineering • Structures of Buildings • Foundations • Bridge Inspections • Supervision and Project Management

PONTEX Consulting Engineers Ltd, based in Prague, the Czech Republic, was established in 1991 by senior engineers from the Pragoprojekt Bridge Division with a long-term practice both in the Czechoslovakia and abroad. Core fields of activities are linked with bridges of all types: reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridges, steel and composite bridges, pedestrian bridges, rehabilitation and strengthening. PONTEX offers complete elaboration of the design

and consultancy services (feasibility studies, preliminary and final design, detail drawings, site supervision, inspections, monitoring, assessment, structural diagnostics). Principal emphasis is laid on high technical level, quality assurance, personal responsibility of trained staff and longterm fair relations with clients. Foreign experience and references include Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, the Middle East, Malaysia, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

Certified Quality Assurance System EN ISO 9001:2009 and EN ISO 14001:2005.

Czech Automotive Industry Stepping up Its Dynamics

Photo: Škoda Auto a.s.

The automobile industry is one of the strongest sectors of Czech industry accounting for 25 % of the country´s total industrial production and exports. In 2018 its share of GDP will be approximately eight per cent.

The year 2017 was a very successful one. Domestic manufacturers turned out 1.4 million vehicles of all categories, which is about 50 000 more than in 2016. Between January and November 2017, the manufacture of cars and trucks, motorcycles and buses, taken together, increased by 4.5 % to a record 1.314 million.

Over those eleven months, car production, a major booster of the sector, rose by 4.49 % year-on-year, to 1.307 million. The greatest credit for this result goes to Škoda Auto, which increased its production by 12.7 % to 795 903 cars. In November 2017 Škoda Auto turned out 114 600 cars, a 17.5 per cent increase year-on-year. The interest in the Škoda Superb model rose by more than 10 % in comparison with the previous year and sales of the SUV category car by 50 %. November 2017 was the best month in the history of the company.

Production in the Hyundai car factory at Nošovice remained stagnant at the level of 333 900 cars and mini car production at TPCA dropped by 15.99 % to 177 744 cars.

Tatra works at Kopřivnice increased its production by 18.8 % to 1 354 vehicles. For the next year, truck manufacture is expected to increase after the revival of the Avia trademark, which has the same owner as Tatra.

Bus manufacture increased by 5 % to 4 200. The dominant manufacturer is Iveco Bus, which increased its production by 5.5 % to 3 718 buses.

The motorcycle manufacturer Jawa Moto at Týnec nad Sázavou increased its production by 13 % to 1 337 machines, 1 169 of which were exported. In 2017, the revenue of domestic car and car part manufacturers rose by 12 % year-on-year to a record CZK 1.02 billion. The volume of exports increased by six percentage points to the current 85 %. In the Czech Republic, one car rolls off the line every 23 seconds.

As in previous years, in 2018, too, the automotive industry will remain the key sector of the Czech economy, valued as an extremely important employer and being an export showcase and research and innovation promoter. It will continue paying above-average wages and impart rationality elements to the education system. Some 160 000 people will be working in the sector with 400 000 more being related to it.

All the important world manufacturers are preparing for launching alternative drive vehicles, especially for the markets in China, North America, and the European Union. In view of the country´s long electrotechnics traditions, Czech manufacturers, too, are planning to start developing battery-driven automobiles. This will require more research and development. The estimate is that in relation to this research and development, expenses may reach up to CZK 10 billion and some nine thousand technical experts will have to be recruited.

At the same time, the absolute majority of clients will continue purchasing cars with the internal combustion ignition engines. In consequence, the Czech Republic will remain an automobile assembly giant and the share of local production on the European market will continue to grow slightly. Total output is estimated to remain at the level of 1.4 million cars. Larger and better equipped models will be in demand, which will influence the revenues of the car factories.

Source: ČTK according to AutoSAP, www.lidovky.cz

Altogether 1 314 438 road motor vehicles were manufactured in the Czech Republic from the beginning of January to the end of October 2017, 4.5 % more than in the same period of 2016. The greatest growth was again shown by trucks. All the categories were in black figures.

CARS:

Output during the January to November 2017 period was 1 304 47 cars. The most responsible for the growth was ŠKODA (+12.7 %), with HMMC working at the limit of its capacity (-100 cars).

BUSES:

A total of 4 200 buses (IVECO 3 718, SOR 430 and KHMC 52) were manufactured between January and November 2017, 5.0 % more than in the same period in 2016.

TRUCKS:

In the first 11 months of 2017, TATRA TRUCKS manufactured 1 354 vehicles, 18.8 % more (+214) than in the same period in 2016.

MOTORCYCLES:

Between January and November 2017, JAWA Moto manufactured 1 337 motorcycles bearing the well-known JAWA trademark, 13.1 % more than in the same period of 2016, thus making up the loss of the preceding period and resuming its cumulative growth.

ATTACHED VEHICLES:

Altogether 20 424 attached vehicles (trailers and semi-trailers) were manufactured over the first three quarters of 2017. Of this number, AGADOS manufactured 18 778 O1 and O2 vehicles (with a carrying capacity under 3.5 t), and PANAV and SCHWARZMÜLLER manufactured 554 trailers and 1 092 semi-trailers (21.6 % and 78 %, respectively). Production declined by 1.9 % compared to the same period of the previous year, while in the trailers category production increased by 24.8 %.

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 29

KEY SECTORS

Czech Food Industry – Hidden Potential Although the food industry is not the core of Czech exports, certain features in the development of this sector indicate its growing export potential.

EXPORT IN FIGURES

In 2017, Czech food export was worth CZK 130.3 billion and the export of beverages CZK 14.8 billion.

EXPORT ARTICLE

The largest export items are raw materials – grain, milk powder, malt, coffee, rape oil, feeds, bakery products, chocolate and cocoa preparations, food preparations, beer, sugar, cheeses, and cottage cheese.

FOOD INDUSTRY AND FARMING TECHNOLOGIES

Increasingly successful in recent years have been the manufacturers of food processing and farming technologies and machines. These technologies are exported mainly to Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Albania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Uruguay, and Ethiopia. Foreign companies are showing great interest in Czech-made equipment for bakeries, breweries, mini breweries, dairies, and cheese making farms.

Other export articles of Czech firms include vegetable oil presses, smoking facilities, vegetable packing lines, beverage processing and packing lines, meat processing equipment, and seed and grain processing technologies. Other items much in demand in other countries are Czech agricultural technologies and whole plants.

Czech firms have built a number of breweries and mini breweries in different countries all over the world and are subcontractors in other projects. The largest recent contract was for the construction of a brewery in Ethiopia, which was completed in February 2017. The ZVU POTEZ engineering works in Hradec Králové supplied complete technological equipment for Raya Breweries, including construction work and spare parts, worth more than CZK 64 million.

The export of beer itself is also very successful.

CZECH PRODUCERS

Czech food producers are associated in the Czech Food Chamber, which was established in 2001. Today it has more than 170 members, whom it represents in negotiations with Czech state administration authorities, EU institutions, and world organisations.

The priorities of this institution in the area of marketing are clear: support of the quality of products, regional brands, and local manufacturers. This intention is assisted by the award of different Quality Labels, such as “KLASA”, “Regional Food Product” and “Czech Product” – guaranteed by the Czech Food Chamber, which are brands guaranteeing the quality of foods.

This aim is also served by the certification of exceptional products, such as the European Protected Designation of Origin (such as Czech Caraway, Žatec Hops), geographical designation of origin (e.g.

Třeboň Carp, Olomouc Cheese), or traditional specialty guarantee (Czech ´špekáček´ smoked sausage).

EXPECTATIONS, AIMS

After a period of stagnation, the Czech food industry is on the way to its revival and further progress. Its greatest desire is that this development may continue and gather strength, that Czech technologies and products may address the world markets on a larger scale and that Czech quality may become generally acknowledged and known. In conclusion we would like to mention firms which have already earned their reputation and are inseparably linked with the Czech Republic.

They are: Pilsner Urquell, Madeta (dairy produce), Karlovy Vary Mineral Waters, Hamé (chilled and durable foods).

Compiled according to material supplied by the Czech Food Chamber and the Ministry of Agriculture. *) (EGAP) Export Guarantee and Insurance Company, a.s. is a specialised state-owned credit insurance company.

