Special: The Czech Market
The Czech promotional products market
Opportunities in the heart of Europe
Everything happens in fast motion in the Czech Republic. As in the other former communist countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania or the Baltic States, where an independent political development only became possible after the Soviet dominance broke down in 1989, the same developments have also happened in the Czech Republic over the last 20 years as they did in other countries in the six decades after the Second World War. This applies both politically and economically ? the latter earned the Czech Republic its reputation as a booming market for years. ?Immediately after the break down of the communism numerous manufacturing industries came to the Czech Republic, because they were attracted by the low labour costs,? recalled Armin Halfar, CEO of the promotional bag supplier, Halfar System, which has been active on the Czech market for twelve years with a sewing shop for its bag production. Together with the GDR, the Czech Republic was considered to be one of the most industrialised countries of the East Block and was thus able to integrate itself into the international economic market very quickly again after 1989 ? today the country is a member of all important international economic organisations. Czechoslovakia already had a powerful economy before the Second World War, traditionally the country is considered to be a location for the fabrication of modern industry plants as well as for the car industry. The situation in the heart of Europe is favourable, it is not far to Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia and the infrastructure has developed well since the beginning of the nineties. A 55,000 kilometre long road network is in place in the Czech Republic, 1,000 kilometres of which are to be turned into motorways on a mid-term basis. The standard of education in the Czech Republic is high: Not only Europe?s oldest University is located here, the Karl University in Prague (founded in 1348), but the country has 26 universities in total with over 100 faculties and over 1,000 courses. ?Nobody comes to the Czech Republic anymore because of low labour costs, because countries such as White Russia, Ukraine or Moldova have much lower wage levels,? explained Halfar. ?But the work forces in the Czech Republic are very well qualified, which still makes the country attractive for us. We can produce small volumes of high-quality products here.? Halfar has 50 employees in a sewing shop in a more rural area, ?far away from Prague,? he emphasised. In the Czech Republic ? similar to in France ? everything centres on the capital city, here the industrialisation status is at its highest, but also the labour and living costs. Around 20% of the 10.5 mil. Czechs live in Prague, Brno the next largest city only has 400,000 inhabitants. The economic performance pro capita income and the buying power is according the highest in Prague, the unemployment rate is the lowest there.
Opportunities in the heart of Europe
Everything happens in fast motion in the Czech Republic. As in the other former communist countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania or the Baltic States, where an independent political development only became possible after the Soviet dominance broke down in 1989, the same developments have also happened in the Czech Republic over the last 20 years as they did in other countries in the six decades after the Second World War. This applies both politically and economically ? the latter earned the Czech Republic its reputation as a booming market for years. ?Immediately after the break down of the communism numerous manufacturing industries came to the Czech Republic, because they were attracted by the low labour costs,? recalled Armin Halfar, CEO of the promotional bag supplier, Halfar System, which has been active on the Czech market for twelve years with a sewing shop for its bag production. Together with the GDR, the Czech Republic was considered to be one of the most industrialised countries of the East Block and was thus able to integrate itself into the international economic market very quickly again after 1989 ? today the country is a member of all important international economic organisations. Czechoslovakia already had a powerful economy before the Second World War, traditionally the country is considered to be a location for the fabrication of modern industry plants as well as for the car industry. The situation in the heart of Europe is favourable, it is not far to Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia and the infrastructure has developed well since the beginning of the nineties. A 55,000 kilometre long road network is in place in the Czech Republic, 1,000 kilometres of which are to be turned into motorways on a mid-term basis. The standard of education in the Czech Republic is high: Not only Europe?s oldest University is located here, the Karl University in Prague (founded in 1348), but the country has 26 universities in total with over 100 faculties and over 1,000 courses. ?Nobody comes to the Czech Republic anymore because of low labour costs, because countries such as White Russia, Ukraine or Moldova have much lower wage levels,? explained Halfar. ?But the work forces in the Czech Republic are very well qualified, which still makes the country attractive for us. We can produce small volumes of high-quality products here.? Halfar has 50 employees in a sewing shop in a more rural area, ?far away from Prague,? he emphasised. In the Czech Republic ? similar to in France ? everything centres on the capital city, here the industrialisation status is at its highest, but also the labour and living costs. Around 20% of the 10.5 mil. Czechs live in Prague, Brno the next largest city only has 400,000 inhabitants. The economic performance pro capita income and the buying power is according the highest in Prague, the unemployment rate is the lowest there.
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