Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba met the Minister for Trade Ewa Björling on February 11, 2013. The main topis of their meeting was strengthening the economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Sweden. Both government representatives agreed on common positions on certain European integration issues. The integration plans must be realistic and must be based on the possibilities of the already strained budgets of the member states. "A strong Europe must be based on the strong economies of its member states,” said the Czech minister."The Czech Republic and Sweden have very good relations, both bilaterally as well as within the EU. The Czech market is increasingly important to Swedish companies and my visit to Prague is therefore consistent with the importance that the Swedish government assigns to the Central European region,”stated Minister Björling. The meeting also focused on mutual economic cooperation and the possibilities for developing it further. "Sweden has and has had good relations with the Czech Republic even in the past and is interested in developing all forms of cooperation,” said Kuba and added that the Czech Republic and Sweden have very similar positions on political and economic issues, as well as on a number of European issues, including mutual support on EU soil, for example on the issue of competitiveness and completion of the single market, which should support European growth. Kuba also acknowledged the dynamically developing economic relations with Sweden, which are fuelled by mutual trade. "Sweden is our largest northern trading partner and is a role model for us in a number of areas. For example, Sweden is fourth in the world in competitiveness, and for a long time it has held the number two position in the share of expenditures on science, research and development in relation to GDP,” he noted. In spite of the very good trade balance results, Sweden represents many business opportunities for the Czech Republic that have not yet been realized. Both ministers agreed that there are opportunities for Czech companies to act as sub—contractors, especially in engineering, the automobile industry, as well as in energy and infrastructure.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiří Schneider met Minister for Trade Ewa Björling the same day at the Czernin Palace. The meeting was focused on current EU and bilateral issues.

Minister M. Kuba and Minister E. Björling

First Deputy Minister J. Schneider and Minister E. Björling