Export of selected kinds of goods from 2015 to 2017 2015

Kind of goods

2016

2017

1001

Wheat

11 630

2 470.9

11 589

2 874.2

10 692

2 528.9

1514

Rape oil

10 289

525.3

11 127

525.9

6 866

313.6

2309

Animal feed preparations

8 160

400.4

9 003

434.6

10 020

488.7

1905

Baked goods

8 008

128.6

9 634

167.6

9 549

173.0

401

Milk and cream

7 814

854.2

6 791

822.1

8 399

836.1

2106

Food preparations

7 234

60.6

7 288

55,6

7 903

65.1

2203

Beer

6 104

432.2

6 246

448

6 142

464.4

1701

Sugar

3 663

330.3

4 147

330.6

3 699

308.1

In 2017 food export (excl. Live animals) was worth CZK 130.3 billion and beverage export (excl. tobacco) CZK 14.8 billion.

Food export incl. live animals was worth CZK 139.1 billion and beverage export incl. tobacco CZK 36.7 billion.

30 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

Photo: pixabay.com

Code

Skrivanek

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Zdroj: S

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Building your tomorrow today Doosan Škoda Power • One of global leaders in steam cycle design and high performance steam turbines • More than 110 years of experience as a steam turbine OEM • Wide range of steam turbines from 3 MW to 1200 MW • For all types of thermal power plant and other applications, including concentrated solar power (CSP) • High efficiency combined with extreme reliability and operational flexibility • Non OEM turbine retrofit and modernization • Complex engineering and supervising assembly • Industrial steam turbines set industrial operations in motion across the globe Doosan Škoda Power is part of a strong group of companies united under the Doosan Group that supplies its customers worldwide with cutting-edge technology and services of high quality and value.

Learn more at

www.doosanskoda.com

Challenging global market is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our rich experience.

Selected projects • • • • • • • • • •

Empalme 280 MW, CCPP, Mexico – under execution Zarqa 182 MW, CCPP, Jordan – under execution Grati 198 MW, CCPP, Indonesia – under execution Red Dragon 354 MW, FPP, Chile – under execution Salalah 2x90 MW, CCPP, Oman – under execution Värö 64 MW, industry – biomass, Sweden Gummidipoondi 181 MW, FPP, India Dorad 2x140 MW, CCPP, Israel Salmisaari 175 MW, HPP – Non OEM modernization, Finland Stendal 46 MW, industry – biomass, Germany

Nanotechnologies Entering into Big Business In the past few years, the Czech industrial tradition has acquired a new dimension with the addition of nanotechnologies to its conventional practice. Nanotechnology based on the combination of organic and inorganic components gives rise to new materials that have a variety of uses, for example in medicine, the textile industry, air and water cleaning, and the manufacture of electrical batteries.

Since the moment in 2004, when the Technical University in Liberec, in collaboration with Elmarco company, developed, as the first workplace in the world, an industrially usable nanofibre, this new technology has witnessed a dynamic development. Thanks to the physical properties of nano microscopic particles a thousand times thinner than the human hair, this technology has found its way into a number of Czech manufacturing firms. The absolute majority of firms whose core business is the use of nanotechnologies in their operations are born global companies, which operate on the international scale and seek trade partners in other countries.

INVESTORS AND THEIR NEED TO EXPORT

Photo: www.freeimages.com

Currently, more than 15 private research companies and some 70 manufacturers in the Czech Republic use nanotechnologies in their operations. In addition, there are specialised centres in this country to which firms come for consultation to become acquainted with new scientific developments. Twenty-six workplaces of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 37 university faculties, and 9 research organisations financed by the state in the Czech Republic concern themselves with basic research in different nanotechnology areas. Despite being the cradle of nanotechnology research and its practical application, the important thing for the Czech Republic in future is to arouse the interest of investors from neighbouring states, to which Czech firms could export their nano products. All the more so, as firms in as many as 70 regions of the European Union are focusing on nanotechnology research and nanotechnologies are becoming an important instrument of the national economies in their efforts to gain a competitive edge.

WHAT HAVE CZECH FIRMS MANAGED TO ACHIEVE?

According to the Nanotechnology Industry Association of the Czech Republic, this technology does not mean just innovation.

In actual fact it signifies a technological change, whereby man can manipulate matter at the molecular level, across all sectors.

The portfolio of Czech nanotechnology firms is quite broad. Among other areas, it includes the manufacture of photocatalytic paints with titanium oxide nano particles. This practically transparent paint has an extraordinary ability – to clean the ambient air and remove viruses, bacteria, toxins, and cigarette smoke from it.

This principle can be used to reduce air pollution in cities and industrial agglomerations.

Recently, a Czech firm filed a patent application for an electrically conductive nanofibre. When electrical current is passed through it, the fibre acquires the capacity to kill viruses and bacteria in contaminated water. The material can be used for different purposes and in different areas, including the military environment and healthcare, and can be useful in third-world countries, where clean water is scarce.

NANOTECHNOLOGY TRIGGERS OFF A REVOLUTION IN MEDICINE

A real breakthrough is the use of nanotechnologies in medicine, where thus far unheard of possibilities are opening up. They can be used in diagnostics, drug distribution within the body, or the treatment of patients with the aid of special nano instruments. And moreover, nano medicine ranges in sizes in the order of billionths of a metre, and this is the size of the particles of which the human body is composed – molecules, the DNA helix, and also a large number of dangerous viruses. By enabling a detailed view of the biological processes, nanotechnology offers a new set of instruments for understanding the sources and mechanisms of diseases.

Czech firms are keeping pace in this area and there are good prospects that, together with research laboratories, they will be in a position to offer many more products that will find their way into the world, despite the competition from nanotechnology development in the USA, Japan, and China.

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 33

KEY SECTORS

Medical Equipment Made by Czech Companies is Conquering the World One of the fastest growing export commodities in the Czech Republic is the export of a wide spectrum of medical supplies and devices for equipping hospitals. The presentation of Czech producers abroad owes much to the fact that the Czech Republic is a country with a strong healthcare system covering all the fields of modern medicine.

34 C z e c h R e p u b l i c â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

ALL-ROUND EQUIPMENT

A number of Czech suppliers of medical equipment have entrenched themselves in highly competitive foreign markets in recent years.

These companies put emphasis primarily on three key factors: Research, leading to reaching high technical parameters; Design, aiding in selling the product; and Quality, resulting in the productsâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; reliability. A combination of all these criteria can be found, for instance, in medical instruments and traumatological implants, rehabilitation

Photo: www.bigstockphoto.com

On the territory of the Czech Republic, healthcare offers a wide range of outpatient facilities, hospitals and medical institutions under the patronage of not just the state, but various private entities as well. Czech companies rank among the best in the field of the manufacture and supply of medical materials, devices, and equipment for hospitals. Every year, their products travel to a number of countries worldwide.

Outside of European Union countries, they find their way to the Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, territories in south-eastern Asia, the USA, and recently also to Africa, among others. Czech companies are finding an increasingly solid foothold by supplying products and devices with added value, meaning with a high contribution from

research, electronics, and information technologies.

Czech exporters focusing on medical supplies of all kinds have experienced rapid growth in the last ten years.

They are successful in acquiring lucrative contracts for providing not just individual goods and services, but for equipping entire hospitals, health centres and healthcare chains, including the construction of such facilities. Examples of these can be found in Ghana, Gabon, Laos, Algeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Papua-New Guinea, Columbia, and even Russia and Kazakhstan. For instance, they had a hand in building three hospitals in Gabon and ten health centres in Ghana alone.

and transport equipment, medicinal and technical gas distribution systems, stabilisers, cobalt radiators, anaesthesiological equipment and adjustable hospital beds.

The value of the export of medical equipment abroad is estimated at 25 billion crowns (approximately USD 1.3 bil.). The majority of this is equipment for operating theatres and inpatient wards. The world leader in this segment is the Linet Group, supplier of medical and nursing beds, furniture, anti-pressure-sore mattresses and more.

The company has expanded its range of products with birthing, gynaecological and dialysis chairs.

Of course, Linet is not the only Czech company to find success on foreign markets. The majority of such companies believes strongly in running their own development, indicating that this is the way to beating the competition.

EMPHASIS ON QUALITY

Many successful Czech exporters are members of the Association of Producers and Suppliers of Medical Devices (AVDZP). The Association unites over 100 leading Czech companies from the field that achieve a turnover of approximately 17 billion crowns a year.

Their share of export constitutes 35 %. Members of the Association cooperate with a number of research departments of universities, such as the Czech Technical University in Prague, Brno University of Technology, Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín, and Masaryk University in Brno. This serves as further evidence of the

attention Czech producers pay to the quality, competitiveness and technical advancement of their medical equipment.

