News

Spotlight issue

8th September 2020 / Competitiveness / Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism


PCB: Threat of Eventless Future for Czech Republic

Tourism economy was heavily hit by COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, paralysing the development of meeting, event and trade fair industries in the Czech Republic. According to the latest Economic Impact study conducted for the CzechTourism agency and the Czech Event Association in summer 2020, a total drop by more than 71% in consumption associated with holding events can be expected, according to the Prague Convention Bureau (PCB).

7th September 2020 / Economic policy / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


Industry and foreign trade pleased with their results

Industrial production and foreign trade continued to recover rapidly in July. Compared with last year, industrial production was still lower, but it is wiping out its losses faster than expected. The situation in the automotive industry has improved significantly, when production there fell just 0.7% yoy. The surplus in the balance of motor vehicles was even CZK 6.1 billion higher yoy. Among the published data, the construction was an outsider, falling more than 10% yoy.

4th September 2020 / Competitiveness / Education


Practice mathematics playfully with a unique Czech application

Mathematics doesn't have to be scary. One way to make it more enjoyable for teenagers is the Mathman application. In a game designed by Jan Maloušek, a student of Brno University of Technology, the players have to help a superhero defeat monsters - by solving several tasks. With his application, Maloušek caught the jury's of the T-Mobile Rozjezdy competition attention and won one of this year's awards in the regional round in the South Moravian Region. The T-Mobile Rozjezdy competition helps start-up entrepreneurs.

4th September 2020 / Good governance / Legal Reform and Transparency


Compensation for unrealised service paid upon early contract termination subject to VAT?

The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) held that the amount paid by customers upon early terminations of contracts should be considered part of the price for services and thus subject to VAT. The CJEU based its judgment primarily on the recent Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia SA (C-295/17 MEO) case.

3rd September 2020 / Competitiveness / Tax & Finance


We are such a concierge in the world of insurance, says the Global Services Director of the largest insurance broker in the Czech Republic

From the Brno branch to the head of the team that takes care of the insurance of multinational clients around the world in less than seven years. Michal Holzer, the Global Services Director at RENOMIA, is a good example of the fact that if you have the talent and can succeed, your possibilities in this company are virtually limitless. Michal is a person who believes in the power of self-reflection, does not like routine procedures if they are no longer functional, is open to new things and is looking to work with people who want to develop further. He is not afraid to say that insurance is a sexy industry that will get you closer to almost every human field.

Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy

  1. Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
  2. The City Campus as Idea Factory
  3. Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
  4. Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization

Advocacy Priorities for 2023 
 
Technology, People, Infrastructure

 

Actions Recommended in Areas:

1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.

2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).

3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.

4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.

5. Immigration of STEM Talents.

6. Digitization of Immigration. 

7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.

8. Digitization of Land Use.

9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.

 

 

Read the documents in English and Czech.

Policy pipeline

In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic