Swiss-Czech Business Dialogue

The meeting of members of the HST Chamber of Commerce Switzerland–Czech Republic, held at the premises of the Swiss Embassy and attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček, confirmed that Swiss–Czech relations are built on strong foundations. Both countries have significant potential for further cooperation and can serve as a source of mutual inspiration.

With the participation of the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Czech Republic, Urs Bucher, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, we addressed a number of key topics extending beyond purely economic issues:

• the new economic strategy of the Czech Republic
• the energy strategy and energy self-sufficiency of Europe and the Czech Republic
• the role of Switzerland as a strategic partner
• the future of European cooperation and the need to reduce bureaucratic barriers
• education as an investment in the future and differences between the Czech and Swiss education systems
• the model of direct democracy in Switzerland
• strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness, with the private sector as a key driving force

Both the Swiss Ambassador and the Czech Deputy Prime Minister agreed that a modern, open Europe must be free of barriers to the movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Without this, Europe will not remain competitive in the global environment and risks losing the position it has historically built.

We would like to thank all participants for their open dialogue and for sharing their experience.