Some of the unique products they export abroad are, among others, degradable stents for the digestive tract, a wide range of steam, hot-air and chemical sterilisers, lab dryers, and incubators.

The companies are not only limited to those, however, as they also supply a variety of physical therapy equipment, e.g. electrotherapy devices, sonography devices, lasers and devices for lymphatic drainage therapy. They also export complex systems for biological protection, logistics and decontamination systems and equipment for urgent and long-term care medicine.

The majority of Czech manufacturers of medical equipment export most of their core production. This indicates that they are succeeding on the world market. Many Czech companies are following suit, managing to develop and continuously successfully export unique products and patented goods worldwide.

Source: Association of Producers and Suppliers of Medical Devices (AVDZP), Businessinfo.cz

ERILENS s.r.o. Company has been helping integrate people with reduced mobility into normal life since 1992.

We deal with the production of locomotion aids such as forearm crutches, underarm crutches, walking sticks and other medical equipment. In our products, we emphasise quality, functional properties and design.

Therefore, our experienced development and production team follows the current trends and the needs of our customers.

Our company is the only producer of locomotion aids in the Czech Republic and is currently one of the biggest distributors on the domestic market. A significant percentage of our sales also comes from export.

Locomotion aids:

ERILENS s.r.o.

Papírenská 114/5 160 00 Prag 6 CZECH REPUBLIC

Jana Dupalová

Export Manager e-mail: jdupalova@erilens.cz phone: +420 777 336 912

Erilens_185x128mm_AJ_SAE_po_jk.indd 1

• • • • •

forearm crutches underarm crutches child crutches walking sticks accessories (anti-skid extensions, overshoes, loops, holders...)

Other medical equipment: • • •

finger splints irrigators anti-decubitus pads

www.erilens.com 7.a2018 14:29:22 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r2.Tr d e Pa r t n e r 35

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Technical and Test Institute for Construction Prague, SOE

For Your Credibility.

Technical and Test Institute for Construction Prague, SOE (TZÚS Prague), is one of the largest testing and certification organizations in Europe in the field of the conformity assessment of construction products, an internationally recognized provider of comprehensive services in this and other fields, a major partner of manufacturers, importers, designers and constructors, as well as of public administration, research and development, a member of many national and international organizations, and an active participant in the process of technical regulations and standards creation.

The services provided by TZÚS Prague are used by customers from the Czech Republic, European Union member states, and third countries. They guarantee independence, impartiality and a high level of professionalism based on longterm experience and expertise of specialists, as well as on innovative approaches.

TZÚS Prague provides following services among others:

Testing, conformity assessment and certification of n construction products for CE marking n lifts, toys, playground equipment, furniture n noise emissions

Certification of management systems n ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO/IEC 27001,

ISO/IEC 20 000-1, ISO 22 000, ISO 3834-2, SA 8000

Address and contacts: Jozef Pôbiš

Dagmar Konstankiewiczová

Director of Department of Product Certification

Director of the Department of Management Systems Certification Phone: +420 286 019 404 Mobile: +420 724 304 539 E-mail: konstankiewiczova@tzus.cz

Phone: +420 286 019 427 Mobile: +420 734 432 075 E-mail: pobis@tzus.cz

Technical and Test Institute for Construction Prague, SOE Prosecká 811/76a, 190 00 Prague 9 - Prosek, Czech Republic

www.tzus.cz

www.tzus.eu

Spa Teplice THE OLDEST SPA IN CENTRAL EUROPE

info@lazneteplice.cz, www.lazneteplice.cz

SPECIALIZES IN THE TREATMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN

BASED ON THE USE OF UNIQUE THERMAL MINERAL WATER AND EXPERTISE IN PHYSIOTHERAPY

KEY SECTORS

Karlovy Vary

The Czech Republic, Attractive Tourist Destination The Czech Republic is one of the countries with a thriving tourism. The land with a population of 10 million is a peaceful and safe destination, offering historical monuments, picturesque scenery, world-famous spas, a network of luxury hotels as well as facilities for leisure activities. In recent years, the Czech Republic has also gained a reputation for congress tourism, for which capacities have been adapted especially in big cities.

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CONGRESS CAPITAL

The Czech Republic has been ranked among the 30 most suitable countries for congress tourism over the long term and the Czech capital, Prague, is even one of the 15 most favoured cities. Among others, this evaluation is due to the successful organisation of several conferences of global importance that have been hosted

by Prague in recent years. A stable economy, strategic location, favourable climate, various tourist attractions as well as the high quality of services provided in the congress facilities are factors

Photo: CzechTourism (Ladislav Renner)

Czech hotels, guesthouses and campsites registered a record 20.1 million tourists in 2017 according to the Czech Statistics Office – a year-on-year rise of 9.1 per cent on 2016. The number of foreign visitors was 10.2 million, which is almost equivalent to the entire population of the Czech Republic.

The total number of nights spent in accommodation facilities was 53.3 million, some 3.6 million more than the previous year.

The most foreign tourists visiting the Czech Republic come from Germany (1.5 million), Slovakia (524 000), and Poland (485 000). In

comparison with 2016 the greatest increase is in the number of tourists coming from China (by 44.2 %), Russia (by 40.8 %), and South Korea (by 31.0 %). More tourists are also coming from Japan and Taiwan.

At present, tourism in the Czech Republic accounts for 3 % of the gross domestic product and employs over 230 000 people.

that make Prague an attractive destination. The city provides modern hotels with an extensive choice of conference premises, including state-of-the-art facilities. The Prague Congress Centre has been extensively modernised, and capacities and services are also being extended by Václav Havel International Airport, the destination for numerous international flights operated by renowned airlines as well as a number of low-cost air carriers.

SPA SELECTION

Another important segment of tourism is the spa industry. The Bohemian and Moravian regions are especially rich in mineral water sources, which in the past gave rise to the existence of famous spa localities ranked among the best in the world. The joint work of man and nature has achieved world renown and become the country´s important health and economic commodity. The use of natural healing sources, baths, mineral waters, and spa treatments has a long-standing tradition. Although spa facilities can be found in all the regions of the Czech Republic, the most significant medicinal resources are in the regions of Karlovy Vary, Ústí nad Labem, South Bohemia, Hradec Králové, and Olomouc.

IN PURSUIT OF HEALTH AND RELAXATION

With the change of lifestyle in recent years, Czech spas have extended their standard offer of curative treatments with new forms of relaxation, regeneration, and anti-stress programmes suitable for overworked entrepreneurs and managers. These special extended programmes, combined with a range of accompanying recreational activities (golf, tennis, fitness, cycling, etc.), are offered by about 40 spa localities in the Czech Republic.

Notably, the aforementioned golf is increasingly reflected in the favourable tourism statistics. So much so that numerous quality courses are situated close to natural beauty and heritage sites.

More than 130 golf clubs operate in the Czech Republic and lovers of this game can use more than 70 golf courses. Those of the best quality, with the highest standard of services, have been set up around the capital city Prague, in what is known as the West Bohemian Spa Triangle near Karlovy Vary, and in Northern Moravia.

GRANDHOTEL

PUPP

KARLOVY VARY - CZECH REPUBLIC WWW.PUPP.CZ

Unique place for your event. Тhе best partner for your event.

Tradition and history is comЬined with high standard services.

■111 11!1

GRANDHOТEL PUPP Karlovy Vary, а. s. • Мfrove namesti 2 • 360 01 Karlovy Vary Те!.: +420 353 109 111 • Fax: +420 353 224 032 • pupp@pupp.cz

www.pupp.cz

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 39

KEY SECTORS

AN IMPOSING, NEOCLASSICAL PALACE SINCE 1912 – TRADITIONS MEET THE PRESENT WITH A UNIQUE TOUCH OF LUXURY

THE FIRST RADON SPA IN THE WORLD UNIQUE THERAPY OF THE LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM WITH RADON WATER PREVENTION, BOOSTING IMMUNITY, PAIN RELIEF, AND A DECREASED CONSUMPTION OF MEDICINE. The spa in Jáchymov was established in 1906 as the first radon spa in the world, and thus it continues in the thousand-year-old spa tradition in its own unique way. No other European country has such a high concentration of radon in natural mineral water as can be found in Jáchymov in the Czech Republic. Thanks to this fact, our spa is the most effective spa in Europe.

www.radonspa.com | reservation@laznejachymov.cz | tel. +420 353 832 857

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Rudolf Kämpf porcelain Uniqueness in every item

Exactly 111 years ago there began the story of the porcelain manufactory in Loučky near Karlovy Vary – Rudolf Kämpf’s porcelain factory.

