Prague 22nd January (CTK) – Based on preliminary results, the Czech National Export Bank (CEB) during the last year, provided Czech exporters, investors and their foreign business partners with loans and guarantees in the amount of 20.5 billion crowns, meaning 500 million crowns more than for the year 2007, according to information provided to CTK today by the CEB spokesman, Jan Stolár.

14th January 2009 (Právo) CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THE CIS, VÁCLAV PETŘÍČEK:

27th December 2008 (Mladá fronta DNES) – An Interview with the Minister of Finance, Miroslav Kalousek, about how the crisis will affect us and how things will look next year

Financninoviny.cz - Prague, 21st December (CTK) – The Czech energy group, Energo-Pro, which is the largest foreign investor in Georgia and ranks in first place in the local energy industry is buying another Georgian company. Through their Georgia branch of Energo-Pro, on Friday they acquired 100 percent of the assets of the Ortachala Hydro-electric power Plant. This acquisition will come in at 25 million dollars (roughly 475 million crowns). The total investment of the group in Georgia thereby already exceeds 400 million dollars. Today’s information comes from the server Motejlek.com.

18th December 2008 (Exportér) - In countries with a high level of state control of the economy it is advantageous to utilise financing by the Czech state-owned bank. 

11th December 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) - The government wishes to grant significant support to the export activities of domestic enterprises; this support should be larger, better and, especially, cheaper for the companies; Czech exports to the West decline rapidly. Minister of Industry and Trade, Martin Říman, should, in company with the Minister of Finance, Miroslav Kalousek, present today to the government a plan for how to help exporters in their travels to the new markets in the East. It is exactly there, unlike in the West, that, according to the analysts, the economies will continue to grow, even in times of crisis. The affordable and favourable loan conditions provided by the Czech Export Bank (CEB) should help, in addition to more advantageous and superior guarantees and insurance from the Export Guarantee and Insurance Company (EGAP).

Prague 10th December (CTK) – The Czech foreign trade surplus this year will be lower than was originally expected, and should be in the range of 70 to 90 billion crowns. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Martin Tlapa stated this today said to the news media. Foreign trade ended in October with a deficit of close to four billion crowns, which represents a year-on-year deterioration of 12.1 billion crowns and, at the same time, the largest negative annual change since the year 1994. These figures, according to analysts, brought the first clear indication that the economic crisis has already reached the Czech Republic.

27th November 2008 (Právo) – Wednesday’s comment by Mr. Hekrdla (editor) “Yes, they can” is full of major inaccuracies that need to be corrected. First, concerning the estimates of GDP growth. Minister of Finance Kalousek, perhaps a thousand times, has already stated that the revision of GDP growth rates will take place at the beginning of 2009, and that the parameters of the state budget will be re-assessed on this basis. In today's turbulent times, when estimates are altered so frequently, we would have to otherwise amend the proposals for the state budget almost every week. 

26th November 2008 HANOI, PRAGUE (iHNed.cz) - The coal-fired power plant with a performance of 2x500 MW (in the future up to 6x500 MW) will be developed in the Tra Vinh area in the Mekong Delta. A consortium of Czech and Slovak companies, under the leadership of the Škoda Praha Company, a member of ČEZ Group, will build a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam. The project has the full support of the Vietnamese political authorities. The company has given information about it to the iHNed.cz server. The investor is a Vietnamese state-owned energy company Vietnam Electricity. They reaffirmed their intention to carry out the project with a consortium of companies led by Škoda Praha. 

21st November 2008 (Parlamentní listy) - The probe into export policy; We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow, said British Foreign Minister Henry Palmerston (1784 - 1866). The past weeks have shown that those words still apply. 

19th November 2008 (businessinfo.cz) – This document provides information about the official visit of the Minister of Industry and Trade, Martin Říman, to Vietnam and India, accompanied by a large group of businessmen, which took place between 10th - 17th November, 2008. The mission was organised by the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. 

