Archive: Business | Business

As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to rise in Europe, the Czech government is increasing precautions. At a press briefing on Thursday Health Minister Adam Vojtěch stressed that as of yet there are no confirmed cases of the virus in the Czech Republic and urged citizens not to give way to panic.

Domestic supermarket chains and internet food retailers say they have registered a spike in interest in non-perishable foodstuffs on the back of fears that the Covid-19 virus, which has been detected in a number of other European countries, will reach the Czech Republic.

Czechs are spending increasing sums of money on their pets, the Hospodářské noviny daily reported on Tuesday. While pet owners invest mainly in quality food, there is also a growing demand for other products, including pet clothes, fur conditioners, vitamins and paw wipes.

Britain is currently the Czech Republic’s fifth largest export market and a successful conclusion to post-Brexit trade negotiations is therefore a top priority for Czech diplomats. However, Czechs are also trying to tap in to new business opportunities in the UK and the British government’s promises to invest in its northern infrastructure and hospitals have been identified as potential new avenues for exports.

Czech companies are slowly starting to feel the effects of the coronavirus epidemic that is a major threat to China and its economy, the news site Novinky.cz reports. Some companies have goods locked in Chinese warehouses and scheduled deliveries of components for computers, mobile phones and various other electronic devices are late or have stopped altogether due to production restrictions or closed factories in China.

The Czech Republic’s industrial production has declined for the first time in five years: it suffered a drop by 3.4 percent in December, the Czech Statistics Office reported on Thursday. The development was affected mainly by a lower production of motor vehicles, other transport equipment and machinery.

According to preliminary data, the country’s external balance in goods ended in a deficit of CZK 6.7 billion, which was worse by CZK 2.1 billion than in the previous year.

Exports decreased year-on-year by 2.4 percent to CZK 247 billion while imports fell by1.5 percent to 253.7 billion.

Czech exporters have asked Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to reconsider the government’s proposal to introduce a digital tax. They fear damage to Czech-American business relations and possible retaliatory measures from the US administration.

Some 60 IT specialists from around the country are taking part in a hackathon to produce an online sales system for electronic vignettes, following the scrapping of an overpriced deal negotiated by the former transport minister.

The aim of the event, which got underway on Friday evening, is to produce a functional online sales system which they will offer the government free of charge. According to its organizer, IT specialist and entrepreneur Tomáš Vondráček, they should produce and online system by 6 PM on Sunday.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who visited the event on Sunday, said that if the system proves the be fully functional, the government is ready to put it to use.

IT specialists from around the country will be taking part in a hackathon to produce an online sales system for electronic vignettes over the weekend, following the scrapping of an overpriced deal negotiated by the former transport minister.

Hundreds of IT specialists are said to have volunteered to take part in the endeavour to produce a functional online sales system which they will offer the government free of charge.

The hackathon is due to start at 6pm on Friday and according to its organizer ,IT specialist and entrepreneur Tomáš Vondráček, they should produce and online system by Monday morning.

The government's IT commissioner Vladimír Dzurilla has said the government appreciates the assistance and will put it to the best possible use.

Prague City Hall is pushing ahead in its efforts to fight visual pollution in the Czech capital. After banning giant bubble blowers and ‘street artists’ wearing animal costumes from the city centre, Prague councillors have now focused on excessive commercial advertising and shop window design, which harm the visual image of the historical centre.