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Czech Republic in the Republic of Serbia

Czech Republic in the Republic of Serbia

| Interview H. E. Mr. Tomaš Kuchta, Ambassador of the Czech in the Republic of

Czech Republic

Nataša Stojković Photo: Private archive, Freepik, Unsplash

Czechia, officially the , is a continental country in Central , whereas inthe geopolitical context, the UN lists it as a country in . The Czech Republic is bordered by to the north, to the northwest and , to the south, and to the east. It an of 78,866 km². The capital and largest city is Prague (1.2 million inhabitants), an important tourist destination. The Czech Republic consists of the following historical territories: Czechia (Bohemia), Moravia and Czech Silesia. This trinity is displayed on the national coat of arms. The Czech state was formed in the second half of the 9th century, when the first Czech duke, Borivoj I, from the Přemyslid dynasty was enthroned. In the 10th and 11th century, the country was consolidated, merged with Moravia and became a kingdom. The Czech landscape is very diverse. A river basin is situated in the west of the Czech Republic, forming a plateau shaped like a rhombus surrounded by four connected highlands: the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) in the northeastern Sudety region (where Mount Sněžka, the highest peak in the state (1,602 m), is situated), the Ore Mountains in the northwest, the Bohemian forest in the southwest and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the southeast. It is traversed by the Labe and Vltava rivers. The Charles University in Prague, founded in the 1340s (probably in 1348), was the first university in and in all Slovenian countries. Some of its students and professors were: Jan Hus, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Tesla, Albert Einstein, Ernst Mach, Tomáš Masaryk, Edvard Beneš.

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our Excellency, how do you feel short experience in the private sector, where at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, managing dent of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman vis- about being in ? Can you I worked at an Italian ski pole manufacturing the Economic Counsellors at our Embassies ited Serbia, accompanied by four ministers Ytell us about your impressions of company after my studies, I spent my whole all over the . As you can see, I am an and a large delegation of businessmen. The Serbia? professional life in diplomacy. I started off economy-oriented diplomat and I consider president of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar with the diplomatic protocol and dedicated the development of economic relations one Vučić also visited Prague, where he met the I became accustomed to my life in Belgrade myself to the negotiation process before the of the priorities of my activities in Serbia. heads of government of the Visegrád Group very quickly, as did my whole family. Consid- Czech Republic joined the EU, as the Prague countries. There has also been a positive de- ering the similarities between our languages, Sector Deputy Director, as well as the Head What is the current diplomatic and eco- velopment of the economic relations. Mutual our cultural and historical ties, the Czech mi- of the Trade Policy and Agriculture Unit of the nomic cooperation between our two trading continued to grow rapidly on the part nority and the hospitality, I dare to Permanent Representation of the Czech Re- countries like, and what was it like in the of Czech import and export, with a growth of say that we feel at home here. I see Serbia public in . I also dealt with trade and past? What should be changed in order to more than ten percent. The Czech Republic as a country with enormous future potential. economic issues in the framework of my posi- improve the cooperation? made considerable investments into the Ser- Due to its strategic position, the climate and tion as Economic Counsellor at the Embas- bian economy. The readers will certainly not be geological conditions, the level of education, sies in Rome and , and for the duration The previous year can be rated successful in surprised by the fact that the crisis caused by and, above all, the diligence of the popula- of two missions I worked in for a total of terms of the development of relations between the coronavirus impeded this positive develop- tion, this country is predestined for significant 9 years. Before I switched to the Ministry of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Serbia ment, but I hope that the dynamics of the mu- economic development in the near future. It is Defense, I held the position of the Director of in every respect. A whole series of important tual cooperation can be reestablished. The largest investment is the acquisition of by already evident that investors from all over the the Sector of Bilateral Economic Relations official visits took place, above all, the Presi- the Czech financial