13th November 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) – The construction company PSJ will obtain the eight-billion contract; The loan for the construction will be provided to the Vietnamese side by Czech banks; Czech builders will start on the construction of a highway in Vietnam. PSJ, a Jihlava construction company, on Tuesday received the promise of a contract from the Vietnamese for the construction of a section of highway between the Vietnamese metropolis, Hanoi, and the port city Hai Phong. The value of the contract is estimated at 400 million dollars, which means cca eight billion crowns. 

12. listopad 2008 (aktualne.cz) Looming recession cuts demand for Czech goods in the west; Prague - The Czech government wants to help companies to increase exports to countries including Vietnam, China and Russia, which are not hit by the global crisis as much as western markets.

11th November 2008 (aktualne.cz) - The Ministry of Finance plans to increase the capital of the export bank – Prague – The State wishes to assist companies in order that they will be able, in larger numbers, to reach markets such as Vietnam, China and Russia, which are not so severely affected by the global crises. The Ministry of Finance therefore is considering increasing the equity capital of the Czech Export Bank (CEB). Deputy Minister of Finance, Ivan Fuksa, confirmed this to Daily Aktuálně.cz: 

Prague 10th November (ČTK) - The Czech Republic has so far fared well through the financial crisis and the situation does not require drastic or emergency measures. This was stated by Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek after today’s meeting with domestic bankers. According to him domestic banks have significant liquidity and sufficient capital to cover risks.

6th November 2008 (Ekonom) It is unpleasant that the world's problems appeared at a time when the Czech economy had reached its production capabilities and the government was forced to make the necessary reforms. This leads to a temporary slowdown in GDP growth. In how much better a situation we would be today if the previous governments had carried out reforms in the period of long-term global growth. In this manner we now have to consolidate public budgets at a time when control of demand is not the smartest policy. 

31st October 2008 (Lobby) - Only those companies, which are able to regulate their costs within a short period and which are able to offer innovative products, and thus retain their markets, will survive. This is the essential message to Czech business, which was delivered at the meeting of managers of Czech companies with the President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Míl, which took place within the framework of the Breakfast with a Celebrity, a traditional event of Lobby magazine and the Club of exporters PP Agency. The topic of discussion this morning defined the current situation: Czech industry and the global financial crisis.

29th October 2008 (ekonomika.iDNES.cz) – The Confederation of Industry urged the government to respond swiftly and effectively to the current financial crisis. The cabinet, according to the organisation of the domestic industrial and transport companies, should determine the date for the fastest possible adoption of the euro, reject the energy-climate package and give more significant assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises. 

22nd October 2008 (Obchodní týdeník) – the state established the Czech Export Bank in the year 1995 as a part of the export-support system, by which it achieved the status common in the other developed economies of the OECD countries. 

20th October 2008 (Profit) - Czech export companies can look forward to more state support. Especially those whose target is in countries outside the European Union. According to the latest plan of the Ministry of Industry and Trade there are tens billion of crowns in the game.

15th October 2008 (Právo) – It will be allowed by a legislative amendment, which Minister Říman currently prepares; Favourable interest rates should be to Czech exporters provided also by commercial banks. Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Říman (ODS) is poised to enforce it in the context of export measures. If the government and parliament support it, the State would to these banks balanced the difference against usual rates. 

15th October 2008 (E15) - The Minister announced steps to encourage Czech exports mainly to countries outside the EU

14th October 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) – Czech companies which want to increase exports or invest abroad, should be more open to eastern markets. Their expansion to the east can be facilitated by the help of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Czech Export Bank (CEB) and the state-owned insurance company EGAP, which for this purpose have jointly prepared a special support programme. 

Luxembourg, Oct 10 (CTK) - The Czech Industry and Trade Ministry wants to provide even bigger support to Czech exporters to countries outside the EU, minister Martin Riman said at a meeting of European energy ministers in Luxembourg today.

