AN ANNUAL REVIEW FROM THE NORDIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
6 SPACE SYSTEMS FINLAND IN PRAGUE
14-15 ORKLA ACQUIRES FOOD GIANT HAMÉ
17-20 ANNUAL REPORT 2015
22-23 SAAB GROUP – AN AMBITIOUS DEFENCE PLAYER
31 DANISH WORLD RECORD IN WIND POWER
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE
BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT
IT’S ALL ABOUT LIVING TO THE FULLEST. SUOMI
ˇ
HLOUBETÍN
IS GROWING IN THE AREA WHICH HAS
GOT IT ALL.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
In 2016, the Nordic Chamber celebrated its twentieth anniversary with
a number of special events and festivities. The attendance and atmosphere at those events filled me with boundless joy, because it proved
that we have reached our main goal; since our foundation as the Swedish Chamber in 1995, the Nordic Chamber has indeed become one
of the largest foreign chambers in the Czech Republic. And perhaps
even more importantly, our Chamber brings together representatives of
companies from a variety of industries, trades and nationalities, but we
are all united by the same goal – to strengthen the human, commercial
and political ties between the Czech Republic and the Nordic countries.
We have thought of everything. Green park for your romantic walks.
Cycling routes for active weekends. All civic amenities including
kindergarten, shops, restaurants and cafés at your fingertips.
The apartments of the first phase Espoo now available.
Pick your home now.
In short, the conclusion of our anniversary year is that the Nordic
Chamber during the last two decades has made a difference.
Front page Copyright © Saab Group
Home is
where the
heart is.
EDITORIAL
3
Last year was also in other aspects a very fruitful year for the Chamber. In 2015 we introduced online elections of members to our Board,
which proved to be a huge success, as more members cast their votes
than ever before. Moreover, we continued our regional initiative from
previous years; we progressed in our work to broaden the Chamber’s
activities, with more focus on directly enhancing trade and commercial relations between the Czech Republic and the Nordic countries;
and we launched a third working group, dedicated to Green Activities.
Moreover, the staff at our head office and the Chamber’s media presentation has been strengthened.
Thanks to a net gain of 21 new
companies in 2015, which was
the strongest growth in our history, the Chamber’s membership
currently numbers 160 companies
(including eight individual members). O ur financial situation is
also good, as we ended last year
with a CZK 230,000 surplus.
Using the great results in 2015 as
a stepping stone, we will in 2016
advance our ambitious strategy to
make the Nordic Chamber an ever
stronger and more visible organisation. This will, among other things,
be seen in a more energetic presence in several regional centres. Needless to say, the Chamber will also in 2016 continue its two-decadeslong work to promote Nordic values, such as transparency, equal opportunities, diversity and sustainability in the Czech Republic.
I look forward to continuing our excellent co-operation in 2016!
Stefan Lager
President of the Nordic Chamber of Commerce
NORDIC CHAMBER
Your business partner since 1995
FINNISH HOMES WITH SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
www.nordicchamber.cz
I
n November 2015, Sweden’s Trelleborg
AB, a global engineering group focused on
polymer technology, signed an agreement to
acquire ČGS Holding, a Czech company with
leading positions in agricultural, industrial and
specialty tyres, as well as engineered polymer
solutions. The total cash consideration amounts
to approximately SEK 10.9 billion on a cash and
debt-free basis.
The Czech rubber giant ČGS, which
employs 6,300 people,
generated sales of approximately SEK 5.6
billion with an EBIT
margin of 16 percent
in the rolling 12-month
period that ended June
30 2015. The closing of
DANISH BLIKA OPENS PLANT IN KADAŇ
PRAGUE (CTP) – The Danish metal locker producer Blika will open
a plant in Kadaň in the north-western part of Bohemia. The production facilities, which stretch over 7,700 square metres, are situated
in the CTPark industrial zone. Blika intends to start production of
wardrobes and metal furniture this summer; the company will in
the initial phase hire 50 people, but the workforce may be doubled
when a stable level of production quality has been ensured. Established in Esbjerg in 1947, Blika currently belongs among Europe’s
leading producers of box lockers, drawer cabinets and tool cabinets, mobile workstations and workbenches.
CZECHS WIN NORWEGIAN MEGA CONTRACT
PRAGUE (HN) – In March last year Chemoprojekt Nitrogen,
headquartered in Prague, won a contract to build a giant nitric
acid factory in Köping, Sweden. Investor is Norwegian Yara, a
global leader in fertilizer production. In the fight for the EUR 150
million contract Chemoprojekt beat big players such as Spain’s
Espindesa and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp. “Winning a contract
with a global company like Yara is a huge success,” Chemoprojekt’s CEO Tomáš Plachý says. “We wanted mainly to test how
competitions are done at this level, and didn’t take into account
[the possibility] that we could actually win!” Casale of Switzerland
recently bought a 60 percent-stake in the Czech company.
INVESTMENT NEWS
ŠKODA TRANSPORTATION EXPANDS INTO FINLAND
the transaction is subject to the approval of the
relevant authorities and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016.
“I am very proud to announce this highly
complementary acquisition, which is a significant and attractive add-on to our existing
businesses. ČGS, with its strong and favourably performing operations in agricultural and
industrial tyres, as well as engineered polymer
solutions, will strengthen and complement
Trelleborg’s already leading positions in a
number of existing areas,” says Peter Nilsson,
President and CEO of Trelleborg.
With the acquisition of ČGS and its subsidiary Mitas, Trelleborg is establishing itself as a
global leader in agricultural tyres and reinforces
its leading position in industrial tyres. As a result of the acquisition, Trelleborg Wheel Systems will almost double its revenues, broaden
its geographical reach and add new positions in
complementary tyre niches.
LINDAB EXPANDED TO BRNO
PRAGUE (CRE) – Sweden’s Lindab, one of the world’s leading producers of building components for simplified construction and improved indoor climate, has opened a subsidiary in Brno. The new
store is specialising in ventilation products, but it also includes a
sample room for light roofing material and gutters. “Our new subsidiary offers architects, projectors and assembly companies a variety of
services, and we are prepared to provide technical consultancies and
services” Lindab’s Stanislav Němeček says. From Brno the company
will be able to serve other areas in South Moravia more effectively.
Lindab also runs a factory in Hustopeče and a warehouse in Ostrava.
courtesy photo
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cent increase in the number of
switchgear units produced.
ABB has a long history in
the Czech Republic dating back
more than two decades. The
company currently employs
more than 3,400 people in eight
locations across the country and
has a strong production base that
includes seven manufacturing
facilities in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Trutnov and Jablonec nad
Nisou, four research and development centres, and two engineering centres.
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wedish-Swiss ABB, the leading power and
automation technology group, announced
in May 2015 the inauguration of new EUR 45
million manufacturing facilities in the Czech
Republic for air-insulated medium-voltage
switchgear, instrument transformers and substation automation systems.
New manufacturing units for air-insulated medium voltage switchgear and instrument transformers will be located at ABB’s
site in Brno. New substation automation systems facilities will also be established near
an existing ABB site in the town of Trutnov,
north-east of Prague.
At the company’s Brno campus, ABB’s
medium-voltage business unit produces
air-insulated switchgear, instrument transformers and sensors and has a service unit
and research and development centre. The
new facility here will be one of the largest
and most-advanced plants of its kind in the
world. It will cover a production area of about
13,000 square metres and enable a 25 per-
TRELLEBORG BUYS CZECH TIRE KING
courtesy photo
S
5
N
orway’s Avinor announced in November
2015 that it had selected the Pardubicebased company ERA to supply 125 vehiclemounted SQUID transmitters for surface vehicle tracking in Stavanger Airport Sola.
“The final decision, which was based on
a total evaluation of all criteria, determined
that ERA had delivered the economically most
advantageous tender” Tone Skau Monsen,
Avinor’s Procurement Expert, concluded. No
financial details of the contract were published.
ERA’s SQUIDs will be interoperable with
the existing surface guidance system at Stavanger Airport, Sola and will improve the overall
situational awareness and safety of this international airport. The first 60 SQUID units have
already been delivered.
The Czech-designed SQUID self-contained vehicle tracking unit improves airport safety by continuously broadcasting
the exact position of all ground vehicles.
By using permanently
mounted or portable squitter beacon transmitters,
SQUID minimises the
risk of safety vehicle collisions, particularly during
low visibility conditions.
Stavanger Airport, Sola
is Norway’s third-busiest
airport, with both fixedwing aircraft and helicopter
traffic for offshore North
Sea Oil installations.
I
n August last year Škoda Transportation
announced that it had completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in Finnish rolling
stock manufacturer Transtech from investment company Pritech Oy. Ilka Brotherus
will remain as a minority
shareholder through family company Sinituote Oy,
and the Transtech name
will remain unchanged.
Terms of the transaction
were not disclosed.
“Škoda Transportation has been extremely
successful over the last
couple of years, particularly in export markets,”
said Tomáš Krsek, Chairman of Škoda Transportation. “Our main long-
H&M’S STYLISH CHAIN TO PRAGUE
term plan is to strengthen the company’s
position in Western Europe in particular.
The acquisition of Finnish company Transtech is one of the steps that will take us
towards our goal.”
Established in 1985, Transtech produces
double-decker coaches and car-carrying wagons for Finnish national operator VR; it has
a framework agreement to supply trams to
Helsinki and also undertakes other engineering projects as a subcontractor. It has 530 staff
based in Oulu and Otanmäki, and recorded a
turnover of EUR 95 million in 2014.
According to Zdeněk Majer, Vice-President of Škoda Transportation, Transtech’s expertise in the development of vehicles for Nordic conditions will enable Skoda to participate
in Scandinavian tenders that are expected in the
coming months.
courtesy photo
INVESTMENT NEWS
4
HELSINKI CHOSE TIETO CZECH
PRAGUE (TYD) – The COS fashion chain, which is one of the six
independent brands in the Swedish Hennes & Mauritz concern,
opened its first store in Prague last autumn. With its floor space
of 500 square metres and location in upscale Pařížská Street, the
COS store will be among the larger of its kind in Prague. COS is
H&M’s option for women and men who want timeless, functional
and considered design, where style weighs heavier than fashion
trends. Since launching in 2007, COS has opened 125 stores
worldwide in carefully considered locations; four stores are located
in Poland and three in Austria.
OSTRAVA (PRA) –Tieto Czech, an IT development centre wholly owned
by Tieto of Finland, has won a major contract with the Finnish government. Under the contract, which is worth CZK 6 billion, Ostrava-based Tieto Czech’s experts will be supplying a secured private cloud for Finnish
ministries and government agencies. Extreme security measures were a
part of Tieto Czech’s winning bid. “Access control, camera surveillance
and encrypted communication – the security level is at a completely different level than with supplies for the private sector,” General Manager
Petr Lukasík says. With 2,000 employees Tieto Czech is the biggest IT
company in North Moravia.