In the beginning, there was the dream of building a factory in the very heart of the finest deposits of mineral raw materials needed for classic porcelain production. In close proximity to the city, where the first porcelain piece was created on the territory of the Czech Republic, a factory that could compete with its production with the best European producers. This dream became reality under the leadership of Rudolf Kämpf, and the factory began supplying its products under the RGK (Rudolf Grünlas Kämpf) brand.

In the 1990s, products began to be branded with the new Leander brand, which also acquired worldwide fame. Both brands are used till these days.

Rudolf Kämpf brand represents the most exclusive collections which are hand painted or richly decorated by precious metal of the highest quality.

Leander brand represents collections which are less decorated but also designated for customers who expect the highest quality hard paste porcelain for daily use.

The current generation of craftsmen follows this tradition, producing their products with traditional procedures based on manual work, and the products of both Rudolf Kämpf and Leander brands travel all over the world to their customers who are able to appreciate their beauty and timelessness.

www.rudolfkampf.com www.leander.cz

RUDOLF KÄMPF s. r. o., U porcelanky 143, Loucky, 357 34 Nove Sedlo, Czech Republic In case of interest please contact us via email: richtr@rudolfkampf.cz or phone: +420 735 753 111 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 41

Tradition Seven Centuries Old

Photo: pixabay.com

Glassmaking has a very old tradition in the Czech Lands. Its roots are to be found in the mountainous areas, where the needed raw materials were in sufficient supply. The first glassworks emerged in the latter half of the 13th and the first half of the 14th century.

On the territory of the Czech State, and before that, in what was the Kingdom of Bohemia, glassworks or their modest forerunners always started their existence in places where there was an adequate supply of fuel, which was found in forests. Even today, most of the glassworks are located in the sites of their historical predecessors. Best known are the glassworks in the Liberec Region, where mainly utility glassware and costume jewellery are manufactured. The valleys of the Jizera and Lužice Mountains, where the glassworks are situated, are poetically called “Crystal Valleys”. There are some glassworks which were founded as far back as the 16th century, and beside them there are now also glasswork schools, a university running design specialisation courses and a unique Museum of Glass and Costume Jewellery.

Such a concentration of glassmakers can be found nowhere else in the world. Other glass industry localities, however, can also be found in the Ore Mountains, the Giant Mountains, the Jeseníky and the Šumava Mountains and in Moravia in the vicinity of Zlín, where mainly packing glass is made. Currently the glass industry employs about 17 500 people.

Czech glassmaking families always played an important role in development, which influenced the use of new technologies in the entire Central Europe. The art of glass melting was a secret which the father passed on to the oldest son. The most important achievements in glassmaking going to the credit of Czech glassmakers are blue cobalt glass melting by the Schürer family in North Bohemia in the 16th century, the discovery of Bohemia crystal in the Müller glassworks in the Šumava Mountains in the 17th century, and the discovery of glazing and hyaline glass B by Egermann in the first half of the 19th century.

Currently, the Czech glassmaking industry comprises the

following production sectors: flat glass, packing glass, glass fibre and products thereof, utility glass (which includes beverage glass, decorative glass and art glass) and other special glassware, such as glass apparatus, laboratory glass, glass parts for screens, glass technical apparatus, protective welding glass, optical glass, jewellery semi-finished products, and glass blocks for construction.

Currently, the largest glass manufacturing sector is flat glass for construction and transport, followed by packing glass for the food and chemical industries. Another important glass sector, besides ordinary glassware, is the manufacture of luxury hollow glass, decorative glass and modern lighting fixtures.

Bohemian glass for everyday usage is an important export article in the household utility glass category and, in the category of lead crystal, there is cut lead crystal decorated with paint, drip pen drawing, glazing, high enamelling and engraving, and glass figures.

Handmade utility glass and historical replicas are also exported. These glass products, exported to dozens of countries worldwide, go under the name of Bohemia Glass. Luxury goods include, for example, iconic crystal chandeliers, which can be seen in Versailles, St. Petersburg, London, Dubai, Macao, and New York.

Source: Czech Radio, Association of the Glass and Ceramics Industry C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 43

Czech glass with tradition and quality SKLENĚNÁ BIŽUTERIE, A.S.

www.beadworld.eu

Alšovice 156 | CZ 468 21 Pěnčín | CZECH REPUBLIC | EUROPE sales@beadworld.cz | tel.: +420 483 360 236 | tel.: +420 777 648 124

For 70 years, we have been manufacturing products from Czech glass.

We are masters in our field.

Quality handmade of Czech masters of glass

• Customer service • Online information and communications on www.beadworld.eu

• Best prices and delivery terms • Reliable partner • Custom production We offer a wide range of products:

• Pressed Glass beads • Fire polished beads • Table Cuts • Atlas Beads • Glass Mosaic • Glass Souvenirs • Glass Tiles • Light Fixture Accessories • Necklaces • Earrings • Bracelets • Pendants • Design Glass Products • Artistic Glass Products • Games Components • Games for children • and many others…

Bead Game

Rückl: The renaissance of Bohemian Crystal The Rückl family glassworks is renowned for top-quality cut crystal since 1846.

Glass-melting traditions and time-tested glassmaking techniques were handed down in this family from generation to generation for over three hundred years.

Rückl is focused on exclusive handmade production, with master-level glass cutting in two aesthetic styles. While the Rückl Contemporary collection boasts modern shapes and a pastel-crystal colour palette, Rückl Heritage proudly highlights classic beverage crystal sets in delicately cut patterns.

www.ruckl.cz

KEY SECTORS

Long Tradition of Wood Production

Developed economies are characterised, among other things, by using and increasing the value of their local raw materials in sustainable ways. In the Czech Republic such a material is wood, considered by specialists to be a raw material with the greatest potential. Being environmentally friendly, it is the creative material of the future. Developed countries increasingly support the use of wood, as it is a renewable source and is

not such a threat to the environment as commonly used materials from non-renewable sources.

Wood products come in useful especially in the building industry, agriculture, the automotive industry and transport, the furniture industry, paper production, musical instrument and toy manufacture and increasingly also in the manufacture of design items.

The production of better quality, more expensive, luxury products has been growing fast. This is due to the long, uninterrupted tradition of craftsmanship and top quality hand production, as well as the unique goods offered by Czech manufacturers.

From the international competition perspective, Czech manufacturers are among the best in Europe in this sector, especially when it comes to bent furniture, design products and accessories made of wood. Contrary to the past, when the leading role was played by traditional carpentry, much of the present production is characterised by creativity and modern innovations. An increasing number of producers and investors believe in quality production associated with quality design. The Czech Republic is known for its quality furniture manufacture and there has always been competition between brands. The main advantage of Czech manufacturers is the availability of the basic material (i.e. blanks, hardboard, veneers, blocks, etc.) sourced locally. Czech furniture makers do what they have always done: they produce interesting, quality furniture, most of which is custom-made, albeit using different production techniques than in the past.

At present, the wood processing industry in the Czech Republic employs over 207 000 people, i.e. approx. 16 % of the workforce in the processing industry, while forest management employs some 24 000 people.

Production of fibre, paper, cardboard and printing industry products, carton boxes, as well as some products whose composition includes plastic materials, is a very interesting part of the wood processing industry. The scope of the Czech wood processing industry is wide, ranging from production of lumber to furniture, paper and cellulose manufacture. In the Czech Republic, larger areas are now covered with forests and the volume of wood is increasing. Therefore, in the future, Czech forests can offer much more differentiated uses of wood, increased production and more extensive export of original and quality products.

Source: www.mezistromy.cz, www.bvv.cz

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Photo: Osud wood, s.r.o. archives

Developed economies are characterised, among other things, by using and increasing the value of their local raw materials in sustainable ways. In the Czech Republic such a material is wood, considered by specialists to be a raw material with the greatest potential. Being environmentally friendly, it is the creative material of the future. Developed countries increasingly support the use of wood, as it is a renewable source and is not such a threat to the environment as commonly used materials from non-renewable sources.

Design, bold and beautiful, is at the core of all our products.

We are a carpentry company with a workshop equipped with stateof-the-art CNC technology. We like to be challenged when it comes to working any kind of wood and we hold in high esteem traditional and manual wood-working techniques.

Our master carpenter has over 20 years of experience in carpentry and handcraft, providing us with a solid base for the good reputation enjoyed by our brand, OSUDWOOD. We produce luxury wooden washbasins and bathtubs made of local and exotic wood.

