Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

   česky      english     

Advanced search

Skip to menu

Article notification Print Decrease font size Increase font size

Economic Diplomacy and Export Promotion Activities

 

The promotion of activities in the fields of exports, investments and tourism is one of the priorities of the Government of he Czech Republic The government bases this approach on the fact that, in the conditions of the increasing globalisation combined with the Czech economy’s high degree of openness, the country’s prosperity is dependent on its ability to promote its economic interests internationally.

Economic Diplomacy and Export Promotion Activities

 The promotion of activities in the fields of exports, investments and tourism is one of the priorities of the Government of he Czech Republic The government bases this approach on the fact that, in the conditions of the increasing globalisation combined with the Czech economy’s high degree of openness, the country’s prosperity is dependent on its ability to promote its economic interests internationally.

Economic diplomacy has a key role to play in this process. Economic diplomacy as a set of measures intended to promote government policy in the fields of manufacturing, the movement and exchange of goods, services, labour and incoming and outgoing investments. Economic diplomacy helps to create a positive image of the country throughout the world. Economic diplomacy also plays an important role in the process of formulating, promoting and protecting the interests of the Czech Republic in EU bodies.

 For economic diplomacy to be effective, it must have a clear vision and orientation, must be effectively organized, equipped with sufficient human and financial resources, understood as an active part of the state’s foreign and economic policy and created and conducted in partnership with the private sector and based upon real demand for Czech firms and their services. Czech economic diplomacy possesses a number of these attributes. Its vision is contained in the Export Strategy of the Czech Republic for 2006 – 2010 the aim of which is to promote the country in the world through trade and investments. Thanks to the Concept for a Unified Presentation of the Czech Republic,a uniform system has been devised for presenting the Czech Republic abroad and building a positive image of the country as a modern, advanced democratic country, a reliable partner in trade relations and a suitable place for investment, and the necessary resources for this system have been defined.

Economic diplomacy of the Czech Republic uses the network of diplomatic missions abroad where economic and commercial sections (ECS) form an integral part of the embassies. There is also the network of government agencies (funded by the government) with their offices abroad. They closely cooperate with specialized workplaces at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry that consider the promotion of economic interests abroad to be one of their priorities.

Activities aimed at the promotion and development of economic diplomacy have a considerable potential of further development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well. Promotion of economic interests abroad has become an integral part of the foreign policy of the Czech Republic. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is bound to play an important role in carrying out these steps and its role is irreplaceable.

Development of human resources

Effective economic diplomacy cannot be built without specialist and professionally well equipped people, without educated, capable, independent and active representatives of the state. The above mentioned criteria play a significant role in the process of personal selection of economic diplomats.

The Export Academy is in charge of increasing economic knowledge business and management skills of economic diplomats and directors of CzechTrade foreign offices. Its educational programmes have been prepared and carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in cooperation the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the High School of Economics. Czech Trade agency is in charge of the Export Academy.

Graduation at the Export Academy is a prerequisite for candidates for work at ECS or in CzechTrade foreign offices. Complementary and separate educational programmes are offered by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well. Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to increase economic specialization of its employees at all levels.

The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in economic diplomacy and promotion of the Czech Republic abroad is proved by the establishment of  Economic Cooperation and Promotion Abroad Section.

.