1. Presentation by: Milos Kucera, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of the Czech Republic in Greece BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES OF TRADE COOPERATION BETWEEN THESSALONIKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND THE VISEGRAD GROUP COUNTRIES Thessaloniki, 14 th November 2012

2. WELCOME IN THE HEART OF EUROPE… ◄ UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE (12 SITES) ◄ NATURE, SPAS ◄ CULTURE & ARTS, CLASSICAL MUSIC WELCOME IN THE HEART OF EUROPE… ◄ UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE (12 SITES) ◄ NATURE, SPAS ◄ CULTURE & ARTS, CLASSICAL MUSIC

3. … WHICH OFFERS YOU WORLD-FAMOUS PRODUCTS ▪ AUTOMOBILES, VEHICLES, MACHINERY ▪ ENGINEERING ▪ HITECH ▪ ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES ▪ BEER ▪ GLASS, PORCELAIN ▪ TEXTILE, SHOES http://www.czechtourism.com/ http://www.czech.cz

4. SUCCESS OF CZECH BRANDS AND IDEAS You probably know well … All of these were born in this country: - soft contact lenses - polarography - electron microscopes - passive radars - the latest effective HIV/AIDS drugs - industrial manufacture of nanofibres

5. WORLDWIDE QUALITY OF LIFE – HIGH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (Human Development Index, 2011) Criteria: location, longevity, education, living standard, living conditions for children 1. NORWAY 2. AUSTRALIA 3. NETHERLANDS 4. USA … 19. AUSTRIA 20. FRANCE 21. SLOVENIA 22. FINLAND 23. SPAIN … 26. SINGAPORE 27. CZECH REPUBLIC

6. RATING of the Czech Republic (February 2012) AA- ( an increase from „A“ in August 2011 ) and A1 Source: www.fxstreet.cz

7. 2011 1-6/2012 Population 10,5 mil. 10,5 mil. Unemployment 6,7 % 8,4 % GDP growth 1,9 % - 0,1 % Average inflation rate 1,9 % 3,2 % Public debt % GDP 39,0 % Budget deficit % GDP- 3,7 % Official currencyCzech crown (CZK) Exchange rate1 EUR ≈ 25,20 CZK Average monthly wage CZK25.640 24.620/Q1 EUR 1.017 970 CZECH REPUBLIC: BASIC MACROECONOMIC DATA Sources: Czech Statistical Office 2012; Czech National Bank; www.verejnydluh.cz

8. THE CZECH REPUBLIC OFFERS A UNIQUE LOCATION IN THE CENTER OF EUROPE ╌ Very good access to both emerging Eastern and established Western markets ╌ Less than three hours by direct flight from Athens ╌ Advanced infrastructure – dense motorway and railways network Source: CzechInvest, 2011

9. TOP 10 Investors Mediated by CzechInvest Company Country of Origin Total investment (in mil. USD) Hyundai Motor CompanySouth Korea1 222 Toyota/PCAJapan/France850 VOLKSWAGENGermany800 Mondi Packaging Paper Štětí a.s.Netherlands394 NemakMexico317 DensoJapan255 Robert BoschGermany237 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.Japan235 DHLGreat Britain190 Siemens VDO AutomotiveGermany179 Source: CzechInvest, 2011

10. The Czech Republic and Greece = business partners ◄ long business tradition ◄ share of Greece in the total Czech foreign trade 0,19% (44 th largest trade partner in 2011) ◄ 1-7/2012 the share fell to 0,15% (51th position) ◄ total turnover = cca 420 million EUR (2011) ◄ Greek export to the Czech Republic +29%(2010), +5% (2011)

11. TRADE EXCHANGE 2011 passenger cars parts and accessories of motor vehicles TV accessories - telecommunication equipment paper and paperboard rubber tyres total 286 million EUR (+2,6 %) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► ◄▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ total 138 million EUR (+5,0 %) aluminium - copper fruit and nuts - vegetables – preserved fruit medicaments alcoholic beverages

12. TRADE EXCHANGE 1-9/2012 total 135 million EUR (-28,2 %) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► ◄▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ total 91 million EUR (-1,1 %)

13. Business trend 1993 - 2011 BusBus Export Import Turnover Balance Source: Czech Statistical Office, 2012

14. HOW TO COOPERATE WITH THE CZECH REPUBLIC ◄Doing Business in the Czech Republic www.doingbusiness.cz ◄Czech Trade www.czechtrade.cz ◄Czech Invest www.czechinvest.cz Trade Register www.justice.cz Embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens www.mzv.cz/athens Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Prague www.mfa.gr/prague

15. Embassy of the Czech Republic in Greece Mission of our Commercial and Economic Section: ◄the main task = promotion of Czech products and services in the Greek market ◄introduction of the Czech Republic to Greek partners ◄information about Czech sales offers and services ◄assistance in finding appropriate business connections ◄promotion of Czech companies and products in Greek international trade exhibitions All our services are free of charge

16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Embassy of the Czech Republic in Greece Commercial and Economic Section Mr. Milos Kucera, Head of the Section Mrs. Jitka Gadzuras, Officer 6, Georgiou Seferi Str., Palaio Psychico 154 52 Athens tel: 210 67 299 26 fax: 210 67 106 75 email: commerce_athens@mzv.czcommerce_athens@mzv.cz http: www.mzv.cz/athenswww.mzv.cz/athens