According to recently published Eurostat data, Czech dependency on fossil fuel imports has risen to 46% since 1990. In 20 years, the Czech Republic will need around 2,000 MW in installed power capacity in order to replace its ageing lignite-fired power plants and the decommissioned nuclear blocks in Dukovany. Now is the time to agree on specific actions that will significantly impact households’ and industry’s energy bills, Grayling says.

Economic growth in the Czech Republic remains robust, despite a slowdown in 2016. Pension and healthcare expenditure poses a risk to the long-term sustainability of public finances and public procurement indicators reveal significant inefficiencies and challenges. Overall, the Czech Republic has made some progress in addressing the 2016 country-specific recommendations, European Semester report says. 

Due to the lack of workforce, more and more businesses will aim at decreasing their dependence on human labor. In 2016, it was priority for 49% of general managers who took part in the survey; in 2017, it is 91% of respondents, recently published PwC survey shows. Investors will make their decisions whether to maintain or close down a plant based on the size of the market and size of the pool of skilled people "culturally ready for the digital era", says Pavel Kysilka, former CEO of Ceska sporitelna.

The business services sector in the Czech Republic is expanding and growing even faster than we forecast last year. In 2016 the sector has added 16% of new jobs and the average projected employment growth for next year is the same level, a report by the Association of Business Service Leaders in the Czech Republic (ABSL) prepared in cooperation with CzechInvest, Deloitte, Grafton Recruitment and Jones Lang LaSalle says.