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December 4th, 2008
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January 9th, 2008 | Current Issue

Bread winner
Penam breaks into Bohemian market with automated bakery

Cabinet discusses limiting ČEZ sale
Government in talks to trim privatization, thanks to record share prices

E-toll revenues exceed estimates
Despite success, expansion to primary roads is in doubt

10 Questions
with Jason Bitter
10 Questions

Movers & Shakers
Scania gets new director
Movers & Shakers

BRIEFS


WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9

The Nordic Chamber of Commerce hosts a seminar offering tips on the government’s tax reforms, which came into effect Jan. 1. The seminar will be held at Zlatnická 10, Prague 1, beginning at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.nordicchamber.cz.
THURSDAY, JAN. 10
The American Chamber of Commerce hosts an HR seminar featuring Petr Draxler, IBM’s leader for human resources in the Czech Republic. The seminar will focus on talent and diversity management along with cooperation between universities and the private sector. The event takes place at IBM’s offices in Brno, south Moravia. For more information, visit www.amcham.cz.
MONDAY, JAN. 14
The 15th Annual Infotherma international heating exhibition kicks off in Ostrava, east Moravia, and lasts until Jan. 17. The fair will focus on green ways to heat small and mid-size buildings while increasing energy efficiency. The event is sponsored by the Industry and Trade, Environment, Agriculture and Regional Development ministries. Last year it drew 22,000 attendees. For more information, visit www.infotherma.cz.
THURSDAY, JAN. 17
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce hosts a business breakfast with Jiří Paroubek, former prime minister and chairman of the Social Democratic Party. The breakfast will be held at the Hotel Intercontinental in Prague 1. For more information, visit www.gocanada.cz.
FRIDAY, JAN. 25
The 13th Annual Tourism Expo in Olomouc, north Moravia, begins, and lasts until Jan. 27. The expo focuses on regional tourism in the Czech Republic, bringing together travel agencies and transportation companies. For more information, visit www.flora-ol.cz.
THURSDAY, JAN. 31
The Nordic Chamber of Commerce hosts a seminar on employment changes stemming from the amendment to the Labor Code and the protection of personal records. The event is free for members. For more information, visit www.nordicchamber.cz.
Send Biz Events to business@praguepost.com

INDIA Škoda Auto will look to increase its market share in India by introducing new models, including a new version of the Fabia, at the 2008 Auto Expo in New Delhi, Hospodářské noviny (HN) reported Jan. 8. The fair will also launch a new marketing campaign in the country, with the automaker adding Octavia and Octavia Tour models to its offerings.

WAGES Hourly wages in the Czech Republic have risen 30.5 percent since 2004, from 142 to 186 Kč per hour, the Czech Statistical Office announced Jan. 7. This is the fastest growth in any of the European Union’s new member states. Slovakia edged out the Czech Republic in productivity growth, the office added.
LABOR Unions were caught unaware bythe rapid rise in inflation and may demand higher wages for the year, HN reported Jan. 7. Milan Štěch, head of ČMKOS, the country’s largest labor organization, said that given the inflation rate he would have advised unions to seek wage increases of at least 10 percent, rather than the 8 percent ČMKOS recommended late last year.
STARBUCKS The Polish firm AmRest plans to open 20 branches of the U.S. coffee chain  this year in the Czech Republic, Mladá fronta Dnes reported Jan. 5. One branch will open in Prague’s Palladium shopping center, with others planned for Chodov, Černý Most and Arkády Pankrác.
AGRICULTURE Last year was the best for agriculture in the Czech Republic since 1989, Agriculture Minister Petr Gandalovič said Jan. 4. Experts have projected 2007 profits to sit between 10 billion Kč ($562 million) and 15 billion Kč, while Gandalovič placed them at 16 billion Kč. Czech farmers received 36 billion Kč in European Union subsidies in 2007, which is expected to grow to 40 billion Kč this year.
DEFICIT The state deficit for 2007 ended at 66.4 billion Kč, 25 billion Kč less than projected in the government’s approved budget, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek said in a press conference Jan. 3. The low deficit was attributed to the country’s excellent economic performance, low unemployment and growth in wages, which reduced spending on social benefits.
RECONSTRUCTED The largest domestic construction company, Skanska CZ, is undergoing a restructuring that will see its five divisions, each focused on individual sectors, replaced by four companies owned by a holding firm, CEO Zdeněk Burda told journalists Jan. 3. The company wants to simplify its management and do away with instances in which its divisions have competed against one another.
CATERING The Italian company Alpha Overseas Holding will buy Air Czech Catering, a subsidiary of Czech Airlines (ČSA), for 682 million Kč, Právo reported Jan. 3. The deal is expected to be finalized later this month at ČSA’s general meeting.

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