NEW IKEA WAREHOUSE IN OSTRAVA
…ŠKODA SALES IN THE IN NORDIC COUNTRIES 2015
PRAGUE (CUV) –The furniture giant IKEA last year opened a new
dispatch warehouse with a total area of 4,500 square metres in
Ostrava-Kunčičky. In the Czech Republic the Swedish furniture giant
currently has four department stores and is operating three dispatch
warehouses. The new dispatch warehouse in Ostrava will improve
the availability of IKEA products and home solutions in North Moravia. “This is the greatest extension of our store since its opening
in 2001. It involves a total investment of several tens of millions of
Czech crowns on IKEA’s part,” IKEA Ostrava Store Manager Lubomír
Zákopčan comments.
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Denmark
14,400
14,500
14,600
10,400
8,100
Finland
10,000
9,200
8,500
8,700
10,300
Norway
7,400
7,400
6,800
6,700
7,400
Sweden
15,100
13,600
12,300
12,100
14,300
Total
46,700
44,700
42,200
37,900
40,100
INVESTMENT NEWS
CZECH TURBINES TO LISBJERG POWER PLANT
Europe as a solid foundation
for the further development
of the SSF Group,” says
Daniel Stefl, the Managing
Director of SSC. Mr. Stefl
has held several positions in
space industry; the latest assignment has been in ESA’s
technology centre, ESTEC.
Space Systems Finland Ltd. is a privately-owned Finnish company,
established in 1989. The
company develops safety-critical systems for customers in space,
defence, nuclear, medical and machinery
industries. Mr Daniel Stefl has been appointed the Managing Director and partner
of Space Systems Czech.
courtesy photo
6
pace Systems Finland last autumn
opened a new office in Prague. The
aim is to expand the company’s operational reach and to improve customer service
in Central Europe. Space Systems Czech
will offer the full range of services offered by Space Systems Finland, from space
applications development to safety critical software development and assessment
in various industrial fields.
“A reliable supply of trained engineers and the proximity to key central European markets offers a fantastic opportunity for profitable growth,” says Dr. Timo
Latvala, the President of SSF.
“I am inspired about the recent industrial development of Czech Republic,
which has been boosted by the presence
of the GSA and the ESA membership. I
see the strong economic growth in Central
P
lzeň-based Škoda Power has signed a contract to supply a turbine,
along with accessories, to
the Lisbjerg Plant, a biomass-fired combined heat
and power plant currently
under construction near the
city of Aarhus in Denmark.
The Lisbjerg plant will
provide heat and almost
40MW of electric power to
meet the demands of 65,000
households in the region. In
SWEDISH EXPERTS LEAVE ČÁSLAV BASE …
PRAGUE (LN) – The group of Swedish experts stationed at the
Czech Air Force’s base in Čáslav, Central Bohemia ended their
mission late last year. In 2005, 10 technical experts and three flight
instructors arrived in Čáslav as a part of the Gripen leasing contract between the Czech Republic and the Swedish defence and
security exports agency FXM. The Swedes’ decade-long stay at the
Czech air base has cost around CZK 150 million, which has been
covered by the leasing contract. Following last year’s renewal of the
contract, the Czech air force will operate their 14 leased Gripen jet
fighters until 2027.
FMV FELT TRICKED BY CZECH EXCALIBUR
STOCKHOLM (SR) – The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
(FMV) felt deceived after Swedish Radio last spring disclosed that
250 armoured vehicles, which in 2010 were sold from Sweden to
the Czech state company VOP-026, would be re-exported. FMV accepted the sale after being assured that the vehicles would be used
by the Czech army. However, VOP-026 was only a go-between for
the private arms dealer Excalibur, who intended to sell the vehicles
on to Iraq. The Swedish government has prohibited weapons sale to
Iraq because of rampant corruption in the country and fears that the
arms may end up in the hands of terrorists.
courtesy photo
... GRIPEN TRAINING CENTRE MAY MOVE IN
STOCKHOLM (TBE) – Due to the lack of available Gripen jet fighters in Sweden, the country’s air force is considering starting to
train pilots and technicians from other countries that have acquired the jet fighters. “We will study all possible options carefully if we receive another request to train export clients,” Ingela
Mathiasson, of the Swedish air force, comments. Both the Czech
Republic and Hungary are mentioned as possible locations for a
future Gripen training centre. The two countries have been operating Swedish-produced jet fighters since 2004 and are fully capable of training pilots from potential new Gripen countries, such
as Slovakia.
courtesy photo
S
doing so, it will also contribute to the city of
Aarhus’ efforts to reduce its carbon footprint
through the extensive use of biofuels.
Biomass, which is considered to be
carbon-neutral, plays an important role in
Denmark’s energy and climate policy. The
Lisbjerg plant will help the local region reduce CO2 emissions by 250,000 tons and
enable secondary utilisation of combustion
residues, which are recycled into fertilizer.
Škoda Power will be responsible for the
installation and commissioning of the turbine and accessories.
Since 1969, Škoda Power has supplied
almost 750MW of installed power capacity
in turbines designated for Danish combined heat and power plants.
The value of the contract has not been
published.
PEOPLE IN PLACES
9
ŠÁRKA H. FUCHSOVÁ NEW HEAD OF VOLVO CARS...
Š
árka Heyna Fuchsová has replaced
Frank Versaevel as General Director
of Volvo Car Czech Republic; Mr Versaevel has been named head of Volvo’s
operations in Turkey.
Mrs Heyna Fuchsová, who is the first
Czech national to head the Swedish car
manufacturer in the Czech Republic,
started her career with Young & Rubicam. After joining Volvo in 1999 as
Marketing Manager, she has held several
M
ichael McNulty (64) has been
appointed new General Director
of LEGO Production in Kladno, Central
Bohemia in the middle of June. An Irish
national, Mr McNulty studied business
management at the University of Dublin.
Before joining LEGO in 2007 as senior
Vice-President for the company’s operations in Kladno he held top jobs in several electronics companies, among them
Flextronics.
The new LEGO boss comes to the
Czech Republic from the post of General Manager of LEGO’s newly-built
factory in Jiaxing, approximately 100
kilometres from Shanghai. Here Mr
McNulty was responsible for starting
up LEGO’s new manufacturing facility in Asia. Michael McNulty plans to
spend oneyear in Kladno before retiring.
am very happy to get this chance to ensure the company’s continuation at a time
that sees significant changes of Volvo
models,” Šárka Heyna Fuchsová says.
T
anja Vainio has been appointed
Country Managing Director of ABB
Czech Republic, effective from March
1, 2016. She succeeds Hannu Kasi, who
has been appointed to the WCP Project
Management Office with the responsibility for managing the implementation
of Global Business Services. In addition
to her new role in Prague, Tanja Vainio
will continue in her function as Country
Managing Director of ABB Hungary until a successor is appointed.
ABB’s new boss in the Czech Republic joined the Swedish-Swiss engineering company 1998 and has held a
leading positions in various departments
of the company. In the past four years
before taking over as General Director,
Mrs Heyna Fuchsová worked as Sales
Manager.
In her new job, Šárka Heyna Fuchsová intends to continue the course started
by her predecessor, which means focusing on strengthening the Volvo brand. “I
YIT PROMOTES ZUZANA CHUDOBA
courtesy photo
PRAGUE (KAR) – The Finnish developer YIT has appointed Zuzana Chudoba as Director of Client Relations for the entire Central and Eastern Europe
region. In that position she
will not only be responsible for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but also
for Poland and the Baltic
states. She will remain a
member of the YIT group’s
board of marketing directors. Zuzana Chudoba
joined YIT Stavo in 2009
as Sales and Marketing
Manager. Since then, YIT
has finished seven large
apartment projects. In
its upcoming project in
Prague’s Hloubětín, YIT
will build a residence for
2,000 people in a former
brownfield site.
BIG BROTHER AWARD TO FINANCE MINISTRY
PRAGUE (PP) – Iuridicum Remedium NGO gave one of their Big
Brother Awards for 2015 to the the Czech Finance Ministry. The award
is based on George Orwell’s book 1984 and is given out by the human
rights organisation to companies, authorities and people that in a particular way has intruded on people’s privacy. The Finance Ministry was
chosen as the most intrusive authority on account of its draft amendment to the health insurance legislation that would force insurance companies to release confidential data from their systems to the ministry.
The Big Brother Award was introduced in the Czech Republic in 2005.
...TANJA VAINIO SUCCEEDS HANNU KASI IN ABB
T
he Swedish media company Modern Times Group has appointed
Jette Nygaard-Andersen CEO of its
Central European free-TV, radio and
local digital operations (in the Baltics,
Czech Republic and Bulgaria), and CEO
of MTG Broadcasting Technology.
She previously served as Executive
Vice President of MTG’s Nordic payTV broadcasting operations from June
2013. During this time, she directed
and oversaw the management of MTG’s
pay-TV operations across the Nordic
and Baltic regions, which included the
Viasat pay-TV channels, the Viasat satellite pay-TV platform, and the B2B
elements of the Viaplay online pay-TV
service.
Jette Nygaard-Andersen has worked
for MTG since 2003 and has been CEO
MALMSTRÖM SURPRISED BY CZECHS
Yara International. He has previously
served in a variety of management positions in Yara and Hydro, including CFO
and head of Investor Relations. Sapa AS
is a 50/50 joint venture owned equally
by Orkla ASA and Norsk Hydro ASA
“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Sapa. As the leading
player in its industry, with 23,500 employees in over 40 countries, Sapa is
well positioned to deliver innovative aluminium solutions meeting customer’s
demands all over the world - today and
tomorrow,” says Egil Hogna.
of Viasat Denmark since 2011. Before
joining MTG, she was a strategy management consultant at Accenture, working within the telecommunications &
media industry, and also held positions
at the Maersk Group. She graduated
with an M.Sc in Business, Finance and
Economics from the University of Copenhagen.
T
he Norwegian aluminum giant
Sapa, which is major player in the
Czech and Slovak aluminium business,
has has appointed Egil Hogna (44) as
the company’s new President & Chief
Executive Officer. He will replace Svein
Tore Holsether..
For the last six years, Egil Hogna
has led the downstream operations at
PRAGUE (TBE) – Cecilia Malmström, the EU’s Commissioner for
Trade, visited Prague in July 2015 to speak about the ongoing trade
negotiations between the EU and USA. Interviewed by the daily newspaper, LN, the Swedish Commissioner said she was amazed by the
strong reactions that the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership have triggered. “I knew this was a controversial subject
and expected debates, but the wave of emotions came as a surprise
to me,” she says. According to the Commissioner, the planned agreement is accompanied by many myths and misunderstandings. “The
EU will definitely not give up its standards,” she insisted.