12th October 2008 (ČT 24 13:05 Otázky Václava Moravce) - a record of part of the debate

Luxembourg, 10th October (reporters of ČTK) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade wants to support more Czech exports outside the European Union. Export companies should get better access to the state supported lending. Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Říman stated this today to ČTK in Luxembourg, after a meeting of European Ministers of the Energy Industry, and that his office will present the details at Tuesday’s press conference.

18th September 2008 (Právo) - Export of machinery and equipment to the eastern countries will be supported by new insurance and banking products; Ambitious plans for the development of the Russian Federation (RF) offers to Czech companies new opportunities for the export of machinery, equipment and services, at a time when demand in the countries of Western Europe is declining and economic growth in Germany is slowing down. Exports to Eastern markets should be supported by new insurance and banking products, which will contribute to greater security for exporters.

15th September 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) - An integral part of state aid for exports is the possibility of direct financing. For this purpose, in 1995, the state established the Czech Export Bank, and thereby complemented the existing export insurance and institutional and information support to exporters with a third branch and achieved the status customary in the other developed economies of the OECD countries.

15th September 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) - Based on the requirements of a shareholder the Czech Export Bank (CEB) has updated its strategy to meet the current needs of its existing and future clients in accordance with the medium term prospects for the Czech economy. Regarding the details we asked the General Director Lubomír Pokorný.

15th September 2008 (Právo; Firma - Supplement) – How to successfully - and mainly securely - finance exports? How to ensure that the foreign partner will actually pay, or what to do when the contract is promising, but the partners currently do not have enough money? 

15th September 2008 (Právo) – DEPUTY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE, MARTIN TLAPA, FOR THE FIRMA (supplement to the daily Právo):

stated Ing. Lubomir Pokorny, MBA, the General Director of the CEB; 15th September 2008 (Prosperita) - Export financing is the category, concerning which there was a lot of talk between companies during the past decade. Discussions become appreciations, because in this field there were and are a lot of changes. Specific products, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, become more accessible, more understandable. After all entrepreneurs are still not completely satisfied – the Czech Export Bank knows it and wants to deal with it. The fact that its current moves towards the smaller exporters were clearly successful, was suggested in an interview for our magazine by Ing. Lubomir Pokorny, MBA, General Director of the Czech Export Bank:

11th September 2008 (Exportér) – How easy business is! Find or create a gap in the market, invent something with which to fill it, creatively offer your idea and produce it, sell it, collect your cash and enjoy it. And bankers? They have it even easier. Without having to go through the whole cycle, they focus only on the last two phases. And then you wake up to reality…and it is a workday morning. It is not even possible to think of it as a workday morning, because for you every day is a working day. 

Prague, 11th September 2008 (ČTK) - The new General Director of the Czech Export Bank (CEB) from Friday will be the current Vice-Chairman of the Board, Lubomír Pokorný (46). This decision was reached today by the Board of the CEB. Pokorný will take over from the long-serving director of CEB, Josef Tauber (61), who today resigned from this function in the CEB. ČTK was in informed of this by the ČEB press agent, Jan Stolár. Pokorný joined the CEB in June of this year and has held the position of Vice-Chairman of the Board and Deputy of the General Director of the bank.

3rd September 2008 (businessinfo.cz) – The press release of the Czech Export Bank (CEB) informed about their participation in this year’s International Engineering Fair (IEF) in Brno, which will take place on 15th - 19th September 2008. Attendance at the fair will allow the bank to contact its current customer base, to actively present the services of the State Bank to Czech companies and to offer an opportunity for consultancy.

20th August 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) – The Czech footprint in Russia makes steps from bottling-jars to medical infusions and insulin, custom-designed breweries and electrical plants, al the way to silver and iron ore mines. Our domestic entrepreneurs successfully fight for business in the get-rich-quick Great Eastern Power; however only few of them dare risk doing business directly inside Russia.

