Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republ : Minister Martin Kuba in talks with the Association of Czech Railway Industry on promoting exports by the state

Published: 29.1.2013

Author: Veronika Forejtová, press spokeswoman [e-mail]

As a result of the meeting, the ACRI will come up with a proposal of priority markets and individual sectors.

Minister Martin Kuba in talks with the Association of Czech Railway Industry on promoting exports by the state.

ON MONDAY, MARTIN KUBA, MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE, MET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE CZECH RAILWAY INDUSTRY (ACRI), AS PART OF A SEMINAR, HELD IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, ON PROMOTING THE EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURERS IN THE RAILWAY INDUSTRY. THE ASSOCIATION HAS CALLED ON THE STATE TO STEP UP ITS EXPORT SUPPORT EFFORTS. AS A RESULT OF THE MEETING, THE ACRI WILL COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL OF PRIORITY MARKETS AND INDIVIDUAL SECTORS.

The objective of the seminar was to seek more opportunities to promote Czech exports to European, Asian or even African countries. The Association complains that its members saw their sales plummet by 20% over the last year (exports even fell by 30%), and requests that the State should provide them with greater support abroad.

"Embassies of neighbouring countries are largely turning into trade and lobby centres abroad. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has presented its new export-led policy here, which promises some improvements, but the current situation is not good," Marie A. Vopálenská, ACRI Executive Director, said.

"This is why we agreed on Monday that ACRI would present a proposal of support in respect of the priority markets and individual sectors, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Export Bank, Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation, and CzechTrade and CzechInvest agencies," Minister Kuba said.

In addition, a resolution was adopted, by which the Ministry of Industry and Trade and representatives of the Czech railway industry clearly agreed on the need to change the public procurement amendment, which has strong adverse effects on the railway market.

The ACRI is an association of enterprises operating in the Czech railway industry, and a national member of UNIFE - the Association of the European Rail Industry. Enterprises associated in ACRI currently employ 21,000 staff in the Czech Republic and generate more than CZK 82 billion in annual turnover, with exports making up 47%.