Balkans lures Czech companies

The Czech companies consider the Balkans a proper destination for their investment as well as a place to search for new business partnership. In this respect, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic is meeting their needs.

In cooperation with the AIDA agency (Albanian Investment Development Agency), the Czech ministry of Industry and Trade and the ministry for regional development, the Confederation has organized a Czech-Albanian business forum held on Tuesday 13th October in Prague. The Albanian side has been represented by 43 companies from the metal and metal processing industry, IT, construction and building industry, shoemakers industry and food industry.

„Just in the first seven months of this year the trade turnover between both countries rose 40 percent,“ the Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who took part in the forum with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, said. „The Czech companies, offering top products, are interested in the cooperation with Albania.“

As a most perspective in the Czech-Albanian trade cooperation, Sobotka considers the tourism field as well as the railroad network development, rail vehicles deliveries or investment in the gas installations in Albania.

On Wednesday 14th October, the Confederation of Industry has sent a business mission to Bosnia and Croatia, accompanying the Czech foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek on his official visit to both countries. In collaboration with local partner organizations, the largest Czech employers‘ association will organize business forums both in Sarajevo and Zagreb.

The mission is led by the Confederation’s vice-president Stanislav Kázecký and 12 Czech companies are taking part in it.

„These are the companies doing business in transport infrastructure, electrotechnics and electronics, health care, energy, defense industry, textile industry, environmental technology and law services,“ Kázecký announced.

As for Bosnia, the Confederation of Industry organizes its first business mission to the country. To Croatia travelled a Confederation’s delegation most recently in 2008.