Take a look and feel We developed and manufacture MODULAB, a collection of 3D wooden wall tiles. We also produce special panelling, custom-made for our clients, to which we can offer a large selection of surface treatment. We are experts in gold and other noble metals’ patina. Clients may choose from a number of surface finishes, from silky matte to extra brilliant, decide on upholstery or opt for light optical elements integrated in our MODULAB products.

The 3D structure and décor of our wooden panels are characterised by their unique and irreproducible design.

OSUDWOOD

Our selection includes CNC custom-made projects and wood processing. We always strive to fulfill your wishes, while providing you with the best possible quality. We provide solutions for architects, developers, designers, furniture manufacturers, restorers and advertising agencies. We have a solution for you, too.

Wood is perfect for big and small projects. Our products will serve you for many years, during which you will surely appreciate your wise investment. Our top-quality production with attention paid to every detail will brighten your day whenever you look at your new acquisition.

Mládeže 1640/20, 169 00 PRAHA, Czech Republic | becka@osudwood.com | +420 775 129 399

osudwood.com

www.lazne-bludov.cz

The State Medical Spa Bludov, state enterprise Bludov Spa is a modern spa resort located in the beautiful foothills of the Jeseniky Mountains.

This resort provides professional spa care, based on the latest medical findings in the fields of balneology, obesitology and therapeutic rehabilitation. Thermal water, coming directly from the spa area, is used for treatments and medical purposes - all hydrotherapy procedures.

The temperature of the rising water is 24°C, and with its composition (natural, slightly mineralized) it is suitable for the treatment of the motoric system.

In the last decades, the spa has become known for its treatment of obesity in children, where excellent results have been achieved. Bludov Spa also offers a wide range of medical therapies, wellness treatments, relaxing and slimming stays, or special methods such as hydro-colon therapy and spiral stabilization of spine by stabilization and mobilization system therapy.

Contact: Státní léčebné lázně Bludov, s. p.

Lázeňská 572, 789 61 Bludov, Czech Republic Email: vaclav.dvorak@lazne-bludov.cz Tel.: + 420 602 384 607

ENERGY UNDER CONTROL Power Capacitors Power Electronics Capacitors Induction Heating Capacitors Reactors (Inductors) Capacitor Banks Components for Power Factor Correction ZEZ SILKO, s.r.o., Pod Černým lesem 683, 564 01 Žamberk tel.: +420 465 673 111, fax.: +420 465 612 319, e-mail: zez@zez-silko.cz, www.zez-silko.com C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 49

INSTITUTIONS

Institutions Present Themselves

CONFEDERATION OF INDUSTRY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC It is a voluntary, non-political and non-governmental organisation that brings together employers and entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic. It is the largest alliance of employers in the country, which represents a predominant part of Czech industry. Its membership includes 28 branch or sectoral associations and 134 individual companies. The Confederation supports the interests of more than 10 000 member subjects which together employ around 800 000 people.

Its mission is to participate in the shaping of the economic and social policy of the Czech Republic and to represent and promote common interests of its members in order to create optimum business environment.

It promotes and defends the interests of its members in the Council for Economic and Social Agreement (Tripartite), which is the platform for negotiations between the government, employers and the trade unions.

It supports the establishment of trade and economic relations between Czech and international partners by means of trade missions, conferences, bilateral and multilateral negotiations and through the participation of its members in trade fairs, exhibitions and seminars.

The Confederation is a co-founder of the Czech Business Representation in Brussels (CEBRE) and of the Platform for Foreign Development Cooperation.

As a member of influential European and international organisations of employers and entrepreneurs – BUSINESSEUROPE and BIAC – it enhances the position of Czech businesses in Europe.

CZECH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Czech Chamber of Commerce is empowered by law to pursue and protect the interests of the business community, ensure its needs and support its development. It consists of a regional network of chambers, associations, professional and trade confederations on a national scale. The broadly-based membership platform therefore makes it possible for businessmen and entrepreneurs to use its specific services, including international support undertakings and programmes.

Although membership of the Czech Chamber of Commerce is not compulsory, the Chamber provides its services, whose standard is comparable with that of the chambers of commerce in the other EU states, not only to its members, but also to non-members:

lO rganisation of international and bilateral company contact events (outgoing and incoming missions)

lO rganisation of accompanying business missions of Czech state representatives during official visits to foreign countries

lV isiting missions of businessmen on the occasion of the official

Freyova 948/11, 190 00 Praha 9 Phone: +420 225 279 111 E-mail: spcr@spcr.cz

participation of the Czech Republic in trade fairs and exhibitions abroad lM issions of foreign investors for small and medium-sized Czech enterprises lO rganisation of seminars, workshops, business forums and similar expertly and territorially oriented events lP articipation in the programmes and activities of the European Union l S eeking out trade partners in the Czech Republic and abroad, consulting in the area of foreign trade lA ctive support on entry of foreign markets lP rovision of export certificates l F oreign trade analysis lP ublication of offers and enquiries at the Chamber´s websites

l More information at: www.spcr.cz. l

Hospodářská komora České republiky

Svaz průmyslu a dopravy České republiky

Florentinum, Na Florenci 2116/15, 110 00 Praha1 Phone: +420 266 721 300 E-mail: office@komora.cz l More information at www.komora.cz l

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A Tradition of Safety, Strength and Service

Austin Detonator Austin Detonator s.r.o., member of corporation Austin Powder Company, is a traditional and the leading European manufacturer of initiation systems for industrial blasting operations.

Currently Austin Detonator s.r.o. is engaged in development, production and distribution of the following products, which are designed to provide the precise control and accuracy for blasting in surface mines and quarries, underground mines and construction sites.

• non-electric detonators SHOCKSTAR • electric detonators ROCKSTAR & TIMESTAR • • seismic and OILSTAR detonators dedicated for oil and gas industry • • electronic detonators E*STAR • Austin Detonator is mainly an export oriented company.

95% of the production is exported to 35 countries worldwide.

Austin Detonator s.r.o.

Jasenice ,   Vsetín, Czech Republic tel.: +   , fax: +   , austin@austin.cz, www.austin.cz

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VÝROBA A PRODEJ VRTÁKŮ

PRODUCTION AND SALE OF DRILLS Unique patent of ground twist drills CZ002 and CZ004

made in the Czech Republic Complete supply of tools made in the Czech Republic Tested at Brno University of Technology

More information: export@nastrojecz.cz

www.nastrojecz.cz NÁSTROJE CZ, s.r.o. * Riegrova 399, 697 01 Kyjov - Czech Republic GSM: +420 777 862 527 * Fax: +420 518 610 511 * E-mail: export@nastrojecz.cz * URL: www.nastrojecz.cz

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC The International Chamber of Commerce – ICC – was founded in Paris in 1919. Its mission is to support world trade. Today it comprises thousands of companies and associations from more than 130 countries. ICC CR has been providing its services for more than 15 years.

Prestige – Through national ICC committees, businessmen transfer their interests, standpoints, and views to representatives of supreme bodies, institutions and governments, including the UN, EU, WTO and OECD, in which ICC has the highest status level of consultant.

Rules – ICC has incontestable authority to create rules according to which international trade is operated. The rules are used in everyday contact and they have become an indivisible part of international trade throughout the world. Examples are Incoterms (R) 2010, banking rules, and international model agreements.

Partnership – ICC provides a wide range of services; for example, it organises arbitration proceedings within the framework of the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and educational events, and it also provides consulting services and arranges meetings with foreign trade partners.

Territorial meetings – The aim of these events is to support Czech diplomacy, create business and investment opportunities for Czech exporters, help diversify Czech exports and establish useful trade contacts.

Specialised courses – Subjects are linked with international trade, in particular: Incoterms(R) 2010, bank guarantees and URDG 758, documentary letters of credit and standby, and international purchase contracts.

THE CONFEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS’ AND ENTREPRENEURS’ ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC l a ssociates seven representative employer associations in the area of construction, textile industry, small and medium-sized businesses, cooperative enterprises, agriculture, mining and oil industries, transport, woodworking industry, education, healthcare, culture, and social services; l r epresents 22 285 member entities with more than 1 322 179 employees; l s upports the specific interests of its members in the area of legislation and other spheres; l f ormulates the common business and employer interests of its members and pursues them in collaboration with the state authorities concerned, other employer organisations and trade unions and especially in various forms of consultation with the government; l c ooperates with the Czech Confederation of Industry, the Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Czech Agrarian Chamber, the Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism, the Czech Cooper­ ative Association and other organisations; l i s one of the social partners representing the business sector in the Council of Economic and Social Agreement (Tripartite Body).