JAMES ARMSTRONG NEW SCANIA BOSS
PRAGUE (KOU) – James Armstrong last October replaced Peter Hornig as General Manager of the Swedish truck manufacturer
Scania in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Mr Armstrong
joined Scania in 2005 as Director of Aftersales Services in the UK;
he came to Prague from the job as Scania’s General Manager for
South-East Asia, based in Malaysia. “I know that Central Europe is a
very dynamic market. [Like Malaysia] this position too covers several
countries, which both represents a challenge and more opportunities.
Besides that, Prague seems to me to be a fantastic place to live,”
James Armstrong comments.
PEOPLE IN PLACES
number of roles in corporate research,
supply chain management and general
management in Finland, the United
States, Switzerland and Hungary. Before she took on her current role as
Country Managing Director of ABB
Hungary in 2011, she held the position
of Service Manager for ABB’s global
product group Power Electronics.
Tanja Vainio holds an MSc in Engineering and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the
USA.
Hogna has a Master of Science degree from the Norwegian university
of science and technology, NTNU, in
Trondheim and an MBA from INSEAD.
PRAISE FOR NORDIC-CZECH POLITICIANS
PRAGUE (MOT) – The Czech NGO Fórum 50%’s ongoing mentoring
programme Men and Women in Balance, to which the Nordic Chamber
is giving practical support, has been highlighted by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) as good practice. The programme runs
until April 2016 and partners 10 Czech female politicians with five Danish and five Norwegian women who have successful political careers
and valuable experience to share. Czech women are still under-represented in political life, making up less than 20 percent of the national
legislature. The gender imbalance results from political parties placing
women in unwinnable positions.
SUBTERRA OPENS STOCKHOLM OFFICE
courtesy photo
8
PRAGUE (E15) – The Czech construction company Subterra has established a subsidiary in Sweden. The reason is to strengthen the company’s chances of winning the bid for the construction of the Skärholmen
Tunnel, which will form part of Stockholm’s by-pass highway. Subterra
spokesman Vladislav Beneš confirms that the company also plans to
participate in a construction tender being issued by Stockholm Vatten.
The Czech company is currently constructing two access tunnels in the
Swedish capital; this contract for those tunnels alone is worth more than
CZK 500 million. The new company, to be named SBT Sverige, will be a
joint venture with two Swedish partners.
NEW MEMBERS
10
F
ounded 20 years ago in Prague, Bohemia
Properties belongs to the top 10 percent
of companies in the Czech Republic by turnover and employs hundreds of staff. Its main
activity is the hotel industry. Among hotels it
operates Hotel Duo, along with Rose Hotel and
Old Inn Hotel in Český Krumlov, which all belong to the Jan Hotels group. The company is
currently engaged in a seven-month overhaul
of the four-star Hotel Duo in Prague 9. In 2016
it plans to implement the next stage of the reconstruction to double the existing number of
rooms, and to transform one of them into a luxurious presidential suite.
I
n 2015 the Czech Republic became the
eleventh country in which KGH Customs
Services has opened an office. The country
situated in the middle of Europe is a strategic location for expanding the company’s
services to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. KGH Custom Services is an international company which was founded in
1963, and since then it has continuously built
its competence within customs services. Today it serves more than 14,000 clients across
Europe. KGH has offices in all the key ports
and border crossings in Europe and with more
than 620 staff it operates in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark,
France, Sweden and Norway.
C
tech is a Czech technology company
established in 1997 that provides comprehensive marketing strategies and presentations using modern technology, including 3D
visualisation, animation and more. In the past
it has created a video spot for Egmont Pub-
lishing, a TV spot for Sconto and web pages
for Metroprojekt Praha. In 2015 Ctech prepared a presentation of the construction of the
railway connecting Prague Ruzyně Airport
and Kladno. The company’s goal is to understand its clients and their needs so that the
final solution meets their requirements and
objectives. To achieve these aims with regard
to budgetary limits, time constraints and human resources they are able to prepare projects with a specific methodology, design and
delivery that guarantee the highest quality.
R
educing CO2 emissions and contribute
to a healthier environment is an important aim for many responsible companies.
One way of achieving this is to cut the power
consumption of lighting systems. Frontier
Technologies designs and supplies lamps
customised to meet the needs of its clients,
who are mostly owners of factory buildings,
stores, warehouses, etc. They include Prague
Airport, Staropramen Breweries, Coop and
many others. Specialising in the technical
design, manufacture and supply of advanced
lighting technologies, including subsequent
service, Frontier Technologies was founded
in 2005. It uses quality management systems
that meet ISO 9001 standards. At the same
time, its approach to the environment corresponds to ISO 14001 and to security information to ISO 27001.
L
UTO Automotive CZ is a Czech branch
of the Slovak company LUTO Automotive, which has been active on the market for
over 10 years. Thanks to dynamic development and positive references, the company
expanded initially into the Czech Republic
and subsequently moved on to Germany
(where LUTO Germany was founded in
2011) and to Norway (where LUTO Norge
TOO CLEAN STAROPRAMEN IN SWEDEN
PRAGUE (CRo) – The Danish beer company Carlsberg, which distributes the popular Czech Staropramen brew in Sweden, in midSeptember last year had to recall all Staropramen beer on tap from
more than 680 Swedish bars and restaurants. The move came after two people tasted the beer and suffered blisters and mouth
bleeding as a result. Staropramen deeply regretted the incident,
which was a result of two beer kegs being contaminated by a corrosive cleaning substance. Carlsberg spokesman Henric Byström
said Carlsberg has carefully examined all Staropramen kegs delivered to Sweden and has not found any more contaminated beer.
was founded in 2013). The company provides
tailored services in the field of personnel
management. Its representation in four countries brings an ideal solution particularly for
international companies expanding into new
markets and requiring a flexible and reliable
partner. Thanks to an excellent knowledge
of the domestic market and to an individual
approach, Luto is prepared to flexibly and
quickly respond to all clients’ requirements.
T
he law firm Rada & Partner provides advice to its clients in various areas of law.
It has extensive experience in corporate law
(including merger and acquisition and corporate governance), real estate law, employment
law, intellectual property law, pharmaceutical and medical law and dispute resolution.
Rada & Partner provides high-quality legal
services based on extensive expertise, good
communication and the building of long-term
relationships with its clients. The company’s
main goal is to meet and follow the individual
requirements of its clients. In procedural law,
the firm has experience of representing clients
before the Arbitration Court attached to the
Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic, as
well as before arbitrators appointed ad hoc.
L
indström is one of Europe’s leading
textile service companies, with over
NEW MEMBERS
11
cilities, corporate clothing and protection. Its
Czech branch was established in 1996. True
to its company slogan “Cares for your image”, Lindström’s task is to strengthen the
corporate image of its customers and make
everyday life easier with the help of its services. Textile services are a cost-efficient and
environmentally-friendly way of taking care
of a client’s textile needs. Lindström aims
to expand geographically and to increase its
market share in the long term while feeling responsibility for the impact it has on the societies and the environment in which it operates.
F
erring Pharmaceuticals CZ is part of
the international chain Ferring Pharmaceuticals, with offices in nearly 60 countries
and products available in 110 countries
worldwide. The company’s products are
well-known in the fields of gastroenterology, urology, gynaecology, paediatrics and
endocrinology, and help patients on all continents of the world. In the Czech Republic,
Ferring was founded in 1993 after years of
fruitful cooperation with the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, which ranked
high among internationally recognised
institutes in the field of peptide research.
Nowadays the Czech branch consists of two
separate units: the Ferring Léčiva factory
and the marketing company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals CZ. Products include Oxytocin
(a solution used in obstetrics primarily to
induce childbirth) and a suspension for the
treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
H
elly Hansen Czech Republic was established in 2015 as the official rep-
resentative of the Norwegian brand Helly
Hansen for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It offers high-quality textiles for sailing,
outdoor, skiing, training and running, a collection of rainwear and its own high-quality
shoes and accessories. Founded in 1877,
Helly Hansen is a producer of textiles and
gear for sports and work on the ocean and
in the mountains. Today, the brand is recognised for its outdoor sports gear but is used
in all levels of industrial workwear, survival
and rescue clothing, and performance outerwear. On the consumer side, Helly Hansen
sells to the sailing and snow sports communities, as well as producing apparel and
footwear for casual and active use.
N
okian Tyres is the only tyre manufacturer in the world focusing on
products and services that facilitate safe
transportation in northern conditions. The
company’s innovative passenger car, truck
and heavy duty machinery tyres are mainly
marketed in areas that have snow, forest
and changing seasons that make driving
conditions demanding. Central Europe,
including Germany, is globally the largest winter tyre market. The expanding
tyre markets and the adoption of winter
tyre legislation in more countries have
made this region one of the most important growth areas for Nokian Tyres. The
company’s branch in the Czech Republic
was established in 2006. Its logistics and
service centre in Ejpovice serves the main
markets around the clock.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
The Annual General Meeting approves
annual membership fees.
