Section Archive Marketplace
Can Islamic banking help boost Czech exports?
A good deal of the ongoing economic and financial turmoil on world markets
has been blamed on the unscrupulous practices of the international banking
and financial sector. Islamic banking, on the other hand, is seen as a
fairer and more balanced alternative which has been much less affected by
the crisis. Can the Czech Republic benefit from a financial system based on
the Islamic law? And can Islamic banking help boost Czech exports into
Muslim countries? These are some of the issues debated at an international
conference on Islamic banking held in Prague. More
CzechTourism boss: rising numbers of Russian tourists reflect change in visa policy
The Czech Republic is becoming more popular with foreign tourists. The
latest figures show that in the first three months of this year, almost 1.3
million tourists visited the country which represents a 13-percent increase
compared to the same period last year. German tourists continue to top the
list of foreign visitors, followed by Russians who are the fastest growing
group. RP discussed the development with Rostislav Vondruška, the head of
the state agency CzechTourism. More
2012 set to be good year for Czech art market
Over the last couple of years, art sales in the Czech Republic have seen a
decline. But this year is different, and it’s not just the record sale of
a František Kupka painting that did the trick. The market now attracts
collectors who are ready to look beyond the well-established segment of
modern art that has topped sales so far. More
Efforts to regulate lobbying won’t achieve much, says lobbyist James de Candole
Czech lawmakers have been consistently criticized for being prone to
lobbying, for instance when it comes to the regulation of gambling,
roadside advertising and smoking in public spaces. As part of its efforts
to clamp down on corruption, the Czech government is now working on a bill
that should regulate lobbying. If approved, this law would define lobbying
and require lobbyists to register. RP discussed the proposed legislation
with James de Candole, a Prague-based consultant and lobbyist, who believes
it will bring no significant improvements. More
Czech firms reluctant to partake in foreign aid projects
The Czech Republic spends around 430 million crowns a year on foreign aid,
financing various development projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia,
Moldova, Mongolia and other countries. The government is increasingly
trying to involve Czech firms and businesses in the process so that they
find a foothold on local markets where they could continue doing business
even after the government-sponsored projects finish. But Věra
Venclíková, the head of the Czech Business Platform for Foreign
Cooperation says that getting Czech firms interested is no easy job. More
Foreigners no longer big players in Prague’s property market
After years of growth, the real estate market in the Czech capital has seen
a slow but steady decline, with decreasing prices and many more new
listings having turned Prague property into a buyer’s market. One factor
behind the change is waning interest from foreigners to invest into real
estate in the Czech capital. However, some parts of Prague have become more
attractive for Czechs and foreigners alike, while others remain popular
primarily with foreign clients. More
Prague's farmers markets: A success story
In this edition of Marketplace, we go to an actual outdoor market. We
braved the cold Easter weather this past Saturday and visited one of the
city’s popular farmers markets, on Prague’s Jiřího z Poděbrad
square. More
Ahold CEO Jan van Dam on soaring egg prices, expired foodstuffs and the (un)changing taste of Czech customers
Czech supermarket chains have taken a lot of criticism recently over a
series of issues. They are being blamed for the soaring price of eggs, and
they have found themselves under increased scrutiny from food inspectors
for selling poor-quality and even expired foodstuffs. With the hike in VAT
rates and plummeting consumer trust, it seems that 2012 is set to be a
tough time for the big retailers. Radio Prague spoke to Jan van Dam the CEO
of Ahold Czech Republic which runs one of the biggest supermarket chains in
the country, and asked him whether Ahold was cashing in on the soaring
price of eggs ahead of Easter. More
