Czech exports likely to reach record-high values again

Brno, Sept 12 (CTK) - Czech exports will probably reach record-high levels again this year as the Industry and Trade Ministry expects their value to exceed Kc3,000bn, the ministry's foreign trade section head Zdenek Valis told CTK at the international trade fair (MSV) in Brno Wednesday.

Last year, Czech companies exported goods worth a record of Kc2,900bn to Kc3,000bn. About 83 percent of Czech exports headed for EU countries.

This year, the dependance of exports on EU countries should decrease to about 81 percent, Valis said.

In the first half of this year, Czech firms exported goods worth around Kc1,500bn, up by 8 percent year-on-year.

"Figures for July, however, indicate about a 15-percent fall. We nevertheless expect this year to be a record one again," Valis said.

The government has this year approved the country's export strategy for the years 2012-2020, drafted by the Industry and TRade Ministry. According to Valis, it is a key document.

The aim of the strategy is to reduce dependence of Czech exports on EU markets, raise the number of export segments and involve a higher number of smaller and medium-sized companies in export activities so as to limit dependence of export on a few large companies.

The strategy also defines 12 priority countries for Czech export that include Brazil, China, India, Iraq, Ukraine and the USA, for example.

The document also contains a list of 25 countries of interest on which companies' increased attention should focus. These include, for instance, Angola, Argentine, Belarus and Azerbaijan.

In H1, exports to priority countries grew by about 37 percent and exports to countries of interest by around 12 percent, Valis said.