1. Companies with more than 100 employees
– CZK 40,000 per annum or pro rata
2. Companies with 31-100 employees
– CZK 30,000 per annum
3. Companies with 11-30 employees
– CZK 20,000 per annum
4. Companies with up to 10 employees
– CZK 10,000 per annum
5. Individuals
– CZK 5,000 per annum
CONTACT INFORMATION:
BOHEMIA PROPERTIES A.S.: Teplická 492/19, 190 00 Praha 9 – Střížkov, T: +420 266 131 111, E: [email protected], www.janhotels.cz
KGH CUSTOMS SERVICES CZECH REPUBLIC: Průmyslová 1472/11, 102 19 Praha 10 – Hostivař, T: +420 234 234 200, E: [email protected], www.kghcustoms.com
CTECH S.R.O.: Michelská 29/6, 140 00, Praha 4, T: +420 261 215 644, E: [email protected], www.ctech.cz
FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES, S.R.O.: Beranových 130, 199 00 Praha – Letňany, T: +420 277 002 346, E: [email protected], www.frontier-technologies.eu
LUTO AUTOMOTIVE CZ S.R.O.: Na Rybníčku 5/1329, 120 00 Praha, T: +420 252 544 219, E: [email protected], lutoautomotive.com
RADA & PARTNER ADVOKÁTNÍ KANCELÁŘ, S.R.O.: Truhlářská 1108/3, Praha 1, T: +420 224 810 090, E: [email protected], www.radapartner.cz
LINDSTRÖM S.R.O.: Skandinávská 999, 267 53 Žebrák, T: +420 311 533 020, E: [email protected], web: www.lindstrom.cz
FERRING PHARMACEUTICALS CZ S.R.O.: K Rybniku 475, 252 42 Jesenice u Prahy, T: +420 234 701 333, E: [email protected], www.ferring.cz
165 years of experience. It offers solutions
for the cleanliness and interior design of fa-
FJÄLLRÄVEN STORE IN PALLADIUM
PRAGUE (TBE) – Fjällräven, the iconic Swedish outdoor clothing
and equipment producer, has opened a store in Prague’s Palladium shopping centre. In the new store customers will find not only
functional and technical clothing for picnics and hiking but also
comfortable and quality clothing for everyday wear. Fjällräven’s
assortment also includes backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and
other accessories that make your stay in nature more pleasant. In
addition to the Palladium store there is also one Fjällräven shop
in Centrum Černý most in Prague and one in Brno. The Swedish
outdoor brand is also sold by 20 retailers and Fjällräven’s Czech
HELLY HANSEN CZECH REPUBLIC S.R.O.: Strakonická 3309/2e, 15000 Praha 5 – Smíchov, T: +420 227 031 827, www.hellyhansen.com
NOKIAN TYRES S.R.O.: V parku 2336/22, 148 00 Praha 4, T: + 420 241 932 668, E: [email protected], www.nokiantyres.cz
NOKIA COMPLAINED IN BRUSSELS
PRAGUE (MFD) – Finland’s Nokia Networks has submitted a complaint
to the EU Commission against the Czech Republic for unfairly favouring Austrian Kapsch in all tenders for GSM-R projects along railway
corridors. When Kapsch recently won a CZK 600 million tender to install GSM technology along the Kolín-Brno transit corridor, the Finnish
producer protested both with the customer, the Railway Infrastructure
Administration (SŽDC), and the Anti-monopoly Office, but to no avail.
SŽDC denies favouritism towards the Austrians; Kapsch claims to have
a competitive advantage thanks to their technology being compatible
with that of other producers.
STORA ENSO EXPANDS IN ŽDÍREC
HAVLÍČKUV BROD (HBD) – The Finnish treated wood manufacturer
Stora Enso has launched a new line for the production of pellets
at its plant in Ždírec nad Doubravou. The new facility will produce
55,000 tonnes of pellets made from sawdust and wood shavings per
year. Construction, which has cost EUR 7.7 million, commenced in
mid-2014. Following the enlargement Stora Enso has become the
second-largest pellets producer in the Czech Republic. Pellets are
used as ecologically friendly fuel both in heating plants and in private
homes. Currently, around 20,000 Czech homes are heated by pellets, but the market is in rapid growth.
Travel generates Growth
The Visit Finland organisation promotes
inbound travel to Finland very actively.
Promotional efforts in particular target
China and Japan, whose outbound travel
is on the increase and who enjoy excellent flight connections to Finland. There
is a steady flow of visitors to Finland from
Central Europe, and the prime focus of
our European marketing efforts is on Ger-
NORWAY’S UMOE DIVESTS IN SLANÝ
PRAGUE (HN) – The Czech investment group Licehamr & Partners
has acquired Harding Safety Czech from Norwegian-controlled Umoe
Schat-Harding for an undisclosed sum. The plant in Slaný has 200
employees and produces life-saving equipment and maritime spare
parts for the North Sea oil industry. The company, which Umoe bought
in 2001, last year had a turnover approximating CZK 451 million. Five
companies were interested in taking over Harding Safety Czech.
Umoe did not explain why they have decided to leave the Czech market, but the move is widely seen as a result of the current slow-down in
the Norwegian oil industry.
CZECH IKEA HITS RECORD TURNOVER
PRAGUE (E15) – Over the last 12 months, the Czech subsidiary of the
Swedish furniture producer IKEA saw its turnover grow by 10 percent
to a record CZK 8.49 billion. The company’s profits grew year-on-year
by 63 million to CZK 599 million; in the same period Czech IKEA hired
100 new people. The Czech Republic is thus one of the fastest-growing
of the furniture markets in which IKEA operates. “The growth in the furniture market is further strengthened by the Czechs’ interest in building
their own homes or buying new flats,” comments Marek Feltl, General
Manager of IKEA in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
many. The Nordic countries have pooled
their marketing resources notably on the
United States travel market.
Tourism also plays a significant role
by creating jobs for a lot of people, especially young people, many of whom have
their first contact with working life in this
very field. The good knowledge of foreign
languages boasted by Finnish youth can
be put to good use in travel and tourism.
The Helsinki Helper tourist guides, for
example, are at the service of visitors in
14 different languages.
Tourism generates growth and employment across the whole country, and
the travel industry in fact represents a decisive share of the revenue of many small
localities in Finland. With no major automation foreseeable, tourism will remain a
labour-intensive field.
CZECHS EYE FINNISH NUCLEAR PLANT
ŘEŽ (ÚJV) – The Czech nuclear energy specialist ÚJV Řež has closed
a framework contract with Finland’s Fennovoima. The company’s goal
is to offer engineering,
technical and expert assistance in the coming
construction of the Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power
plant in Finland’s Northern
Ostrobothnia region. The
plant, which will feature a
Russian-designed pressurised water reactor, is
scheduled to be in operation from 2024. “Finland is
an important EU member;
ÚJV Řež considers Finland’s interest in developing [nuclear] energy as a
strategic decision and a
recommendation to other
countries in the region,”
While Finland continues to attract
more and more people from other countries, a growing number of Finns have
their eye on far-off lands. Finns are eager
travellers, and many of us have had the
experience of running into our countrymen even in the remotest corners of the
world.
People keep booking trips abroad as
frequently as before, if not more often,
but, at the same time, they have become
more security conscious. This can be
courtesy photo
New potential has
also been identified in
wellness tourism, or
Finrelax. Finland has
what it takes to provide
wellbeing for the body
and the mind: the sauna
and fresh nature offer
both physical and spiritual relaxation. We also
strive to make Finland’s
wonderful maritime archipelago more widely
known internationally.
International conventions and congresses are another important resource for
Finland. Every year, Finland has ranked
among the world’s top 20 congress destinations, and in 2013 we even managed
to beat our dearest competitor Sweden in
quantitative terms. During a record year
of congress travel in 2014, Finland hosted
708 international congresses. courtesy photo
WHY THE TOURIST INDUSTRY MATTERS
courtesy photo
Tourism is a major income source for Finland.
And there is an encouraging sign: inbound travel
to Finland has increased.
This positive development is expected to conThis issue’s guest writer is
Lenita Toivakka,
tinue this year. We are
Finland’s Minister for Foreign
especially delighted with
Trade and Development
the sharp rise in the number of visitors from China.
Tourists come to Finland to experience its clean nature, well-functioning
tourism infrastructure, security and safety, the exotic northern lights and the midnight sun. And, of course, to meet Santa
Claus. These are Finland’s main assets in
the field of tourism, and they appeal to
visitors year after year.
Yet the travel business – like all industries – faces very tough competition.
We therefore have to look for growth with
increased determination and find a special
niche for Finland. The excellent Asian
routes offered by Finnair have brought
significant numbers of stopover visitors to
Helsinki Airport. We now want to make
it an attractive option for them to stay in
Finland for a few days or at least for a
few hours. The fact that Finnair has been
the first European airline to introduce the
Airbus A350 aircraft is another indication
of the determination to raise passenger
volumes.
13
THE WORD IS YOURS
WHY THE TOURIST INDUSTRY MATTERS
partly explained by terrorist attacks: news
reports from various parts of the world
point to a heightened threat of terrorism,
and the security assessments of many
countries reflect the Paris attacks last November. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign
Affairs and the Finnish diplomatic missions receive more enquiries than before
on the security and safety situation in different countries.
Terrorism can’t scare us
For Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
travel safety is a key theme. The Ministry
seeks to transmit pertinent and up-to-date
information on travel safety to travellers
through different channels. The main tools
are the travel advice notices, which are
constantly updated by the Ministry and the
missions and give information about the
security situation in 160 countries.
Another important public service is
travel notifications. By submitting a travel notification, you can make sure that you
will be contacted in an acute crisis situation. Such a notification can be submitted
very easily by, for example, sending an
SMS that covers you or your whole family.
Social media is today used increasingly for information purposes. The brandnew service of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs – the “Web consul”, which is
available on Facebook – answers travel-
MORE GROWTH IN LEGO KLADNO
courtesy photo
THE WORD IS YOURS
12
lers’ questions regarding travel safety and
provides advice in problem situations.
The Web consul service will be launched
very soon.
The threat posed by terrorism that I
referred to has lately received much attention in the media. However, when planning trips, Finns should remember that the
risk of them falling victim to terrorist attack is essentially lower than the risks represented by transport, infectious diseases
and ordinary criminality.
Travel is still largely safe, and the
world usually has positive surprises in
store for the traveller. I therefore encourage Finns to continue travelling and enjoying other countries.
HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN ANTI-GRAFT INDEX …
KLADNO (LEG) – Danish LEGO’s production facility in Kladno, which is
one of the Danish toy giant’s four manufacturing sites around the world,
last autumn announced yet another enlargement. After increasing the number of employees in its packaging division to 2,000 in the spring of 2015,
the company half a year later started looking for 50 new employees for its
model building department. “This is very creative, but also very demanding
work,” Morten Hyldebjerg Hansen, Development Director at LEGO Production Kladno, comments. “The successful candidates must have a threedimensional imagination, and also know the bricks’ physical quality.”
PRAGUE (PP) – The Czech Republic rose to 37th place from 53rd in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index, published
in January. The Czech Republic this year was tied with South Korea and
Malta, and one spot behind Spain. In terms of Europe alone, the Czech
Republic has jumped to 22nd place from 25th. “The uncompromising fight
against all forms of corruption and serious economic crime is one of the
focal points of the government’s policy statement. I am very pleased that
the intensive work of the government in this area has brought two years
of positive results,” Premier Bohuslav Sobotka said.
BOHEMIAN SARCOPHAGUS FOR DANISH QUEEN
… BUT CZECHS CAN STILL DO BETTER
PRAGUE (LN) – Czech artist Zdeněk Lhotský and the 10 workers
in his glass hut outside Železný Brod has been commissioned to
create a sarcophagus for Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Prince
Henrik, to be placed in Roskilde Cathedral. The 7.5-tonne sarcophagus, designed by Bjørn Nørgaard, will be made entirely of
cast glass, with the silhouettes of the royal couple imaged inside,
and placed on three granite columns. The royal couple will in the
future be buried beneath the sarcophagus. “This is a tremendously prestigious job, not least since it was originally given to a
famous American company,” Zdeněk Lhotský says.