and investment group PPF, which world consider Serbia a promising country for What is the current situation regarding the has also absorbed the first mobile commercial bank in their investments. We highly appreciate the increasingly strong Serbian in the Czech Republic? economy, amongst whose results I would emphasize the Serbia – Telenor Bank. I would further mention How long have you held the position of growth of the , the decreasing The Czech government timely implemented 1873 (Karlovarské minerální vody), which has successfully ambassador in Serbia, and what was the relatively strict measures, due to which the completed the acquisition of the Serbian manufacturer of course of your diplomatic career before public debt (significantly below the Maastricht criteria), epidemic could be contained at an accepta- you came to Serbia? the positive budget balance, the low inflation and the fact ble level and the dramatic scenarios observed mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages Knjaz Miloš. that the Serbian is currently among the strongest in some other countries could be avoided. of healthcare and economy. At the same time, An important motive for investors is the eco- In July, it will be two years since we arrived in Currently, the Czech Republic is in the proc- the support granted to the sector of health- nomic situation of the respective country and Belgrade. Before that, I held the position of European currencies. All this attracts foreign businessmen ess of controlled removal of the introduced care by the EU and its member states ear- the possibilities of its future development. Deputy Minister of Defense for four and a half in the field of goods and exchange, as well as in the measures and return to a more or less nor- lier contributed to the fact that the Serbian Today, Serbia represents a very attractive years and I am a career diplomat. Except for a field of investments. mal life, although some of the measures will healthcare system excellently managed the country for foreign companies in this re- probably have a long-term character. With the crisis. However, the EU’s main task emerges gard, thanks to its successful development. approach of the holiday season, the issue of now when it will play an important role in the We highly appreciate the increasingly strong foreign trips is currently gaining momentum, reestablishment of the European economy. Serbian economy, amongst whose results especially concerning the countries repre- I would emphasize the growth of the gross senting the ’ favorite destinations. What will the “day after” the pandemic domestic product, the decreasing public debt look like? (significantly below the Maastricht criteria), How does the pandemic affect the Euro- the positive budget balance, the low inflation pean Union, given the former problems in I am not really the right addressee for this ques- and the fact that the is currently the Bloc? tion. A certain level of precaution will be main- among the strongest European currencies. All tained for a longer while, so we might not even this attracts foreign businessmen in the field The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly af- be aware of the end of the pandemic. This will of goods and service exchange, as well as in fected the in a negative way, greatly depend on the availability of vaccines the field of investments. as well as almost everything else in our lives. and medicines against this disease. Our task In this context, I am pleased to point out that The main product exported from the Czech Republic are the range of investment activities of Czech passenger motor vehicles, i.e. mainly Škoda vehicles. I am companies is very wide and includes the food very happy about the big share Czech automobiles are industry, construction projects, telecommu- nications, banking, healthcare, gourmet and taking on the Serbian market. , machine industry and Many expected more from Brussels, but we will be to adapt to any difficult conditions and to the film industry. Possibilities for new invest- must be aware that the member states re- find ways to fully fulfil our mission in the future. ments are also evident in other sectors. tained the majority of responsibilities in the key areas for the battle against the pandemic. When it comes to investments, how do The largest investment is the acquisition of I believe that the EU reacted in an adequate investors from the Czech Republic regard Telenor by the Czech financial and investment manner and mobilized solidarity with affected the Serbian market? How many Czech group PPF, which has also absorbed the first states according to its possibilities, both with- companies are currently operating in Ser- mobile commercial bank in Serbia – Telenor in and outside the Union. With that I’m refer- bia and what are the most important com- Bank. I would further mention Mattoni 1873 ring to Serbia receiving support in the fields panies investing in our country? (Karlovarské minerální vody), which has suc-

