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October 7th, 2008
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October 17th, 2007 | Current Issue

Terminal decay
České dráhy receives little developer interest in program to revitalize dilapidated train stations

EU funds begin trickling into ČR
Three programs approved, but some wait until next year

Businesses centralize EU lobbying
Czech House unites former disparate state interests

Retailers neglect rural supermarket shoppers
Ignored by multinationals, stagnant countryside ripe for successful 'Flop' stores

State Treasury chooses platform
Record-setting IT tender moves forward

10 Questions
with Jaromír Černík
10 Questions

Movers & Shakers
New partners for Braun
Movers & Shakers

BRIEFS


TRAMS Škoda Transportation is working on a new tram model for Prague’s public transportation system, called the 15T, which should be designed by the end of this year, Hospodářské noviny reported Oct. 16. The Plzeň-based company will begin testing the trams next year and supply a first shipment of 250 cars in 2009.

CHOPPED The CEO of the state-owned forest company Lesy ČR, Jiří Holický, has stepped down from his position, the Agriculture Ministry announced Oct. 15. Holický was the fourth person to head the firm in the past four years and was appointed to the position in February. Lesy ČR controls over half of the country’s forests and has assets worth 70 billion Kč [$3.6 billion].
NARNIA The third movie in the American-produced film series The Chronicles of Narnia will not be shot in the Czech Republic, Barrandov film studio’s director Vladimír Kuba said on Czech Television Oct. 14. The series’ second part, Prince Caspian, was shot at Barrandov with a budget totaling over $100 million. For financial reasons, the producers will shoot the third film in New Zealand and Malta, Kuba said.
PENSIONS The government will create a reserve fund to help finance future pension reforms, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Petr Nečas announced Oct. 11. The state will deposit part of its revenue from pension premiums, state-owned companies and privatization into the fund. Parliament will vote on the proposal next month.
AUSTRIA Austria will open its labor market to skilled workers from the Czech Republic in over 50 different fields, Austrian Economics and Labor Minister Martin Bartenstein announced Oct. 11. The move, effective Jan. 1, 2008, will target the gamut of professions, from bricklayers to engineers. Workers from other new EU member states will also be eligible for the program.
FEES Residents of the Czech Republic pay the highest banking fees in Central Europe, about 82 euros (2,254 Kč/$116) annually, according to a survey released by the Slovak Banking Association. The lowest fees are in Slovakia, at 44 euros, while Poles and Hungarians spend 65 euros a year.
APPROVED The merger between the Icelandic investment bank Straumur and the Czech brokerage Wood & Company has been approved by the Anti-Monopoly Office, the Czech News Agency reported Oct. 10. Straumur, Iceland’s largest investment bank, will purchase up to 50 percent of Wood & Company, helping finance its expansion into new markets.
OIL The Czech oil company MND has purchased majority shares in two Russian oil firms specialized in oil exploration, company spokesman Dan Plovajko said Oct. 10. The two companies, Nikolaevkaneft and VostokInvestNeft, hold three exploration licenses between them. MND did not disclose the size of the investment, but it is expected to be worth hundreds of millions of crowns.

TUESDAY, OCT. 23

The British Chamber of Commerce hosts a breakfast briefing titled “All You Need to Know About the Tax Reform.” The briefing’s speakers will explain upcoming changes made to personal and corporate income tax and the value-added tax by the recently passed public-finance reform. The breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Corinthia Towers in Prague 4. For more information, visit www.britishchamber.cz.
TUESDAY, OCT. 30
The American Chamber of Commerce hosts a policy discussion with Zdeněk Zajíček, deputy interior minister. Zajíček will speak on the ministry’s introduction of Regulatory Impact Assessments and the draft e-Government Act, among other topics. For more information, visit www.amcham.cz.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31
The British Chamber of Commerce hosts its autumn business mixer at the Hotel Jalta in Prague 1. This year’s theme is “blind wine tasting,” and guests will be encouraged to sample and rate various brands of wine, with the night’s most accurate connoisseur receiving an award. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.britishchamber.cz.
TUESDAY, NOV. 20
The Economist hosts its fourth annual business roundtable with the government of the Czech Republic. Senior directors of domestic and international companies will have the chance to speak, off the record, with the country’s government, including Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and Zdeněk Tůma, head of the Czech National Bank. The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Hotel Intercontinental. For more information, visit
www.economistconferences.com.

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