1. Denmark
32. Lithuania
2. Finland
35. Slovenia
3. Sweden
37. Czech Republic
5. Norway
40. Latvia
10. Germany
50. Hungary
13. Iceland
50. Slovakia
16. Austria
58. Romania
23. Estonia
119. Russia
30. Poland
130. Ukraine
Source: TI
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
15
NORWAY’S ORKLA BUYS FOOD GIANT HAMÉ
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
national players.
That goes also
for its decision to
operate in smaller
markets that are
less attractive to
the large international corporations.
Although
the move to bolster its business
in Central Europe
suggests Orkla is
departing somewhat from its
previously
announced strategy to focus on the core
markets of Norway, Sweden, Denmark
and Finland, the principle of being a local champion with a solid understanding
of regional consumers remains the same.
Orkla wants to be a big fish in a
relatively small pond just.food.com concludes. The Norwegians believe this can
be achieved by using local know-how and
its closeness to consumers in the region.
courtesy photo
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia,
Hamé holds leading positions in the
categories of pâtés, ready meals, ketchup,
preserved vegetables, jams and baby food.
Its iconic brands include Hamé, Májka,
Znojmia, and Otma. Hamé also has strong
positions in pâtés in Hungary, Romania
and Russia.
“The categories offered by Hamé are
well-known to Orkla and will complement
and strengthen our existing categories.
With this transaction Orkla becomes one
of the leading FMCG players in attractive
markets in Central Europe,” says President & CEO Peter A. Ruzicka (photo).
Orkla’s existing assets in Central Europe include Vitana (the Czech Republic
and Slovakia), Felix Austria, and Orkla
Foods Romania.
“With Vitana and Hamé, Orkla becomes an attractive supplier to the grocery trade in the Czech Republic and
Slovakia, and the transaction will also
strengthen our operations in Romania. A
stronger foothold in Central Europe will
ensure that Orkla is well-positioned for
further growth in these markets,” says
Atle Vidar Nagel-Johansen, Orkla Executive Vice-President and CEO of Orkla
Foods.
HELSINKI (YLE) – Finnish media have reported a Russian border
guard’s confession that the transport of asylum seekers to Finland’s
two northeast border crossings is being orchestrated by Russia’s
Federal Security Service, in concert with the Murmansk regional administration and the Russian Border Guard. Families with children are
given priority, the source said. Finnish authorities have suspected for
some time that the transfer of asylum seekers from Russia to Finland
has been part of a carefully organised operation. MEPs Jussi Hallaaho and Petri Sarvamaa told Finnish Television they believe that Russia is using the migrant crisis to gain foreign policy leverage.
Hamé has around 2,400 employees
and ten production sites. The company’s
headquarters are located in Kunovice,
in the south-eastern part of the Czech
Republic. The company achieved gross
sales in 2014 of CZK 4.9 billion and a
net profit of CZK 234 million. Around 70
percent of sales is generated in the Czech
Republic and Slovakia.
The agreement is subject to the approval of the relevant competition authorities.
year we even saw how Orkla’s Russian
business was divested. With the acquisition of Hamé, Orkla is back in Russia and
in general we must interpret the acquisition as Orkla’s wish to stay and grow in
Central and Eastern Europe,” Anbro says.
On the other hand, just.food.com believes the very specific localised tastes
that Orkla caters to provide it with some
insulation from competition from multi-
O
rkla was founded in 1654 as a
mining company in Trøndelag
in mid-Norway, where it later constructed the first electric railway in
Norway. By 1941 Orkla had started
a separate investments portfolio,
and opened offices in Oslo in 1975.
In the following years, Orkla acquired Borregaard pulp company
and then started to heavily invest in
foods production in Scandinavia.
In 2005 Orkla bought the Norwegian material company Elkem and
Sapa Group in Sweden. In 2010
Orkla bought the Estonian confectionery company Kalev and a number of confectionary producers in
Russia; currently, Orkla is the fifth
largest confectionery producer in
Russia. Orkla also has major ownerships in Jotun and Renewable
Energy Corporation. The group
has 30,000 employees in more than
40 countries; revenues in 2013
amounted to NOK 33 billion.
Big Fish, Small Pond
According to the online news server just.
food.com, the Czech packaged food market grew by 17 percent between 2010 and
2015. But, with the exception of baby
food, the categories in which Hamé operates are not dynamic growth sectors.
These declining markets are something
Orkla must “pay attention to” as it looks
to drive organic growth in Central and
Eastern Europe, Euromonitor analyst Stefan Anbro tells just-food.
“It comes as a slight surprise that
Orkla strengthens its position in Central
Europe. The company’s strategic focus
so far has been on developing its position
on the Nordic and Baltic markets. Last
NIELSEN NEW DANISH CHAMPION
COPENHAGEN (LOC) – Step aside, Mr and Ms Jensen – the
Nielsens are the new Danish champions! According to Statistics
Denmark, for the first time since the agency began keeping official
figures, Nielsen is now the most popular last name in Denmark.
There are 255,138 people named Nielsen, beating the 254,675
Jensens. Rounding out the top five were the family names Hansen,
Pedersen and Andersen. Among Denmark’s entire population, a
full 48 percent have last names ending with -sen. Thirty years ago,
that number was 66 percent. Peter is the most popular first name
for men, while Anne was the most popular amongst women.”
courtesy photo
courtesy photo
he Norwegian food giant Orkla
in December 2015 entered into an
agreement with Icelandic-Latvian Nordic Partners to acquire Hamé, one of the
Czech Republic’s leading branded consumer goods companies, which also has a
strong position in Slovakia. The transaction is worth EUR 175 million (CZK 4.7
billion), which was one the largest foreign investments in the Czech Republic
last year.
Since early 2015 Czech media had
also been writing extensively about
other investors interested in Hamé. The
Hartenberg fund (which is Finance Minister Andrej Babiš’ private investment
fund) and Croatian food group Podravka, as well as the Chinese energy giant
CEFC, were all mentioned in the Czech
media as potential buyers of Hamé.
Hamé holds strong market positions
in numerous categories that represent a
good fit with Orkla’s existing portfolio.
By joining forces with Hamé, Orkla will
double its turnover in Central Europe.
NORWAY’S ORKLA BUYS FOOD GIANT HAMÉ
courtesy photo
T
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
courtesy photo
14
NORWEGIAN ARMY GOES ORGANIC
OSLO (VG) – Norway’s armed forces are embracing eco-friendly
clothing, putting in an order for 50,000 organic bras, boxer shorts
and pants annually. “We think this is really great, and we have done
tests to show that this underwear is nice to wear. That is of course
very important for soldiers in the field,” Simen Rudi, from the army’s logistics division, comments. Maiken P. Sele of Oikos, which
promotes organic textiles, said the move towards environmentallyfriendly clothing means there will be fewer pollutants in the environment where the cotton and garments are made. “By doing this, the
military is really taking responsibility.”
FLIPPERING OUT AT DOLPHIN DISSECTION
STOCKHOLM (LOC) – Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT
shocked viewers when it showed a dolphin being dissected on
breakfast television. The animal was one of two striped dolphins
who died after they became stranded on a beach near Gothenburg in western Sweden. SVT decided it would be a good idea to
broadcast the dissection live on its “Good morning Sweden” show,
causing outrage among viewers with the macabre scene. However, there were also viewers who supported SVT. One Twitter
user argued: “Murder, violence, rape, sex, nudity and so on on TV
but when a dolphin is dissected people scream. It’s interesting.”
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
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17
Staff, Organisation and Media
In mid-2015, Martin Doubek was engaged as the Chamber’s new project coordinator. This had a significant impact on the Nordic Chamber’s administration, which thanks to several huge anniversary events
had an exceptionally busy year. Martin has also been assigned administrative tasks.
As a result of these staff additions, the Chamber’s administration has been running with great efficiency. This has in turn enabled
Executive Director Lea Turcarová to focus more on recruiting new
members and organising the Chamber’s Working Groups, as well as
developing the Chamber’s relations with various ministries and trade
organisations.
As in the previous year, the Nordic Chamber also in 2015 applied
considerable energy to ensuring smooth communication between its
head office and members and potential members. Most importantly,
members’ positive reactions to our new and modernised web site suggest that the innovation is as user-friendly as it was intended to be.
Moreover, to make our information services faster and more
up to-date, our electronic newsletter, Nordic eNews, has been
published monthly; our printed membership magazine, the popular Nordic News, has been transformed into a yearbook, which
will be published once a year.
Last summer the Chamber produced an information brochure
about the Czech economy intended for Nordic investors; the brochure was distributed at a business conference in Finland.
Efforts to increase the Nordic Chamber’s visibility among
the Czech public last year yielded favourable results. In addition
to our attracting 3,368 unique visitors to our modernised website, local media repeatedly reported on Chamber events. The
daily newspaper Lidové Noviny in October published a big interview with Board Member Birger Husted about equal opportunities for men and women in the Nordic labour market.
In 2016 we will continue our dedicated efforts to become more
visible in other media and to boost the Chamber in the field of communication. One of our objectives in this respect is to transform our
website into a source for important business information. This started
already last year, when we introduced services to provide information
about public tenders in Sweden; more will follow in the coming year.
Long-term Strategy
The Nordic Chamber in 2015 continued the implementation of its
adopted long-term Strategic Plan. The main areas of activity in the
plan includes trade promotion, business support, sustainable business, corporate social responsibility, and social and sports events, as
well as our working groups – Transparency; Green Activities; HR &
Management, Energy and Diversity.
In addition to that, the Chamber in 2015 implemented its planned
expansion into Bohemia’s and Moravia’s regional centres – Brno,
Ostrava and Plzeň. Here, we have in co-operation with local city
councils and regional business organisations planned a series of information meetings about Nordic business culture and opportunities
for Czech exporters in Scandinavia.
Our regional expansion, which we partly will execute in co-operation with the Nordic embassies in the Czech Republic, covers the
following points:
•Arranging individual meetings with Chamber members located in the regions, who are offered individual assistance
in finding contacts, “hand-holding” services, event management, virtual office, meeting room rent etc.
•Presenting the Nordic Chamber for companies located outside Prague; practical advice through seminars on how to
do business with the Nordic countries.
•Establishing dialogue between regional assemblies and Nordic investors; creating a platform to discuss what the individual regions need and what Nordic investors can offer.
•Communicating Nordic issues such as equal opportunities,
SmartCity, waste management, diversity, environmental
sustainability, etc. in the regions.
Events and Working Groups
In our anniversary year of 2015 the Nordic Chamber arranged a total
of 28 events, which included 10 Breakfast Meetings, 10 Social &
Sports events and eight Business Mixers. All in all, this was slightly
more than the number of events arranged in 2014. The total number of participants in the gatherings – around 1,600 persons – fell by
around 9 percent on the previous year (1,760).