19th August 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) – OECD experts will decide about a possible increase in insurance rates for export companies, most probably in September; Exports to Russia are thriving; Current armed conflict between Russia and Georgia will not be for Czech companies involved in local areas will not entail an increase of costs in relation to risk. This identical declaration is made by representatives of Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) and the Czech Export Bank – two national institutions which define conditions for Czech exporters and investors abroad. “During assessment of credit risks we always take into account local risks in terms of the territory of investment. However we do not plan undertaking any special measures in regard to Georgia. Not all countries where Czechs export or where they invest are stable democracies,” says Jan Stolár, Communications Director of the Czech Export Bank.

4th August 2008 (Euro) - Baku wants to invest income from crude oil and gas abroad; Imagine that during a four-year period the gross domestic product of the Czech Republic were to almost double. Does that seem impossible to you? In the Czech basin maybe, but on the coast of Caspian sea, under the bed of which are hidden reserves of crude oil and gas, this has been a reality. Azerbaijan in the last few years, thanks to revenues from the sale of primary commodities, holds the position of the fastest growing world economy – in just the last year the pace of growth of GDP was almost 24 percent. This year, according to the estimates of the International Monetary Fund, a reduction to about 19 percent growth should occur and four years later the economy should even start to decrease. However the spokesman for the domestic Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the country is still looking forward to its peak. “We will have the largest income from crude oil in three or four years time,” he believes. However, the country even now is saving money towards the time when the oil boom subsides. 

31st July 2008 (Ekonom) - Alta signed an agreement about the largest investment project of a Czech company in Russia. Further businesses will follow. Czech exports to Russia will receive a big injection in the upcoming years. The Czech company Alta Brno and the Russian joint stock company Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine (MMC) have signed a memorandum about co-operation on establishing a mammoth iron ore operation.

31^st July 2008 (Ekonom) – Georgia and Azerbaijan are transforming their economies. They are attracting investors, including Czech ones. Tamara is twenty-four; she graduated in sociology but now works at the Czech company Energo-Pro and is highly satisfied. “The work is interesting and has perspective. I would not change it,” she says in Russian. With a driver, who courageously weaves between trucks, she speaks in the Georgian language, her mother tongue. Before we left Tbilisi in an eastern direction, to the dam, she also offered us to communicate in English. “No, I cannot speak Czech yet, but I believe I will learn it soon,” she laughs. She will do well. The Czech companies have started to explore the region of Southern Caucasus.

17th July 2008 (www.i-ru.cz) - In Jekaterinburg, on the 11th July 2008, some contracts and credit contracts for the financing of exports in the amount of cca 38 million euros were signed. The participants – the Uralvagonzavod and the ALTA a.s. companies and the Czech Export Bank - agreed about supplies of technological equipment for a paint plant and special machinery technological equipment for the precision machining of large products. The credit contracts are intended for the financing of technological equipment for a programme of complete rehabilitation of a plant for the production of axes for wagon gears by the Uralvagonzavod company. 

16th July 2008 (E15) – Signing of a memorandum with the Russian company Magnitogorsk Metallurgic Combine, about the establishment of the Prioskolsk Iron Ore Mining Combine, catapults Brno’s company Alta to the top tier amongst suppliers of complete industrial plants. The value of this largest project which any Czech industrial company has ever undertaken in Russia, can reach up to three billion. “There is and will be money in Russia. Some of it Russians will invest abroad, but a substantial portion will stay at home,” states the head of the Board of Directors and majority shareholder of Alta, Vladimír Plašil.

10th July 2008 (Hospodářské noviny) – Supply for Russian mines has a value of three billion euros. It will be signed on Tuesday; Three billion euros, i.e. cca 70 billion crowns, is the sum that the Russian Iron industry colossus Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works will pay for mining technologies to the domestic export company Alta. In the last ten years this is the most expensive project of its kind in Europe.

3th July 2008 (tyden.cz) Miroslava Hrnčířová (61) becomes the head of the Moscow branch of the state-run Czech Export Bank. At the end of May this year she resigned from the post of deputy of the General Director of the Czech Export Bank. 

4th July 2008 (E15) - Prague, The Czech Export Bank on Thursday concluded an agreement with the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) about co-operation in insuring pre-export loans and bank guarantees for small and medium-size companies. The agreement should accelerate the access of these companies to state subventions, explained a spokesman of the Czech export Bank Jan Stolár. 

