Speech of the Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek in the United Arab Emirates on 23rd March 2008

The Czech Republic is a country which ranked among six most developed countries of the world before the World War Second. Today, it is a country with rapid economic growth (6,6% in 2007), with a skilled workforce, hundreds years of industrial tradition and with a great research and development potential. It is a country which is ranked as the best transforming country of 125 assessed countries of the world by the Bertelsman Foundation. It is a country where, thanks to reforms of my government, taxes are reduced, bureaucratic business barriers are removed and performance of courts and institutions of the public administration is improved. The Czech Republic is a country which is meant for your investments. It is also a country which shows dynamically growing trade exchange with the United Arab Emirates. You are the most significant country of the entire region of Middle East and North Africa for us. The Czech Republic is the proper country for a strategic partnership, for establishing of joint ventures, for penetration to the Balkan, Russia and the Ukraine. They are territories which are quite difficult to be understood for foreigners, territories which we are familiar with and that we are informed of. The Czech Republic is a country which, thanks to its geographical location, liberal attitude and tradition, becomes a business and logistic centre of the Central Europe. It is a counterpart of the United Arab Emirates which plays the same role in the Persian Gulf. We are also accomplishing the privatization of big companies, among others the Prague Airport. Just now there is the last opportunity to participate in competitions for the remaining state property. Our priority is not a one-shot sale of the state property, which will never be repeated, but creation of optimal conditions for business and investments.

The Czech Republic is a country which does not offer investment opportunities promising immediate profit bearing a considerable risk. It is rather a country for more conservative, long-term investments, which bear safe profit. The Czech Republic is a country for prestigious investors, who take the price/performance ratio into consideration. We offer high European quality and tradition for a good price. The details will be given during the following presentation, and therefore I will not test your patience and I will conclude my speech. As I was a businessman for a long time I know well the price of your time.