Czech Business Today
EU Sanctions Against Russia
In the context of European sanctions imposed on export to Russia, the Czech State helps businesses to look for alternative markets. Czech embassies together with the Government Trade Promotion Agency CzechTrade commit for better help and the President of the State and Members of the Czech government promise to engage in more frequent business trips.
CzechTrade draw up a list of eight countries that could become alternative markets – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico. Moreover, these countries represent a gateway to other countries in the region. Entrepreneurs confirm their intention to look for alternative markets and appreciate business missions to new territories, support participation in foreign exhibitions and fairs and financial compensation from the EU. Entrepreneurs would welcome also a greater degree of openness in the process of issuing visas, which is perceived as crucial. The Czech Chamber of Commerce in accordance with the effort of the Czech government, decided to widen the portfolio of foreign business missions, namely to Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Serbia, and Azerbaijan.
The first Czech business mission ever to Iran took place in September. Czech firms in coping with the anti-Russians sanctions may even be inspired by their Polish neighbors, who export apples to Belarus, subsequently re-load them and export further like Belarus ones. In the words of Mr. Václav Štika, Director of the mechanical engineering sector, for the Czech Republic, this role of „middleman“ could be „played“ by Kazakhstan.