19th June 2008 (Exportér) – Czech companies manage to assert themselves even in Asian markets. South-eastern Asia with its economic and demographic potential represents an increasingly significant region on the world economic map. For somebody who may be oblivious to the explosive developments on the Indian subcontinent, in China or in Japan, however, there are arising dynamic economies with a high potential for home market, export and international co-operation. Even though the statistics speak of Czech exports to these countries decreasing, there are a number of companies which do not hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity.

16th June 2008 (E15) – A Proposal, with the point of view that commercial banks could also finance exports, is already at the table of the Conference of Economics Ministers. Export loans with state subventions, as a part of the support of exports, will cease to be a dominant feature of the Czech Export Bank (CEB). Paradoxically, in this manner, its significance in the Czech market could increase. The Ministries of Finances and Trade suggest that these loans could be on the same terms also provided by commercial banks. However the whole process needs to be administrated by somebody. And the CNB could undertake this very role. 

10th June 2008 (Technický týdeník) – The joint stock company Farmet, from Česká Skalice in the Náchod region, an important producer of agricultural machines and technologies for the processing of oil seeds, recorded a total turnover of more than 580 million crowns in the year 2007, in comparison with 326 million crowns of revenue two years ago. This represents an inter-annual increase of, more than 78 percent announced the Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of the company Ing. Karel Žďárský. According to him behind the achievement of such rapid growth is last year’s boom in technological supplies, mainly abroad. “Just for fittings for pressing shops we reimbursed 335 million crowns, from which over 90 percent of technological units consisted of supplies abroad. We supplied high-capacity pressing shops for the processing of rape or sunflower seeds last year for example to Austria, Hungary, Spain and Slovakia,” says Ing. Žďárský, mentioning that Farmet expects future growth in the area of technological facilities, though they do not expect such high growth as last year. They anticipate significant inter-annual growth also in the segment of agricultural machines for soil cultivation and seeding. 

3.6.2008 (www.finexpert) - The Board of Directors of the Czech Export Bank have met today for the first time in its new composition. They accepted the resignation of Ing. Miloslav Kubišta from the position of vice-Chairman of the board of Directors and expressed acknowledgement of his previous activities in this function. The Board of Directors elected to the office of vice-Chairman Ing. Lubomír Pokorný, MBA. As of the date of commencement of performance of functions by the members of the Board of Directors, work contracts for the execution of the function of deputy to the General Director of the bank were concluded with Ing. Pokorný and Ing. Goldmann. 

2. červen 2008 (Czech business weekly) - Banking & Finance - Czech exports to so-called risky countri s are constantly increasing as Czech companies are discovering new opportunities in those markets. However, it requires a lot of experience and skills to be able to lower the risk to a reasonable level. Czech commercial banks claim that state support for such exports has too high an administrative burden, and, due to this, the banks are coming up with a new proposal.

Prague 28th May (ČTK) – The new members of the Board of Directors of the Czech Export Bank (CEB) from June will be Lubomír Pokorný (46) and Petr Goldmann (47), who have replaced in their functions Miroslava Hrnčířová (62) and Ladislav Dvořák (65), whose resignations were acknowledged today by the Supervisory Board of the CEB. State-owned CEB brokers the state support for exports by providing and financing of export loans and additional services connected with exports. 

Prague, 2008 April 28 (CTK) - The state-run Czech Export Bank (CEB) raised profit by Kc10.5m year-on-year to Kc109.7m in 2007.

29th April 2008 (FinExpert.cz) – A General Meeting of the Czech Export Bank, a.s. concluded today with approval of a basic material assessment of banking activities in the year 2007 and, at the same time, it approved additional important documents. The General Meeting accepted the report about the activities of the Czech Export Bank, a.s. for the year 2007, as part of which was also presented the Report of the Board of Directors on Business Activities and concerning the status of its assets and approved regular final accounts for the year 2007 and the proposal for distribution of income from the year 2007. It approved the legitimacy of the activities of the Board of Directors and the management of the company during the fulfilment of the conception of the CR government’s pro-export policy. 