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The interest of Czech businessmen is also synthetic leather, coke and semi-coke, radio displayed by the exceedingly numerous rep- receivers, non-ferrous metal waste, electric resentation of the economic delegations or- devices, bars and rolled materials made of ganized by the Embassy of the Czech Repub- iron and steel, monitors, cardboard and con- lic in Belgrade last year. Among them, I would creting paper, electro-insulating detergents, especially emphasize the delegation led by industrial furnaces, polished and impregnated the Czech president Miloš Zeman in Septem- textile fabrics, liquid hydrocarbons etc. ber 2019, who was accompanied by around sixty businessmen on the Czech side. In order Imports from Serbia are largely complemen- for you to get the whole picture of the mutual tary, i.e. except for electricity, there are for interest for economic cooperation I will point example car seats, electrical appliances, flat- out the total of 190 Serbian participants who rolled products made of iron and steel, col- applied for the business forum organized in lagen hoses, copper sheets, insulated wires the framework of this state and business visit and cables, motors and generators with uni- at the highest level. directional and , domestic refrigerators and freezers, pneumatics, card- cessfully completed the acquisition of the How would you characterize the coop- The interest of Czech businessmen in board and concreting paper, pipes and hoses Serbian manufacturer of mineral water and eration with the and Serbia is also reflected in the great re- from hard plastic, cyclic hydrocarbon, poly- non-alcoholic beverages Knjaz Miloš. economic associations for the purpose of sponse to the online webinar organized by ethylene, organic detergents, aluminum and entrepreneurship development? our Embassy for Czech businessmen this aluminum alloys. Moreover, there has been a great number May, i.e. during the coronavirus epidemic, of other investment projects and the range There has been a distinct growing trend of when all borders were closed and travel Can you tell us something about the re- of Czech investments in Serbia is incredibly goods exchange during the past years, a con- was impossible. lationship between Serbia and the Czech wide. I would, for example, note the pharma- Republic in the fields of science, culture cy chain Dr. Max forming a significant part of There are outstanding representatives of various and education? the market not only in Belgrade, but also in professions in many fields who completed their education several other large cities in Serbia. As exam- The relationship between Serbia and the ples from a completely different sector, I can in the Czech Republic. The most famous are, naturally, Czech Republic is strong in all fields, which name SEBRE, a company that has acquired graduates of the Prague Film Academy, for example Emir is true for these fields as well. For decades, I believe that the EU reacted in an adequate manner and many young people from Serbia have opted a market share in Film and UDI Resort Kusturica, Goran Marković, Goran Paskaljević and others, mobilized solidarity with affected states according to its (Urban Developers Investors), which became but it is important to emphasize that such representatives to continue their education at one of the the owner of the Duga Paint and Lacquer In- Czech universities. Consequently, there are possibilities, both within and outside the Union. With that dustry. are present in all fields. outstanding representatives of various pro- I’m referring to Serbia receiving support in the fields of fessions in many fields who completed their The latest investment has been signed on the crete example of which is the almost three- What is the nature of the foreign trade education in the Czech Republic. The most healthcare and economy. first day after the termination of the state of fold increase of the total balance of goods ex- cooperation between our countries and famous are, naturally, graduates of the Prague emergency in Serbia. Namely, it is a greenfield change in 2010. The positive trend is evident which industries in Serbia have the most Film Academy, for example , cooperate directly without our assistance, the roman and gothic styles, to cubism and investment of the Czech company SPEL that in exports from the Czech Republic, and there potential? What does Serbia export to the Goran Marković, Goran Paskaljević and oth- which shows the strong connection between functionalism, including all styles in-between. is planning to build a new production plant for is an interest in the import of Serbian goods Czech Republic, and what does it import ers, but it is important to emphasize that such our two countries. Furthermore, the Czech Republic is a coun- traffic telemetry systems in the industrial zone as well. Concerning the structure, machines from the Czech Republic? representatives are present in all fields. try of music, where, aside from numerous in . and means of transport prevail. How would you present your country as a internationally renowned Czech festivals of Regarding the structure of Czech export, For years, scholarships for studying in the tourist destination? Which characteristics , festivals promoting other machines and means of transport come Czech Republic have been assigned by our and sights would you highlight? genres, for example Rock for People, are also first, constituting 51.9% of export to Serbia. Embassy. A large number of students choos- well known. Our prominent brand is the film In second place are market products with es to study in the Czech Republic without The first tourist attraction most people think festival in Karlovy Vary, which is frequently 16.7%, followed by mineral fuels with 12.1%, a scholarship as well, as the education at of when they hear about the Czech Republic visited by professionals from the Serbian film chemicals with 8.0% and industrial consumer Czech faculties is free of charge. The knowl- is Prague, followed by some of the many cul- industry. Here, like everywhere in the world, goods with 5.3%. Groceries and agricultural edge of the is, of course, a tural listed by UNESCO. However, there the Czech enjoys great popularity, which products make a total of 2.2%. must, which is no problem for Serbian stu- is much more the Czech Republic has to offer. makes the breweries another attractive place dents. Due to the similarities between our Tourists in the Czech Republic truly have so to visit. However, the wine originating in our I can further specify that the main product ex- languages, the mentality and culture, Serbian many options, starting from historic cities, to country shows equally high quality, which ported from the Czech Republic are passen- students feel at home in the Czech Republic many fortresses, castles and palaces, sacral leads to a developed wine . ger motor vehicles, i.e. mainly Škoda vehicles. and are integrated in their environments. cultural relics, to numerous and beautiful I am very happy about the big share Czech nature. It can be said that the Czech Republic In short, the Czech Republic is a country automobiles are taking on the Serbian mar- There is also continuous cooperation in the is a comprehensive tourist destination, where able to satisfy tourists of all profiles, and our ket. Other positions I would like to point out field of culture. Our Embassy endeavors to every visitor can find something according to tourism professionals are committed to are electricity, telephone devices, insulated support this cooperation as much as pos- his interests. The Czech Republic offers a full continuously widening and improving our wires and cables, products made of real and sible. However, many artists and institutions range of architectural styles, with gems from country’s offer.

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