The members of the Confederation include the following associations and unions: lA ssociation of Textile, Clothing, and Leather Industry; lA ssociation of Businessmen and Tradesmen of the Czech Republic; lA ssociation of Czech and Moravian Manufacturing Cooperatives; lA ssociation of Building Entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic; lU nion of Employer Associations; l E mployer Union of Mining and Oil Industries; lC zech Agricultural Union.

Konfederace zaměstnavatelských a podnikatelských svazů ČR ICC CR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has created the document “Competitiveness Strategy for the Czech Republic and Export Strategy for the Czech Republic for the period 2012-2020”.

Václavské náměstí 21, 113 60 Praha 1 Phone: +420 222 324 985 E-mail: kzps@kzps.cz l More information at: www.kzps.cz l

Národní výbor Mezinárodní obchodní komory v České republice Florentinum, Na Florenci 2116/15, 110 00 Praha 1 Phone: +420 257 217 744 E-mail: icc@icc-cr.cz l More information at: www.icc-cr.cz l

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 53

INSTITUTIONS

CZECH TRADE – CZECH TRADE PROMOTION AGENCY DEVELOP YOUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CzechTrade is a governmental trade promotion agency of the Czech Republic, which was set up by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. Its main objective is to develop international trade and cooperation between Czech and foreign entities. Through its services, CzechTrade supports Czech companies in trading on foreign markets.

Foreign companies contact CzechTrade when they are looking for interesting, reliable partners and suppliers in the Czech Republic.

Our professional team, including employees in our foreign network, offer a wide range of services to assist your company in finding a suitable contractor or trade partner in the Czech Republic.

Czech firms have the reputation of being reliable partners and suppliers of high-quality products, technologies, and services.

Services provided by the network of CzechTrade offices abroad free of charge: l Qualified search of Czech business partners l Initial consultation by phone or in person with the foreign offices representative concerning the potential of Czech suppliers based on your requirements l Provision of basic information on the sector of interest in the Czech Republic l Identification and compilation of a list of potential suppliers in the Czech Republic within the specified sector l Publication and targeting of a specific inquiry among Czech suppliers to find out their interest in cooperation l Organisational arrangement of a meeting with potential Czech suppliers in the Czech Republic during so-called Sourcing Days Online Services Online form on the websites, where you can specify your requirements. A team of CzechTrade specialists will assist you in finding contacts to suppliers of goods and services in the Czech Republic according to your specifications.

Czech Exporters Directory The Directory is an official online database of Czech exporters, where you can find potential trade partners in the Czech Republic. The Directory is available in 13 language versions at http://exporters.czechtrade.cz.

BusinessInfo.cz Portal Official website for foreign businessmen seeking information, assistance or contacts for their business activities in the Czech Republic. Language of the portal: English. Translation into other languages is possible with the Google Translator application.

Česká agentura na podporu obchodu / CzechTrade centrála Dittrichova 21, 128 01 Praha 2 Green line: +420 224 907 820 E-mail: info@czechtrade.cz

CzechTrade office in Dubai Dubai World Trade Center 7th Floor - Office No.21 P.O.Box 9759 Sheikh Zayed Road; P.O., DUBAI United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 4 3097018 M: +971 504 509 941 l More information at: www.czechtrade.eu l

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CZECH-SAUDI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Chamber Mission Czech-Saudi Chamber of Commerce is built on years of extensive experience of its Czech-Saudi management with trade and cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The mission of the Chamber is to reflect and continuously support the interest of Czech foreign trade policy and Czech businesses in this biggest and richest member country of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and to actively react to the reciprocal interest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Czech goods, services, and investment opportunities.

Activities l facilitating and expanding trade between Czech and Saudi businesses l establishing and developing contacts between businesses of both countries l providing information services to entrepreneurs l providing expertise and consulting l publishing information about Czech-Saudi business relations

Czech-Saudi Chamber of Commerce Office City Center Prague 1 Václavské náměstí 17 110 00 Prague 1 Office Prague 6 Verdunská 819/37 160 00 Prague 6 E-mail: info@czechsaudi.cz Phone: +420 222 930 597 l More information at: www.czechsaudi.cz l

Janské Lázně:

From the mountains right into thermal mineral water CRYSTAL GLASS IN MODERN DESIGN

JANSKÉ LÁZNĚ – a picturesque mountain townlet at the base of Černá hora (Black Mt), which attracts tourists and cyclists in summer, skiers and winter sports lovers in winter, and spa guests all the year round.

Janské Lázně, the only spa resort on the Czech side of the Krkonoše (Giant Mts), won world renown already in the early 20th century for its successful rehabilitation of polio patients. Today, visitors are offered spa care focused on the treatment of motoric, nervous and respiratory disorders in modern facilities for adult and child patients. The spa treatments also include bed rehabilitation care for post-injury and post-surgery patients. All patients and visitors are offered the use of the spa aquacentre with thermal mineral water, fitness centre with professional therapists and a wide range of relaxation and treatment packages. Janské Lázně has the largest ski area in the Czech Republic – the Černá hora - Pec Ski Resort, where skiers have the use of up to 44 kilometres of ski slopes on a single ski pass.

We offer traditional handmade Bohemian Lead Crystal 24%PbO Titanium. In conjunction with this new proprietary technology and the skills of our glassmakers, decorators and cutters, we can reach a unique optical quality in our products.

We also offer a wide range of handmade cameo crystal in many traditional colour variations.

Our new 2018 collections will introduce wholly new colour shades. We decorate traditional cut crystals with gold.

We have our own patented technology of inside gilding. We work with prominent glass designers to produce custom made luxurious lights, lightways, crystal sculptures, sport trophies and designer domestic crystal products.

Spa treatment in Janské Lázně is based on the use of thermal mineral water from local natural sources and the pure mountain climate.

For whatever reason you may decide to spend time in Janské Lázně – spa treatment, relaxation, mountaineering or simply enjoying the countryside with local historical sites, you will not be disappointed.

Merry Crystals s.r.o. | Cholupická 911/5 | 142 00 Praha 4 | Czech Republic lenka.rackova@merry-crystals.cz | Tel.: +420 602 491 331 Státní léčebné lázně Janské Lázně ✆ +420 499 860 303 | sales@janskelazne.com

www.merry-crystals.cz

www.janskelazne.com

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 55 Merry crystals.indd 1

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Propellants, Explosives, Specialities

Since 1920

Export to more than 40 countries www.explosia.cz Propellants: +420 466 824 649, Explosives: +420 466 825 331, Specialities: +420 466 825 774

CZECHINVEST, BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CzechInvest: Your gateway to success in the Czech Republic The Business and Investment Development Agency CzechInvest is a state contributory organisation subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. Services include sector-specific market intelligence, identification of business properties and sites, investment incentives, identification of potential business partners, suppliers and acqusition targets as well as aftercare services. The Agency contributes to attracting foreign investors operating in the manufacturing industry, business support services and technology centres, and also supports Czech enterprises in their expansion efforts.

To simplify communication between the state, business, and the European Union, CzechInvest acts as an umbrella business-promotion organisation for companies using both EU and national funding.

CzechInvest is exclusively authorised to file applications for investment incentives at the competent governing bodies and prepares draft offers to grant investment incentives. Its task is also to provide potential investors with current data and information on business climate, investment environment, and investment opportunities in the Czech Republic.

All services are provided free of charge.

CZECHTOURISM – CZECH TOURIST CENTRE CzechTourism, the Czech Tourist Centre, publicises the Czech Republic at home and abroad as an attractive tourist destination.

Its partners are representatives of regional institutions and tourist regions, destination managements, towns and communities, and firms. With all its activities, the Centre attempts to awaken the interest of foreign tourists in the Czech Republic’s wealth of unique sights and attractions and to inspire them to visit the country. Its policy is to promote incoming tourism, while systematically supporting tourism at home.

All its marketing activities place special emphasis on the communication strategy, which presents the Czech Republic as an exciting country where visitors can not only discover thrilling tales of its history, past and present, but also experience and share these with their companions. CzechTourism is assisted in these efforts by a network of foreign representations; it actively collaborates with the media and addresses partners in the Travel Trade sector at trade fairs. The Agency organises study tours to the Czech Republic for representatives of the media and tour operators and mediates tourism news for the local tourist community, acquainting it with the trends and analyses in the sphere of global tourism. It acts as a service organisation for the regions and the B2B segment in the area of tourism, assisting tourist entities to present themselves abroad at a level which they could not easily achieve if acting on their own.