21st March 2008 (ČRo - Rádio Česko 14:08) – An interview at up-to-date topic:

Martin KŘÍŽEK, moderator - Mirek Topolánek, Czech Prime Minister starts his official visit to Vietnam today. ….

……so much commented by Jaromír Drábek, President of the Economic Chamber. It was Karolína Dubová, my colleague who talked with him. Now, the Rádio Česko will focus to economic issues connected with Vietnam. The Czech Export Bank will grant together with BIDV Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam loans amounting to USD 956 millions, thus something over CZK 15 bil. for projects of infrastructure development and beer production in Vietnam. Now we are in connection with Jan Stolár, spokesman of the Czech Export Bank. Good morning.

20th March 2008 (Exportér) – The Czech Export Bank establishes its Representative Office in Russia for support of Czech exporters.

20th March 2008 (Železničář) – At the beginning of March 2006 the modernization of the railway line Podgorica-Nikčič in Montenegro was started. The single-track line connects in the length of 56 km these two biggest cities of a newly established state of Montenegro.

20th March 2008 - (Exportér) I am glad that this issue of Exportér has been dedicated to the countries of the north Africa and the Republic of South Africa. Seemingly, it may be a unlogical connection for somebody. On one part, the Arab countries, which for the Czech industry represent traditional markets and in our foreign trade have their fixed place. On the other side of the continent, the Republic of South Africa, which by its economic potential stands out above the countries in the region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Till 1990 for our firms practically a great and rather unknown country, is the greatest business partner in Africa at present.

5th March 2008 (E15) Czech companies now have a chance to join one of the greatest projects for development of nuclear energy in the world. Till 2020, Russia has intention to put into operation 26 new blocks of nuclear power stations in the country, and at least further 12 blocks according to the Russian pattern should be erected in other countries. “Companies like Škoda JS or Arako firm from Opava may be at the source and receive important contracts,” said Kiril Komarov, Deputy Director of the state-owned holding Atomenergoprom for E15 daily newspaper. The most important Russian companies from the secotr of nuclear energy have joined to form one holding.

Praha 28th February 2008 (ČTK) - Ivan Fuksa (ODS), First Deputy of Minister of Finance became new chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Czech Export Bank (ČEB) and chief of the Supervisory Board of the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP). This was released by Ekonom, the weekly paper on its internet sites with reference to Martin Tlapa, Deputy of Minister of Industry and Trade and newly elected Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ČEB.

28th February 2008 (Exportér) Czech exporters and investors succeeded – under the governmental support – to penetrate into the remote regions.

22nd February 2008 (International politics) – Since the cold war, in connection with development of globalisation and multinational corporations, in international relations next to political and military power also the economic power becomes more and more important.

14th February 2008 (E15) Praha – the Czech Export Bank (ČEB) will open its Representative Office in Moscow. State-owned bank, whose mission is to support financing of Czech exporters and investors abroad, has obtained a permission from the Russian Central Bank. Miroslava Hrnčířová, ČEB’ Deputy General Director confirmed it yesterday for the daily newspaper E15. Though it is not directly same as granting a banking licence, obtaining of such a permission in Russia is relatively difficult.

31st January 2008 (Kapitál) – The volume of new commitments for financing of business and other activities of Czech exporters and investors and their foreign partners in the form of credits, guarantees and other products of the Czech Export Bank, as of the end of November 2007, reached the amount over CZK 18 bil., a volume which gives an assumption for a total annual value being similar to the level of the year of 2006 (CZK 19,9 bil.). The bank results are considerably affected by the factt that the Czech Crown figures do not reflect the real dynamics of the bank’s commercial activity, which in practice is being realised exclusively in EUR and USD. At calculation using the rate of exchange of the end of 2006, the results for 11 months of 2007 would be by 35 % above the level of the all-year result of 2006. The most interesting transactions of 2007 are represented by the export credit to finance ALTA company’s deliveries for the Russian URALVAGONZAVOD totally amounting to CZK 5,7 bil., credit agreement for delivery of cement factory at Phu Son in Vietnam by Inekon company amounting to CZK 2,6 bil., Škodaexport as a general contractor of power station Muridke in Pakistan, total volume of which contract amounts to CZK 2,0 bil.. Among contracts signed in 2006, for example the investment in Georgia of Energo Pro company just entered into the realisation phase.