True to tradition, our Social and Sport Events – most notably the
Strawberry Party, the Nordic Chamber Golf Masters and the Lucia
Christmas Party – were especially warmly received by our members:
the Lucia Party had 145 participants – among them more than 70 children! In addition, we arranged several major events in connection with
the celebration of our twentieth anniversary. The main festivity, arranged at the Swedish Embassy, gathered more than 210 participants.
There is stable interest among Chamber members in our events.
Luckily, during 2015 we saw a trend where members who earlier
hadn’t particpated in our actities started to visit Chamber events. We
strongly hope that this trend will continue. The Chamber administration is well aware of the need to reach out to those who seldom participate in a Chamber event with the message that each kind of event – be
it a Breakfast Meeting, Social & Sports event or Business Mixer – represents a different platform for networking.
The Nordic Chamber’s two Working Groups – Green Activities
and the Transparency Group for Business Ethics – continued in 2015
the successful work they launched in the previous year. One more
working group, HR & Management, will soon be launched.
In order to more efficiently communicate with the individual
member company and thus better cater to their interests and needs,
the Nordic Chamber in 2015 divided its membership into different
working groups according to the following business sectors: Trade,
Manufacturing, Transport, Construction, Energy, and Health & Science. On the basis of each group’s interests and preferences, the
Chamber will customise events and other arrangements.
In October the Energy Working Group held its first meeting. The
Group is focusing on sustainable energy and sustainable development
in the energy field; its purpose is to raise general awareness of the approach to the environment. Members who are interested in joining the
Energy Working Group are asked to contact the Chamber’s head office.
Chamber Cooperation
Continuing our tradition dating back more than a decade, the Nordic
Chamber also in 2015 enjoyed an excellent collaboration with the
Nordic embassies and with Sweden’s and Denmark’s trade representations in Prague. It is a telling sign of our close and excellent ties that
our Honorary Chairwoman, Sweden’s Ambassador Annika Jagander,
in June 2015 hosted our main anniversary celebration in her magnificent residence in Hradčany.
In line with previous years, we also in 2015 continued our longtime co-operation with other foreign chambers in the Czech Republic
through various arrangements, including a very successful business
mixer co-arranged with the Italian and Indian Chambers of Commerce. The Chamber will in 2016 arrange several more multi-chamber events suitable for networking in Prague’s international business
community.
Moreover, the Chamber in 2015 broadened its ongoing co-operation with the NGO Forum 50% to strengthen the awareness of gender
issues in the Czech Republic. We are especially proud that the EU last
year officially awarded Forum 50%’s ongoing mentoring program,
in which the Nordic Chamber has assisted with matching ten Danish
and Norwegian women politicians with Czech colleagues, with a Best
Practice title.
The Nordic Chamber continued its support of the NGO Reconstruction of the State to implement anti-corruption reforms in the
Czech Republic. We sincerely welcome the Czech Republic’s advancement on Transparency International’s annual corruption index.
Membership Development
Contrary to 2014, where several members of the Chamber’s A segment (companies with more than 100 employees) were forced to
terminate their memberships to cut costs, last year saw a significant influx of new members. The net gain of new members in 2015
was the highest in the Chamber’s history.
At the end of 2015, the Nordic Chamber had 152 corporate
members (Chart 1) and eight individuals. With a share of 33 percent, Sweden is still the country of origin of the largest group of
corporate members (Chart 2). Similarly to 2014, Czech companies
with a Nordic connection, currently making up 34 percent, also in
2015 represented the fastest-growing group of new members – up
2 percentage points since 2014.
Currently, companies with up to 100 employees make up 82
percent of our corporate members (Chart 3), which corresponds to
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
19
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
the situation from 2014. Companies with more than 100 employees currently constitute around 18 percent of the Nordic Chamber’s membership base.
Throughout our twenty-year history, our experience has been
that the inflow and outflow of members come in waves, but that
this is not a direct reflection on the Chamber’s activities. However, the gradual rejuvenation of corporate members has a positive
side effect, as new members tend to take more a more active part
in the Chamber’s events.
As for future growth, we still see a certain potential in the
regions outside of Prague. In 2015 we strengthened our activities
in Bohemia and Moravia. This trend will continue in 2016 with a
specific focus on South Moravia.
Board of Directors 2015
Following our online election in February 2015, three of the 12
members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors have been women,
signalling that the Nordic Chamber has significantly improved
its gender balance. Hopefully, this trend will continue in 2016.
Continuing the situation from 2014, not all Nordic nationalities
were represented in the Board in 2015, as we still lacked an Icelandic representative.
The spread of industries represented by the Board members
was seen as favourable, although a stronger presence of companies with more than 100 employees would have been welcome.
In the election period, the Nordic Chamber’s Board had the following members:
H.E. Annika Jagander,
Ambassador of Sweden, Honorary Chairwoman
Stefan Lager
(SWE, representing Zenterio, SWE), President
Exports to
2014
2015
y/y index (%)
Denmark
41 411
37 739
91.1
Petr Lukasík
(CZ, representing Tieto Czech, FIN), Vice President
Marie Passburg
(SWE, representing Skanska Property, SWE), Vice President
Radek Socha
(CZ, representing SKF, SWE), Treasurer
Zuzana Chudoba
(CZ, representing YIT Stavo, FIN), Board Member
Andrea Colantoni
(SWE, representing Hudson Global Resources, USA), Board Member
Birger Husted
(DK, representing Husted s.r.o. – Human Capital, CZ), Board Member
Nils Jebens
(NOR, representing Kampa Group, CZ), Board Member
Hannu Kasi
(FIN, representing ABB, SWE), Board Member
Zdeněk Majer
(CZ, representing Škoda Transportation, CZ), Board Member
Marika Přinosilová
(CZ, representing SAAB Technologies/Gripen Int., SWE), Board Member
Challenges for 2016
In the coming year the Nordic Chamber’s main challenges remain the
same as in 2015 – to continue our membership drive and the effort to
broaden our base of services for our members. We will also intensify
our cooperation with business organisations, both in the Czech regions
and in the Nordic countries. The goal is to bolster the Chamber’s role as
a practical vehicle for building Czech-Nordic business relations.
In addition, we will intensify our long-standing focus on an open
dialogue between the Chamber and its members. We will strive to
make communication even easier and faster. The voice of each and
every member of the Nordic Chamber shall be heard.
2014
2015
Denmark
18 861
20 769
110.1
10 296
10 524
102.2
Imports from
y/y index (%)
Finland
19 084
20 142
105.5
Finland
Iceland
846
1 274
150.5
Iceland
1 296 2 056
158.6
Norway
16 201
17 063
105.3
Norway
14 417
8 457
58.6
Sweden
52 975
58 374
110.1
Sweden
27 692
29 036
104.8
in CZK bill.
Source: ČSÚ
courtesy photo
18
20
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
MEMBERS
EXISTING
NEW
CANCELLED
2011
145
20
16
2012
149
14
14
2013
149
18
16
2014
151
17
20
2015
148
21
9
2016
160
--
--
COUNTRY
MEMBERS END
2015
% OF MEMBERS
TOTAL COMPANIES
IN 2015
Sweden
50
33%
200
Denmark
24
16%
90
Norway
11
7%
60
Finland
15
9%
60
Iceland
1
1%
10
Others
51
34%
Total
152*
ADVERTISING
ŠKODA TRANSPORTATION BECOMES BIGGER
420
* Excl. individual members
MEMBERS
2015
%
DESCRIPTION
A
28
18
over 100 employees
B
31
20
31-100 employees
C
29
19
11-30 employees
D
64
43
1-10 employees
Premium rail and rolling stock, which reliably operate in the harsh climates of northern Europe. These
units are made by the Finnish company Transtech, which the Czech group Škoda Transportation bought
last year. New acquisitions have made this traditional engineering company a key player in the sector of
rail and urban rolling stock on the Finnish and Scandinavian market. The key products of the company
include modern serially-manufactured trams for the capital Helsinki and double-decker electric cars
(operated as push-pull units).
www.skoda.cz
TECHNOLOGY & DEFENCE INDUSTRY
23
SAAB GROUP’S GROWING FOOTPRINT IN CENTRAL EUROPE
PRAGUE (E15) – Skanska Reality, the residential part of the Swedish
construction giant Skanska, has acquired an site in Prague Modřany
measuring nearly eight hectares from the Israeli developer Neocity. A
sugar refinery, now demolished, was earlier located on the brownfield
site. “Our intention is to transform the former refinery site into a mix of
apartments and a reasonable degree of commercial functions,” Skanska Reality’s General Manager, Naďa Ptáčková, comments. This was
the company’s third acquisition in 2015. In February Skanska Reality
took over a 533-apartment project, River Gardens, in Karlín. In April
the company bought a four-hectare brownfield site in Michle.
VITKOVICE BOOSTS EXPORTS TO FINLAND
PRAGUE (ČTK) – Ostrava-based Hutní montáže, which is a part
of the Vítkovice Machinery Group, has won three contracts in Finland worth almost CZK 750 million. The largest of the contracts,
the delivery of an 84-metre-tall regenerating boiler for the forest
industry giant Metsä Group in Central Finland, alone has a value
of CZK 500 million. The installation of the regeneration boiler,
which will be the largest of its kind in the northern hemisphere,
starts next year. In 2009 the Czech engineering company delivered a similar boiler to Foster Wheeler Energia in Lappeenranta
worth CZK 225 million.
RAILWAYS AWARD SKANSKA WITH BILLION CONTRACT
PRAGUE (LAN) – Skanska has signed a contract with the Railway
Infrastructure Administration for the modernisation of the Česká Lípa
station in Northern Bohemia. The contract value is CZK 1 billion. The
project is funded by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure and
Construction and will also be subsidised by the EU’s Cohesion Fund
within the Transport Operational Programme. The modernisation and
reconstruction in Česká Lípa includes a new terminal building, a new
underpass to the platforms and a new signalling system. Skanska
will also rebuild two bridges and add 32 electric heated switches and
19 railway crossings on a section of 33 kilometres.
TECHNOLOGY & DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SAAB GROUP’S GROWING FOOTPRINT IN CENTRAL EUROPE
land, naval, and civil security domain. We
have some very well-established products,
such as Carl-Gustaf multi-role shoulderfired systems and RBS 70 laser-guided missile systems, as well as our Giraffe family
radars. Those are among the products and
systems we are actively promoting in Central Europe as well. Separately, we are very
active in the area of air traffic management,
and the training and simulation domain.
