For three days in November, Prague hosted the most important international conference focused on SMEs. The conference is attended by SME representatives as well as officials who administer the rules for doing business. This year, politicians also took part for the first time. I had the honour to lead a delegation of five Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the political group of liberals Renew Europe. The SME Assembly conference thus became a unique opportunity to connect the world of entrepreneurs and politicians. It is a big step towards cultivating a business environment that requires mutual dialogue.
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Jitka Haubová is in charge of operations at Komerční banka. In practice, this means for example ensuring that your payment goes smoothly, that you can withdraw money from an ATM, your contract is legible, your account is functional and your branch is easy to use. Jitka Haubová argues that the bank is intertwined with the daily lives of its clients more than they may realise. It also protects clients from risks and helps them fulfil their dreams.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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USA
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