Czech Republic

• Economy

  • Raw materials – Kladno, Ostrava

  • Dependent on imported gas and oil

  • Good conditions for agriculture

  • Imported products – industrial machinery, vehicles

  • The main imports partners are China, Germany, Poland, Slovakia

  • Exported products – motor vehicles, electrical machinery

  • Export partners are Germany, Slovakia, Poland, UK, France

4. PLACES OF INTEREST:

• Most beautiful cities and places

  • 12 places are on the UNESCO list (Litomyšl castle, Historical centre of Telč and Český Krumlov, Kutná hora – Church of st. Barbara, Vila Tugendhat in Brno, Prague)

  • 4 National Parks (NP Šumava, Podyjí NP, NP Krkonoše, Czech Switzerland)

  • Moravian Karst – stalactite caves, the greatest abyss Macocha (138 m deep)

• Sport and culture events

  • Sport events: Jizera 50 (cross country skiing race), Prague international Marathon and Half-marathon, Czech rep. speedway grand prix, Zlatá tretra, Velká Pardubická (Grand Pardubice steeplechase)

  • Cultural events: Pražské jaro, Smetanova Litomyšl (international music festival), Karlovy Vary international film festival, Colours of Ostrava, many exhibitons, Grand festival smíchu in Pardubice (theater festival)

  • Famous people: SPORT - J. Jágr (hockey player), Petr Čech (goalkeeper), Emil Zátopek (long distances runner), Roman Šebrle (decathlet), Jan Železný (jawelin thrower), Věra Čáslavská (gymnast), POLITIC: Václav Havel, ART: J. Seifert (Nobel Prize holder), M. Forman, K. Čaper, SCIENCE: J. Heyrovský (Nobel price holder), MUSIC: Dvořák, Smetana – composers, Gott

5. PRAGUE:

• Capital city

• 1,2 million inhabitants

• 14th largest city in Europe

• Cultural, historical and governmental heart of the rep.

• Seat of the president, parliament, government

• 5 parts – The Lesser town (oldest), New Town (founded by Charles IV.), Josefov, Hradčany, Vyšehrad

• Charles University, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas square (Statue of st. Wenceslas), National museum and theatre, Old town square (the Astronomical clock), Prague castle, St. Vitus cathedral

6. OUR MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANISATIONS:

• OECD membership – since 1995, Organisation for economic development

• NATO membership – since 1999, North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• EU membership – since 2004, European Union

• Shengen Agreement – since 2007 are we in Shengen area