The Czech Republic will soon launch a
huge tender for helicopters. Is this an area
where Saab can participate with competitive technology?
Saab has extensive knowledge and experience in avionics and self-protection systems
for helicopters and we work with a number
of helicopter manufacturers, but we are not a
rotary wing platform manufacturer.
You have over the years delivered comprehensive communication and security
solutions for both government and private
photo Saab Group
Czech, Hungarian, Swedish, South African,
British or Brazilian fighter or test pilots refer
to Gripen that way, so it probably comes from
the fact that both originate from Sweden.
Currently the Czech Republic and Hungary are operating fleets of Gripen aircraft.
What are the chances that Saab will reach
similar contracts in Croatia, Bulgaria and
Slovakia? And in longer terms, what about
the Baltic nations?
We do believe that there is an opportunity to
grow the Gripen footprint in the Central and
Eastern Europe region and we do see Gripen
as a perfect choice for many of these countries. The Swedish Government is currently
in negotiations with Slovakia for a Gripen
package.
Apart from the Gripen fighters, which
parts of your defence portfolio have the
biggest chances in the Central European
market?
Saab has an extensive portfolio covering the
FINLAND PLANS TUNNEL TO TALLINN
HELSINKI (YLE) – Finnish and Estonian city planners have for years
dreamed about an undersea tunnel between Helsinki and Tallinn, which
it is estimated would transport upwards of 11 million people a year. Now,
a preliminary feasibility study has established that the construction of an
80-kilometre-tunnel is an option that should be explored thoroughly. The
estimated cost, along with all of its train and traffic equipment, would be
between EUR 9 and EUR 13 billion in all. According to a feasibility study
commissioned by Helsinki, Tallinn and the northern county of Harju in
Estonia, the expenses could be covered if the project were to secure at
least 40 percent of its funding from the EU.
customers in Central Europe. How important is this segment for your operations in
total?
We are growing our footprint in the security and civil domain and have recently won
orders in different countries such as South
Africa and the UK and we face a lot of interest for our solutions in Central Europe. Our
market area organisation is responsible for
the marketing and sales of the whole Saab
portfolio, including our civil security offerings.
In 2011, Saab acquired the Slavkov-based
company E-COM, which produces virtual
simulators. Does this company play a key
role in reducing the costs of military training?
Yes, our virtual simulation facility in Slavkov is a fully-integrated Saab company and a
significant part of our Training & Simulation business.
The Swedish Air Force has signalled plans
to establish a Gripen training center for
all Gripen countries somewhere in Central
Europe. Will these plans materialise? If so,
is Časlav in Central Bohemia a potential
candidate?
I would like to correct you here. The international training center is a project initiated and
driven by the Czech Air Force. We as a company are interested and closely following this
initiative and are exploring with the Czech
Air Force how we can support this project.
T.B.E
NORWAY'S OIL FUND BROADENS FOCUS
OSLO (REU) – Norway’s lawmakers are expected to grant its USD
800 billion government pension fund a broader investment brief to
better spread risk, the leader of the parliamentary finance committee said last week. The central bank, which manages the fund, last
month recommended that it be allowed to invest in unlisted infrastructure projects and put a higher share of its assets into real estate – changes representing the biggest shift in strategy since it was
permitted to buy property, in 2010. The fund currently invests about
60 percent of its value in stocks, 35 percent in bonds and up to five
percent in real estate, all outside Norway.
SWEDEN TO INVESTIGATE DIESELGATE
STOCKHOLM (REU) – Sweden’s National Unit against Corruption has
opened a preliminary fraud investigation into Volkswagen over the German carmaker’s emissions test cheating scandal, which has affected
up to 11 million vehicles worldwide. Volkswagen, having admitted to
using software to conceal the level of toxic emissions from some of
its diesel vehicles in the USA, faces billions of dollars in claims from
owners of vehicles with similar software installed around the world. The
anti-corruption unit said the preliminary investigation will focus on serious fraud and the keeping of false records; the investigation will also
address the conditions for the imposition of a corporate fine.
courtesy photo
SKANSKA REALITY LAUNCHES MODŘANY PROJECT
utation” as Saab’s competitive edge in the
Central European defence market?
First of all I would like to stress that Gripen
is an absolute state-of-the-art fighter when
it comes to performing its task as multi-role
fighter. From the beginning of the design Saab
worked in close cooperation with the user in
order to ensure that Gripen would be highly
cost-effective to operate. In the Czech Republic and Hungary we have also successfully
delivered industrial cooperation programmes
that have generated positive effects within
the respective countries. I have never heard
photo Saab Group
Most Czechs automatically associate Saab
Group with JAS Gripen, the jet fighter
which the Central European country acquired in 2004, but in reality the Swedish
aerospace and defence company produces a
wide range of high-technology equipment
for both the military and civil sector. In addition to the high-profile Gripen
contract, Saab has over the last decade
clinched several major deals in the Czech
Republic: the Czech Army has acquired the
ARTHUR Weapon Locating System, the
RBS-70 portable surface-to-air missile system and Carl Gustav recoilless rifles.
In the coming years, the countries in the
region will continue the ongoing modernisation of their military capabilities.
“Saab ranks Central and Eastern Europe
among its key markets, especially because
of the fact that in this region we have two
countries, the Czech Republic and Hungary,
that are Gripen users. Our ambition is to grow
our footprint in the region,” says Saab’s Vice
President, Krasimira Stoyanova.
After joining Saab Group in 2006 as
Country Manager in Bulgaria supporting the
Gripen campaign in that country, Krasimira
Stoyanova in September 2015 moved to
Prague to take up the post of Market and Sales
Director of the Swedish defence company’s
operations in Central Europe and the Western
Balkans. The portfolio also includes Saab’s
civil security products. Krasimira Stoyanova
is a graduate of Sofia University in National
and World Economy; she holds a Master’s
degree in the Finance and Economics of Defence and Security.
In the Czech Republic, Russia’s invasion of
Eastern Ukraine has brought larger defence
budgets. Is this a common trend all over
post-communist Central Europe?
I believe there are many factors influencing
the defence budgets in the region. One of them
is that there has been a period after the new
millennium when the defence sector suffered
budget cuts and insufficient financing. On the
other hand, countries in the region have been
undergoing a process of modernisation and
rearmament, which of course requires financing. The nominal growth of the defence budget depends also on overall economy growth,
which differs from country to country.
Gripen has been dubbed “the IKEA fighter”. Do you see this “value-for-money-rep-
courtesy photo
photo Saab Group
22
THE NORDIC CHAMBER – 20 YEARS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JOSÉ CURA AND THE NORDIC CHAMBER IN CONSERT
All photos Nikol Štrosová
25
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
All photos Jakub Stadler
24
YIT STAVO GENERAL PARTNER IN 2016
PRAGUE (TBE) – YIT Stavo has become the Nordic Chamber’s General
Partner for 2016. In this role the Finnish-owned developer will be visibly
present in all the Chamber’s activities throughout the year. Since establishing itself in the Czech market in 2008, YIT has implemented a great
number of residential projects in attractive locations throughout Prague.
“I am thrilled that a company of YIT’s calibre has become our General
Partner. By focusing so strongly on Finnish architecture and design, YIT is
one of the most visible Nordic players in the Czech market. This has huge
value for the Chamber,” Executive Director Lea Turcarová says.
OSTRAVA ASKS FOR AIR LINK TO FINLAND
PRAGUE (E15) – North Moravia’s “capital”, Ostrava, is working to introduce direct flights from Mošnov Airport to Helsinki. The members of the
regional assembly in December agreed that North Moravia is prepared to
support the establishment of an Ostrava-Helsinki air link financially. “We
need direct flights to Finland because the Nordic country’s economy is
focusing on businesses that are pivotal to North Moravia,” Regional Governor Miroslav Novák (Soc. Dem.) commented. Finnish IT company Tieto
is one of the largest employers in North Moravia. The introduction of new
international air links must be authorised by the European Commission.
EU’S INVESTMENT BANK IN PRAGUE
PRAGUE (PP) – The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has
inaugurated an office in Prague. The move is part of the EU bank’s
plan to boost its presence on the ground in Europe and beyond in
order to promote business and policy dialogue. It currently has offices in 19 EU member states and 19 countries outside the EU. The
EIB has already been active. It signed a EUR 95 million loan contract with Komerční Banka to finance projects developed by SMEs
and mid-cap companies to support youth employment. The head of
the EIB Office in Prague is Hana Kaloudová.
MORE WOMEN IN SCIENCE
PRAGUE (ČTK) – Support for the emerging generation of scientists
and providing assistance in dealing with the unequal position of men
and women in research is the aim of a new programme of the Czech
Technology Agency. The programme is called ZETA and it is now being evaluated by the government research council. The Czech Republic
has long had one of the lowest shares of women directing research
projects. In 2014, women accounted for 27.2 percent of all researchers;
between 2013 to 2014, the number of research workers rose by 3,038
people, but only 278 of them were women.
Již 25 let jsme tu pro Vás
Alfa Laval spol. s r.o. letos oslaví 25. výročí svého
působení v České republice.
Alfa Laval je globálním dodavatelem specializovaných
výrobků a technologických řešení, jehož posláním je pomáhat
svým zákazníkům ohřívat, chladit, vzájemně oddělovat a
dopravovat tekutiny jako jsou například oleje, voda, nápoje,
léčiva, chemikálie a řada dalších.
Již od roku 1883 usilujeme o vytváření lepších
životních podmínek. Zaměřujeme se na všechny druhy aktivit,
které jsou šetrné k přírodě. Vše na čem pracujeme, vyvíjíme a
vyrábíme s vědomím plné odpovědnosti našeho přispění k
ochraně životního prostředí a podpoře trvale udržitelného
rozvoje.
Působíme ve více než 90ti zemích světa a zaujímáme tak jednu z předních pozic na světovém
trhu. Díky rozmanitosti místního průmyslového odvětví jsme v roce 1991 založili pobočku také
v České republice a společně s dalšími zeměmi tak tvoříme historii společnosti.
Stále držíme při sobě a naše tradice pokračuje...
Děkujeme, že jste s námi.
Alfa Laval spol. s r.o.