CzechTourism Agency is a state-run contributory organisation of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic.

CzechInvest Štěpánská 15, 120 00 Praha 2 Phone: +420 296 342 579 E-mail: fdi@czechinvest.org l More information at: www.czechinvest.org l

Česká centrála cestovního ruchu – CzechTourism Vinohradská 46, P.O.Box 32, 120 41 Praha 2 Phone: +420 221 580 111 E-mail: Info@czechtourism.cz l More information at: www.czechtourism.com l

C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 57

Fatra Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Fatra 100 % 56 % 0% 18 %

PANTONE 294 C standartní modrá definovaní pro všechny logotypy FATRA

Fatra, a.s. ranks among the world most significant plastic processing companies (PVC, PE, and PET). Fatra is an integral part of the plastic processing industry in the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Fatra operates modern plastic processing technologies in its production plants in Napajedla and Chropyně with more than 1300 employees.

The company offers top products and specialized customertailored solutions that include not only the production, but also development activities and consulting services. More than 65 % of its production are headed for international markets – sells its products to more than 50 countries in the world. Fatra, a.s. has several times vindicated its certificates “Responsible Care” and “Safe Company”.

Product portfolio n PVC floor coverings - brands LINO Fatra, THERMOFIX, FatraClick n Waterproofing membranes FATRAFOL, insulations for roofs, ground, garden ponds and special projects n Consumer segment - technical PVC-foils, PVC granulate, extruded profiles, welded inflatable products n Special products – PE/PET/EVAC foil and sheets, injected products n BO PET, biaxial-oriented polyester films n Breathable films and laminates under brands SONTEK – for hygiene n Thermoformed products, cups, bowls and lids n Regranulate from internal/external waste

Essential economic data: Sales in 2017: CZK 3.8 billion Export: 68 % Employees: 1300 Total production capacity = 60 kilotons of plastic products

w w w.fatra.cz třída Tomáše Bati 1541 | 763 61 Napajedla | Czech Republic | Tel.: +420 557 501 111 | E-mail: info@fatra.cz

Founded 1898

TRADITION AS SOLID AS OUR PRODUCTS

Choose from a wide range of models manufactured according to European standards. volumes 660 – 1 100 l complying to European standards EN 840 (DIN 30700) robust and proven design – produced over 300 000 pcs very good anti-corrosion protection – hot dip galvanized according to EN ISO 1461 suitable for collection of household and industrial waste high variability and wide use easy and safe handling simple manipulation – 4 sviwel wheels dia 200 mm (2 with brake), loading capacity 205 kg/1 wheel loading capacity 404 kg according to the norm MEVA a.s., Chelčického 1228, 413 01 Roudnice nad Labem, Czech Republic Tel.: +420 416 823 167, Fax: +420 416 841 261, prodej.bezdekov@meva.eu

www.meva.eu

CATES CERTIFI ISO 9001 1 ISO 1400

INSTITUTIONS

CZECH CENTRES Czech Centres are an agency of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the promotion of the Czech Republic worldwide. They propagate the Czech cultural scene in the international field and advance Czech interests from their offices in 21 foreign capitals on three continents. They are members of EUNIC — the Associ­ ation of European National Cultural Institutions.

Czech Centres promote all sectors of Czech cultural and creative industries, presenting the Czech Republic as a modern country with valuable cultural traditions. They bring together and promote the cooperation of foreign cultural institutions, experts and artists with their Czech counterparts.

In the area of education, science, research and innovation, Czech Centres collaborate with universities and other higher learning and specialised institutions, help promote cooperation between them and propagate the achievements of Czech science abroad. They support the tuition and popularisation of the Czech language internationally.

In the area of external economic relations, Czech Centres assist in the promotion of Czech trade interests in other countries.

In promoting the Czech Republic as an attractive tourist destination, the Centres, in collaboration with their partners, devote themselves especially to the presentation of Czech regions abroad.

As regards the provision of information about the Czech Republic, Czech Centres act as communication centres for the lay and expert public, the media and international entities abroad.

Česká centra – ústředí (Centre) Václavské nám. 816/49, 110 00 Praha 1 Phone: +420 234 668 211 E-mail: info@czech.cz l More information at: www.czechcentres.cz l

CENTRE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC – ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK The Centre for Regional Development of the Czech Republic (the Centre) is an intermediary and control body for selected operational programmes financed from the EU Structural Funds. The Centre also administers the Regional Information Service system, where information from the regions and municipalities of the Czech Republic can be found. The system is focused especially on the economic, social, and living environment, administrative division, public administration and local government, grants, etc.

The Centre hosts one of the partners of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). This network was established by the European Commission in 2008 to support businesses and enterprises. Since then it has spread its activities throughout the world, so, today, it comprises 600 partners with more than 4 000 experts in over 50 countries – for example (apart from all EU countries) it has offices in India, China, Japan, and South Korea.

EEN staff offer services to both Czech and foreign enterprises.

Foreign firms can benefit from the following services: assistance in seeking partners for business, production and technological cooperation, information about the Czech business environment, setting up firms and information about taxation, Czech and EU legislation concerning business and opportunities of funding from national and EU sources. International B2B trade meetings organised by the EEN during selected important trade fairs are very popular among businesses, e.g. in the Czech Republic, during the International Engineering Fair in Brno and the FOR ARCH building Trade Fair in Prague.

Centrum pro regionální rozvoj ČR – Enterprise Europe Network U Nákladového nádraží 3144/4, 130 00 Praha 3 Phone: +420 225 855 312 E-mail: een@crr.cz l More information at: www.crr.cz, www.een.cz l

60 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

ELECTRIC MOTORS gEaR unITS MOTIOn COnTROL COMpOnEnTS traditional distributor of electric motors in the Czech Republic and abroad 25 years of experience Siemens SIMOLOG Partner access to industry-leading technologies and standards and qualified authorisation to customise the whole range of electric motors unique on-line electric motor configurator at our website

Družstevní 1200/20 789 85 Mohelnice Czech Republic t: +420 583 453 043 e: drives@d2g.cz w: www.d2drives.com

PROJECTS

FOR INVESTMENT CONSTRUCTION

• railway track structure

• building construction

• bridges and tunnels

• geodetic measurements

• telecommunication, safety, signalling and heavy-current equipment

• environment, documentation of EIA

• overhead contact line

• economic assessments of railway construction

We are a leading project, engineering and consulting company in the Czech Republic.

The main activity of the company is project work on transport, engineering, residential and civic constructions.

www.sudop-brno.cz

Kounicova 26, 611 36 Brno Tel.: +420 972 625 804 E-mail: sudop@sudop-brno.cz

www.oritest-group.cz Oritest Group, following the 25 years of ORITEST spol. s r.o. activity in the world-wide CBRN Business Arena, is a reliable partner to provide innovative and complete CBRN Solutions with a strong focus on supplying the whole range of CBRN Detection and Protection Equipment.

We can offer solutions from simple detection Paper up to integrated Reconnaissance Systems or Mobile Labs as well as Specialist Trainings and support our Customers in building up a complete tailored CBRN Defence Concept.

Oritest Group s.r.o.

• Nábřežní 90/4 • 150 00 Prague • Czech Republic • Tel: +420 257 311 639 • E-mail: info@oritest-group.cz

CO N TAC TS

Useful Contacts USEFUL CONTACTS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC United Arab Emirates – EMBASSY OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Sibiřské náměstí 730/1, 160 00 Praha 6 Phone: +420 221 517 777 E-mail: pragueemb@mofaic.gov.ae Saudi Arabia – KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA Korunovační 622/35, 160 00 Praha 6 Phone: +420 257 316 606 Fax: +420 257 316 593 E-mail: resa@saudiembassy.cz Kuwait – EMBASSY OF THE STATE OF KUWAIT Na Zátorce 26, 160 00 Praha 6 Phone +420 220 570 781, 782, 783 Fax: +420 220 570 787 E-mail: kuwaiti@volny.cz

Bahrain – EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN Klingelhöfer Strasse 7, 10785 Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 30 8687 7777 Fax: +49 30 868 7788 E-mail: info@bahrain-embassy.de Website: www.bahrain-embassy.de

Kroměříž – Flower Garden

Ministry of the Environment Ministerstvo životního prostředí www.mzp.cz

MINISTRIES

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí www.mpsv.cz

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí www.mzv.cz

Ministry of Health Ministerstvo zdravotnictví www.mzcr.cz

Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu www.mpo.cz

Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy www.msmt.cz

Ministry of Agriculture Ministerstvo zemědělství www.mze.cz

Ministry of Culture Ministerstvo kultury www.mkcr.cz

Ministry of Transport Ministerstvo dopravy www.mdcr.cz

Ministry of Justice Ministerstvo spravedlnosti www.justice.cz

Ministry of Finance Ministerstvo financí www.mfcr.cz

Ministry of Defence Ministerstvo obrany www.army.cz

Ministry of Regional Development Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj www.mmr.cz

