Stories in English

SMEs in the spotlight. Finally

"SMEs are the backbone of the European economy." This is still very true, as SMEs represent 99% of companies in the EU and give work to two thirds of private sector employees. The same share applies to the Czech Republic, where SMEs employ over two million people. Many politicians have overused these figures in nice speeches, but with no real action resulting from it. Thankfully, times are changing.

My life is EuropeEurope is my life

I started going to Italy on a regular basis in 1992, when I was sixteen. In 1995, I went to study political science at the University of Padua. I still thank my parents for letting me go there back then. It must have been difficult for them, but I was stubborn. So we made a deal. If I find it hard to take care of myself and fail to become independent in twelve months’ time, I will give up on my dream and come back to the Czech Republic. I didn't give up, though, and didn't return home to Czechia until twenty years later. I had the opportunity to be there when, following the 2004 EU enlargement, the CEE markets opened up to the West and also to Italy – the third biggest economy in Europe.

Michal Štefl and Daniel Mahovský: Georgia has become our second home

Czech engineers have been building hydro power plants all over the world for decades. Now, however, an opportunity to participate in the famous tradition of the Czech energy construction industry has opened up also for Czech investors. An experienced team of building engineers and investment specialists have established an investment fund that will help grow eco-friendly hydro power plants on the wild rivers in Georgia’s Caucasus mountains. This is what we have discussed with Michal Štefl, vice president of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and a prominent Czech property developer, and Daniel Mahovský, experienced entrepreneur in the field of renewable energy sources.

How the dream of the largest Czech private eye clinic was born Get inspired (not only) in the US

"If there's one place in the world where you can easily become passionate about business and find the courage to take risks, it's the US. At least that's how it works for me," says Adam Janek, director and board member of Eye Centre Prague (OCP). This is proven by the fact that OCP is moving forward in full speed and not giving up on its vision despite the difficult times when some other companies may rather be looking for a lifeline. Next spring OCP is moving to new premises and will thus become one of the biggest eye clinics with purely Czech capital in our country.

Štítky USA

Jana Slováková: If we want to sell our machine in the US, it must be easy and quick to operate

With the return of market economy after 1989, there was suddenly a lot of room for the entrepreneurial spirit and technical skill of Czech engineers. Along with that, a fundamental transformation of economic thinking was taking place, with customers now being an important factor in companies’ decisions on their product range. Family businesses were mushrooming, but only those with a clear vision and their own final products and development base were competing successfully with foreign companies newly entering the Czech market.

Europe is about compromises. Even at 3 am

The room on the upper floors of the European Parliament building in Brussels is getting filled up and the atmosphere is growing tense. It's about to start. I enter the hall and shake hands with those present. We all know it's not going to be easy, and we make jokes that we should have also brought sleeping bags with. At least we have supplies of chocolate and energy drinks.