14. 1. 2008 (Czech business weekly) - The Czech Export Bank (ČEB) provided Czech exporters, investors and their foreign business partners with loans and guarantees for over Kč 20 billion last year, according to preliminary data, compared to Kč 19.9 billion a year earlier. Export loans and repurchase of export claims reached Kč 13 billion last year. Of this, almost Kč 11.9 billion were export loans to foreign business partners of Czech companies, provided either directly or through their banks. Over 50 percent of all the newly signed contracts are for financing exports to Russia. State owned ČEB mediates state support to exports by providing and financing export loans and other services related to exports.

Prague, 2008 Jan 7 (CTK) - Czech Export Bank (CEB) provided Czech exporters, investors and their foreign business partners with loans and guarantees for over Kc20bn last year, according to preliminary data, compared with Kc19.9bn a year earlier, CEB spokesman Jan Stolar told CTK today.

December, 20 2007 (Exportér) – Majority of investors are interested in Turkey - a country struggling to become an EU member and a natural bridge between continents – only as a country with large business opportunities the effective usage of which has not yet been sufficiently started. The share of Turkey on the Czech export reflects this with its decreasing trend and in 2006 it represented only 0.57 %. In this manner, Turkey achieved the twentieth place among the destinations of the Czech exporters.

December, 17 2007 (Hospodářské noviny) – Minister of Industry and Trade Mr. Martin Říman together with the representatives of Czech companies visited South-East Asia in the second decade of November.

Prague, 2007 Dec 12 (CTK) - The Czech Export Bank (CEB) said today it provided loans and guarantees worth more than Kc18bn in eleven months of this year.

Yekatyerinburg/Moscow, December, 6 (ČTK reporter) – the Czech company Alta that has been significantly active on the Russian market for a long time made contracts in Yekatyerinburg for more than 40 million EUR (more than one billion of crowns). According to the head of the Czech Senate Přemysl Sobotka who was present at the time of their execution it is a proof of ability of the Czech businessmen to establish themselves on such a complex market as the Russian market.

December, 6 2007 (Technik) – The Czech company Energo-Pro, a major distributor of electricity in Georgia, intends to invest 417 mil. USD (almost 8.3 billion CZK) in Georgian power engineering in five years. The company wants to invest 100 mil. USD in improvement of Georgian distribution system. 85 mil. USD will be used for renovation of power stations and a new water power station will be constructed for 120 mil. USD. Last summer the company won privatization tenders in Georgia for six water power stations and two regional distribution companies. Total costs of acquisition of the assets amounted to 427 mil. USD. The state-controlled Czech Export Bank participates in financing of the project.

Prague, 2007 Nov 29 (CTK) - State-run power producer CEZ has won the Czech 100 Best contest for a third straight year, company Comenius, the contest's organiser, told CTK today.

November 19, 2007 (Lobby) – Complex delivery of fusion furnaces for glass industry mainly abroad, annual revenue amounting to hundreds of million of CZK prove that Teplotechna Prima is able to stand its ground on world markets in the year of its 15th anniversary after privatization.

13. September 2007 - (Exportér) Small and medium-sized producers draw their attention to SNS countries, Russia and Ukraine.

Česká exportní banka realizes that small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are the most sensitive to changes in the business environment as well as the most flexible as for their potential to response and growth. They play a key role in creating jobs and act as a social stability and economic growth factor. They are the stabilizing element for overcoming the impact of globalization trends connected with fast relocation of some mass productions to countries with lower labour costs.