Ministry of the Interior Ministerstvo vnitra www.mvcr.cz

64 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

Photo: CzechTourism (Libor Sváček)

Oman- EMBASSY OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN Währinger Strasse 2-4/24, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 1310 86 43 Fax: +43 1310 72 68 E-mail: vienna@omanembassy.at

USEFUL CONTACTS IN UAE, BAHRAIN, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, AND KUWAIT DIPLOMATIC MISSION OF THE CZECH REPUBIC – United Arab Emirates Diplomatic, consular, and visa competences for: United Arab Emirates Address: Embassy of the Czech Republic Marina Village, Villa A09, Breakwater Area P.O.Box 27009 Abu Dhabi Phone: +971 2 6782800 Fax: +971 2 679 5716, +971 2 676 7558 (consular section) E-mail: abudhabi@embassy.mzv.cz Consular section: consulate_abudhabi@mzv.cz Economic section: commerce_abudhabi@mzv.cz Website: www.mzv.cz/abudhabi DIPLOMATIC MISSION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC - KUWAIT Diplomatic and consular competences for: Kuwait and Qatar Address: Embassy of the Czech Republic Al-Nuzha, Block 3,

Street 34, House 13 P.O. Box 1151 Kuwait Phone: +965/22529018 - operator, 22529015 - KO/víza Fax: +965/22529021 E-mail: kuwait@embassy.mzv.cz Web: www.mzv.cz/kuwait Consular section: consulate_kuwait@mzv.cz DIPLOMATIC MISSION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA Diplomatic and consular competences for: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Bahrain Sultanate of Oman Republic of Yemen Address: Embassy of the Czech Republic Al Nuzha District, Saad Bin Gharir Street P. O. Box 94305, Riyadh 11693 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Phone: +966/11/4503617-8 Fax: +966/11/4509879, +966 11 494 1022 E-mail: riyadh@embassy.mzv.cz Consular section: consulate_riyadh@mzv.cz Economic section: commerce_riyadh@mzv.cz Website: www.mzv.cz/riyadh

Jan Janota Sales Director GF Machinery s.r.o. | Kastanova 141d | 617 00 Brno | Czech Republic Cell: +420 603 235 977 | Tel.: +420 530 555 100 | Fax: +420 530 555 155

MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT FOR TECHNICAL FIBER AND FABRIC PROCESSING SPECIAL LINES AND EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY Our main programme is: A) machines and lines for technical yarn and fabric processing (mainly for fiberglass) n Online/Offline Choppers n Roving lines (Braking tension system, Creels, Driers) n Printing lines for logo printing onto glass mesh n Finishing equipment: Slitting& Formatting lines, Chemical Treatment lines n Laminating lines n Special individual lines per customer request

B) special machines and lines for automotive industry n Headliners production lines (Fiberglass chopping line for adding of chopped yarn to car roofs-headliners production) n Coating lines for car interior foils processing (coated by “hotmelt” method) n Electric presses (up to 200kN)

www.gfm.cz GF Machinery s.r.o_PO_JK.indd 1

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C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r 65

CO N TAC TS

The Most Important Websites General information on the Czech Republic

www.czech.cz

Official site for the CR

BusinessInfo

www.businessinfo.cz

Doing Business in the Czech Republic

www.doingbusiness.cz

Portal of the Public Administration

www.vlada.cz

Official site for business and exports General information on business climate, structure, and development of the Czech economy The electronic gateway for the public to administration and government services

Company Contact Information ARES

www.info.mfcr.cz/ares/ares.html Access to Registers of Economic Subjects/Entities

Hoppenstedt Bonnier

www.hbi.cz

The most important companies in the CR and the SR

Inform.cz

www.inform.cz

Czech Company Catalogue

Kompass

www.kompass.com

Czech Company Catalogue

European Databank

www.edb.cz http://exporters.czechtrade.cz/ en/

Information operator

Iuridika

http://iuridica.eunet.cz

Directory of legal services and official bodies

Portal of Czech judiciary

www.justice.cz

Course of legal proceedings

Czech National Bank

www.cnb.cz

Monetary, financial, and macroeconomic data

Prague Stock Exchange

www.pse.cz

Prague Stock Exchange data

RM-Systém

www.rmsystem.cz

Czech Stock Exchange

Czech Insurance Association

www.cap.cz

Directory of insurance companies operating in the CR

Czech Statistical Office

www.czso.cz

Official statistical data and information covering different subjects

Fairs and Exhibitions BVV – Brněnské veletrhy a výstavy/Trade Fairs Brno Miscellaneous

www.bvv.cz

List of exhibitions and fairs in the CR and relevant information

The Industrial Property Office

www.upv.cz

The Czech Science Foundation

www.gacr.cz

The Register of Advertising Agencies

www.registrra.cz/rra

Česká pošta (the Czech Post)

www.ceskaposta.cz

Residence of Foreigners in the CR

www.domavcr.cz

Patents, trade marks, utility models, and industrial designs Awards grants to the best projects of basic research in all branches of science Expert assistance in choosing and working with advertising and communication agencies in the CR Incl. postcodes of municipalities and its districts (PSC), philately etc.

Advice for living in the CR

Association for Foreign Investment

www.afi.cz

Support for entry of foreign investors

Cadastre of Real Estate

www.cuzk.cz

Information system, contains data on real estate in the CR

Road toll in the CR National Register of Vocational Qualifications Portal of the Regional Information Service The Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants

www.mytocz.eu

www.risy.cz

Information on toll and charges Survey of professional qualifications recognised in the Czech Republic Information website on the regions

www.ahrcr.cz

Directory of hotels in the CR

Czech exporting companies

Company-Catalogue Czech Exporters Directory

Legislation

Finance

Statistics

66 C z e c h R e p u b l i c – Yo u r Tr a d e Pa r t n e r

www.narodni-kvalifikace.cz

PIONEERS OF WHEELSET SOLUTIONS

BONATRANS and GHH-RADSATZ represent an impressive part of the history of wheelset design and manufacturing. Generations of true experts continuously contribute to the evolution of the wheelset.

Respecting the past but looking ahead, the pioneers of wheelset manufacturing produce premium solutions for the railways of the world.

GHH-BONATRANS supplies a full range of first class products and reliable solutions such as heavy rail wheelsets for high-speed trains and locomotives, low-floor solutions for light rail, including resilient wheels and noise absorbing solutions. Not only do we manufacture solutions of the highest possible standards, we design the products with our customers and provide a complete after-sales service.

www.ghh-bonatrans.com

The never-ending spirit of curiosity and passion for perfection enables the birth of new innovative solutions that drive the industry forwards.

• The premium supplier for wheels, axles, and wheelsets • More than 200 years of history • For all types of rolling stock, including trams and metros • For all major railways and rolling stock manufacturers • More than 80 countries delivered worldwide

ARGUN s.r.o.

(‫أو )ﴍﻛﺔ ﻣﺤﺪودة‬.‫ر‬.‫أرﻏــﻮن س‬

Jana Krušinky 1693/4 | 500 02 Hradec Králové | Czech Republic Phone: +420 495 532 555 | Fax: +420 495 532 555 Email: info@argun.cz

www.argun.cz

ARGUN Company is more than 20 years internationally well-known producer of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, anti-riot equipment for military, police and security services.

ARGUN has supplied its products to more than 30 countries worldwide.

Almost 100 000 bulletproof vests have been supplied into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2010.

ARGUN offers complete turn-key deliveries with individual access to each customer. Production capacity is 10 000 vests and 5 000 helmets per month.

ARGUN R&D department is able to develop vests and anti-riot equipment according to exact customer´s demand.

All ARGUN ballistic products are certified according to the International standards in accredited testing laboratories in the Czech Republic, Europe and in the United States.

Hygienic safety of ARGUN products is also proved by certificates and recommendations.

All ARGUN products are made according to high-quality standards in EU countries only.

The Gulf countries references: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2010 – 21 000 bulletproof vests  2014 – 46 000 bulletproof vests  2017 – 30 000 bulletproof vests 

United Arab Emirates 

2010 – 2017 – 25 000 antiriot equipment

Oman 

2017 - 480 bulletproof vests