Czech Republic one of the Visegrad 4 : European Quartet Czech Republic one of the Visegrad 4 : European Quartet.

Czech RepublicCzech Republicone of the Visegrad 4 one of the Visegrad 4 ::European European QuartetQuartet

Czech Republic

●A few basic facts on the country

●Tourism attractiveness and opportunities

●Trade Shows – bvv.cz

●Studyin.cz

●Business and economy

Czech Republic – in the centre of Europe

●Area: 80.000 km2

●People: 10.5 million

●Language: Czech

●Currency: Czech Krown, CZK

●GDP: 3.8 trillion CZK (purchaser price)

Czech Republic – the story

Slavonic nation in the Central Europe with ancient history and legends of kings, later part of the Habsburg empire and since 1918 of Czechoslovakia.

Economic and political transformation in Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia started in 1989 with the Velvet Revolution, later Czechoslovakia split in two countries by their mutual agreement and the Czech Republic Czech Republic came into being on January 1st, 1993.

In 2004 it joined the European Union.

Since 2007 in the Schengen visa area.

Czech Republic – Tourism in Numbers– Tourism in Numbers

•Travel and Tourism generates 2.7 % of GDP of the Czech Republic

• Arrivals 6.7 mil. and overnights 19.4 mil. (2011)

• The Czech Republic leads among the Visegrad 4

•Arrivals from South Africa to the Czech Republic grew from 3 th. in 2005 to 6.2 th. in 2011 and a South

African visitor stayed on average 2.5 nights (2011)

Czech Republic – Prague and much morePrague and much more

12 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Czech Republic, one of them the capital

PraguePrague

82 % of South African visitors to the Czech

Republic go to Prague

Czech Republic – Prague and much morePrague and much more

More Czech UNESCO World Heritage sites

Telč

Český Krumlov

Lednice-Valtice

Kutná Hora, St. Barbora Church Holašovice

Gardens of Kroměříž Třebíč, Jewish quoter

The Green Mountain (Zelená hora) Litomyšl Chateau

Czech Republic - Prague and much morePrague and much more

Spa with hot mineral springs – there are many. Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary remains the most

famous throughout the centuries. In July it hosts KVIFF.

Czech Republic - Prague and much morePrague and much more

Opportunities for an Active holidayActive holiday in the country are plentiful and rewarding:

biking, walking trails, rafting, winter fun sports.

Czech Republic – thematic visits

Take part in a glass glass making making workshop or taste the local cuisine while watching glassmakers at work: Ajeto, Nový Bor

Czech Republic: Prague and much morePrague and much more

Conferencing and MICE tourism booming!

Several trade show grounds - in Prague and other cities

Brno hosts regional trade events: - International Travel Trade Fair (Go) and International

Fair on Regional Tourism (RegionTour): January- Salima (food), Vinex (wine): February

- MSV International Engineering Fair, Welding: October

– Styl and Kabo (fashion): February and August - and many others!

www.studyin.czwww.studyin.cz Czech universities with programmes in

English

Czech Republic

Now: about business

and trade

Czech Economy - good ratings

• AA-, outlook stable (2012)• A+, outlook stable• A1, outlook stable (7/2013)

Czech trade reflects strong industrial tradition

Czech trade with the world %

Manufactured goods and articles 18

Machinery and transport equipment 55

Czech Republic´s Major Sectors

• Power engineering (coal, nuclear & hydro)• Machinery (machine tools, turbines)• Mining technology• Transport vehicles and automotive components• Iron and Steel (forgings, castings)• Electrical and Electronic equipment• Software and Telecoms• Glass industry• Medical equipment• Biotech, Nanotech• Food processing industry• Beverages/beer

Czech - South African Trade Trade

• South Africa is the No.1 trade partner on the African continent for the Czech Republic since 2004

• Trade is varied, substantial role e.g. Automotive supplies

• SAB-Miller, Mondi, Napster and Bidvest are the South African investors in the Czech Republic

-100 000-50 000

050 000

100 000150 000

200 000250 000300 000350 000

400 000450 000500 000

550 000600 000650 000700 000

750 000800 000850 000900 000

950 0001 000 000

19931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012

v tis

. US

D

Bilateral Trade turnover might

reach new record in 2013

Traditional Czech brands

Established in 1895, the family business of Laurin and Klement in Mlada Boleslav originally produces bicycles, motorcycles and, starting in 1905, automobiles. The company merged with Skoda Plzen in 1925 and grew rapidly. In 1991 Skoda Auto became part of the Volkswagen concern. Today it sells over 550,000 of its Fabia, Octavia, Superb and Roomster models each year. Over 80% of these cars are exported to more than 90 countries around the world. It is the country´s key exporter and a major player in the sector; others are e.g. Hyundai and Toyota/Peugeot/Citroen.www.skoda-auto.cz

Skoda Auto Mlada Boleslav, a.s.

Traditional Czech brands

Beers like Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus and Radegast can be purchased in about 50 countries around the world. Beer brewing has a long tradition in Plzeň (Pilsen), dating back to the founding of the city at the end of the 13th century. The trademark „Pilsen Beer“ was registered with the Plzen Chamber of Commerce and Trade in 1859; the new trademark Prazdroj Urquell was created in 1898. The joint-stock company was established in the 1990s and in 1999 it became

part of South African Breweries plc.

www.prazdroj.cz

Plzensky Prazdroj, a.s. - member of the SABMiller group

Czech Republic´s Cape Town footprint

Thank you!

Contact details: Ivana KlimovaEmbassy of the Czech Republic in Pretoria

Tel.: +27 (0)12 4312 380, 5E-mail: [email protected]

www.mzv.cz/pretoria

www.czechtourism.com

www.czech.cz