Voctářova 2449/5
180 00 Praha 8
www.alfalaval.cz
[email protected]
Přenos tepla
Řešení šetřící energii určená
pro vytápění, chlazení, klimatizaci,
odpařování a kondenzaci
Manipulace s kapalinami
Komponenty pro hygienické aplikace
(čerpadla, ventily, míchadla,
vybavení nádrží, instalační materiál)
Separace
Účinná separace kapalina/kapalina,
pevných částic z kapalin a rovněž
kapalin a pevných částic z plynů
ST. LUCIA – CHRISTMAS WITH THE NORDIC CHAMBER
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ST. LUCIA – CHRISTMAS WITH THE NORDIC CHAMBER
WALLENBERG PATHWAY IN PRAGUE
PRAGUE (TBE) – On 24 October, United Nations Day, one of
Prague’s most beautiful footpaths was officially named “Raoul Wallenberg Promenade” to honour the Swedish diplomat who in 1944
saved the lives of thousands of Jews in Budapest. Stretching from
Úvoz Street right below the Swedish embassy at Hradčany towards
Petřín Hill, Wallenberg Promenade offers a spectacular view of the
Czech capital. In January 1945, Mr Wallenberg was detained by Soviet authorities and abducted to Moscow. He was later reported to
have died in the KGB’s Lubyanka Prison in 1947. Russian authorities
are still withholding information about his tragic death.
STATOIL DELIVERS LNG TO THE BALTICS
VILNIUS (BLO) – Thanks to the re-gasification vessel “Independence”, which has been permanently docked in Klaipeda, Lithuania
has declared its “natural gas independence”. The 294 metre-long
vessel, with a capacity of 170,000 cubic meters, is leased by Klaipedos Nafta, the state-owned energy terminal operator, from Norway’s
Höegh LNG for 10 years, with an option to buy the re-gasification
unit. Norway’s Statoil has a contract to supply the terminal with LNG
for the coming five years. When running at full-capacity of almost 4
billion cubic meters, the terminal can cover 80 percent of the gas
needs of the entire Baltic region, including Latvia and Estonia.
All photos Nedjelko Matič
29
EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
All photos Nedjelko Matič
28
GREAT GROWTH FOR BUDVAR IN SWEDEN
PRAGUE (E15) – Czech state-owned brewery Budějovický Budvar,
which has been fighting a long legal battle with U.S. beer giant
AnheuserBusch over the use of the “Budweiser” brand, says its
output and exports reached a recordin 2015. The brewery’s exports
rose by 10.5 percent to 898,000 hectolitres of beer, the best result
in the company’s 120-year history. Budvar had very good results in
its two most important markets – Germany and Slovakia – but the
growth was even larger in Scandinavia. “In Sweden we reached a
double-digit growth,” sales manager Robert Chrt commented. Totally, Budvar exports to 73 countries worldwide.
ICELANDIC CROWBAR GOES TO AMERICA
REYKJAVÍK (ICE) – The owners of Icelandic Crowbar Protein, producers of the insect-infused protein bars Jungle Bar, have signed a contract
with a distributor in the USA. Jungle Bar will be distributed in Oregon,
Washington and Illinois by a distributer who specializes in health food
and health food stores, a perfect fit to the Icelandic company‘s agenda and image. The crickets used in the bars are reared by a farmer in
Canada, licensed for insect farming for human consumption. Crowbar
Protein believes that consumption of insects will increase in the near
future. The Icelandic company was founded following crowd funding in
Reykjavik in late 2014.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
31
Nordic Chamber of Commerce
ABB s.r.o.
ADBENTRUST s.r.o.
AETNA s.r.o.
Alfa Laval spol. s r.o.
Anomaly Pictures, s.r.o.
AQUATIS a.s.
AstraZeneca Czech Republic s.r.o.
Atlas Copco s.r.o.
AV Institut s.r.o.
Bath de Luxe s.r.o.
BENEFITY a.s.
Berendsen Textil Servis s.r.o.
Berger & Partners s.r.o
BIM Czech Republic s.r.o.
Bird & Bird, s.r.o. advokátní kancelář
Bohemia Properties a.s.
Boutique hotel Jalta & Plaza Alta Hotel
Business Sweden
CEE-Nordic Trade - Matti Lilja
COLOPLAST A/S
COMFORT CARE, a.s.
complex RE
Cook Communications s.r.o.
Creative world. s.r.o.
CTECH s.r.o.
CTP Invest, spol. s.r.o.
Československá obchodní banka a. s.
Damco Czech Republic s.r.o.
Danfoss s.r.o.
DAUCZECH s.r.o.
Dejmark Czech s.r.o.
DEMOS - Pragoduca, a.s.
DESIGNOR s.r.o.
Diploshop s.r.o.
DIRECT PEOPLE s.r.o.
DNV GL Business Assurance Czech Republic s.r.o.
DRILL B.S. spol. s r.o.
Družstevní závody Dražice - strojírna s.r.o.
DSV Air & Sea Czech Republic s.r.o.
EBO Reality s.r.o.
Edward Lynx s.r.o.
ELECTROLUX s.r.o.
Embassy of Finland
Embassy of Sweden
Ensto Czech s.r.o.
ERICSSON spol. s r.o.
Erste Optik, s.r.o.
Euro-Center Prague, s.r.o.
EUROALARM s.r.o.
Exact Control System a.s.
FACSON spol. s r.o.
Faiveley Transport Třemošnice s.r.o.
FERRING Pharmaceuticals CZ s.r.o.
FIMADA GROUP, s.r.o.
FINNY s.r.o.
FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES, s.r.o.
Galard Fashion
Getinge Czech Republic s.r.o.
Global Blue Czech Republic s.r.o.
Global Screening s.r.o.
Golf Konopiště a.s.
Grant Help, s.r.o.
Greencarrier Freight Services Czech Republic s.r.o.
HANSA ČESKO s.r.o.
Havel, Holásek & Partners s.r.o., advokátní kancelář
Helly Hansen Czech Republic s.r.o.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Hilton Prague
Hilton Prague Old Town
Holubová advokáti s.r.o.
Honorary Consulate of Iceland
HOTEL DUO
Hotel Jalta, a.s.
HUDSON
Husted s.r.o.
IFS Czech s.r.o.
International Investment Consulting Services BV
ISS Facility Services s.r.o.
Jotun Powder Coatings CZ a.s.
KAMPA PARK spol. s r.o.
Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsb
KGH Customs Services Czech Republic s.r.o.
Kocián Šolc Balaštík, advokátní kancelář
KONE a.s.
LeasePlan Česká republika s.r.o.
LEGO Production
LEGO Trading s.r.o.
LESIKAR a.s.
Lindex s.r.o.
LINDSTÖM s.r.o.
LK Pumpservice spol. s r.o.
LLENTAB s. r.o.
Loomis Czech Republic a.s.
Lundbeck Česká republika s.r.o.
LUTO Automotive CZ s.r.o.
Management Consulting
Marine Harvest Central & Eastern Europe s.r.o.
Mercuri International s.r.o.
Multi-Wing CZ s.r.o.
NCC Purchasing Group CEE s.r.o.
NIELSEN MEINL, advokátní kancelář s.r.o.
Nilfisk-Advance s.r.o.
Nokian Tyres s.r.o.
NORDEX AGENTUR spol. s r.o.
Novo Nordisk s.r.o.
NSG Morison advisory s.r.o.
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I
n 2015, Danish wind turbines once
again set a record. In total, wind turbines generated a record-high 42.1 percent of total Danish electricity consumption. In 2014, the figure was 39.1 percent
– this was also a world record.
In Jutland and on the island of Funen, wind power actually supplied more
electricity than total consumption for
more than 1,460 hours of the year 2015.
It is thus not unusual that there are hours
where wind production exceeds consumption. However, given that this is
now the case (up to one sixth of the time
in the Western Danish grid), it illustrates
that with increasingly fluctuating production Denmark is benefiting even more
from importing and exporting across international borders.
“If we have a lot of wind energy for
some hours, producers sell it to consumers in Norway, Sweden and Germany,
and vice versa; in Denmark, for instance,
we buy hydropower from Norway, solar
energy from Germany and power station electricity from Sweden, when it is
worthwhile,” comments Carsten Vittrup,
strategic energy advisor in Energinet.
dk’s Department of Energy analysis.
He stresses that Denmark’s combined
heat and power plants (“cogen plants”)
still play a large and important role in
Denmark’s electricity supply. The power
plants provide flexibility and produce
electricity when there is little production
from wind and sun.
The Danish parliament’s goal is that
wind power in 2020 should constitute 50
percent of Danish electricity consumption. Forecasts indicate that this goal will
be achieved.
Overall, there were more than 409
hours in 2015 in which Denmark’s wind
production exceeded total Danish electricity consumption.
One of the main reasons for 2015 being a record year was that it was a very
windy year, whereas 2014 saw no more
than average wind. On the other hand,
two wind farms – Anholt and Horns Rev
2 – were out of service for one and two
months respectively due to cable faults.
But for the extraordinarily long time period when the two wind farms were out
of action, the wind percentage would
have been approximately 43.5 percent.
“We must continue to set sensational
world records as part of the Danish showcase. This way, we can reap the benefits
of our many years of focus on wind energy. This is exactly what makes the
Danish energy policy a fantastic growth
engine,” explains Martin Bøndergaard,
Senior Advisor at the Danish Wind Industry Association.
Nordic News is the membership magazine of the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in
the Czech Republic (licence no. MK ČR E 16604 at the Ministry of Culture of the CR).
Three issues are published annually – in February, June and October – in ca. 1,200
copies. It is distributed to all NCC members and to major Nordic and Czech companies, authorities and other embassies and chambers of commerce.
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Terje B. Englund, editor-in-chief / [email protected]
James Drake, copy editor / [email protected]
Lea Turcarová, marketing / [email protected]
Tiskárna Tiskap s.r.o., lay-out & print / [email protected]
Do you want your latest press releases to be published in the next issue of
the Nordic News? Send them Lea Turcarová ([email protected]).
NORDIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Václavské náměstí 51, Prague 1, Tel. +420 222 314 944, Fax +420 226 015 885
www.nordicchamber.cz
DANISH WORLD RECORD IN WIND POWER
courtesy photo
COMPANY MEMBERS
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
NORDIC TRIUMPH IN JIZERSKÁ 50
PRAGUE (CRO) – Nordic skiers won all medals for both men and
women in the 2016’s traditional Jizerská padesátka cross country skiing
event in Northern Bohemia. The famous race consists of 15 circuits of
a 3.5-kilometre track. In the men’s class, Norway’s Petter Eliassen won
gold medal, followed by his compatriots, Johan Kjølstad and Anders
Auckland. In the women’s class, Britta Johansson Nordgren finished
first, closely trailed by Lina Korsgren and Sara Lindborg, all from Sweden. In total, 6,400 skiers from 30 nations started in this year’s Jizerská
padesátka, which became even tougher than in previous years due to
warm and misty weather.
Wind power as share of Denmark's
total power consumption
2015:
42.1 percent
2014:
39.1
2013:
32.7
2012:
30.0
2011:
28.3
2010:
22.0
2009:
19.4
2008:
19.3
2007:
19.9
2006:
17.0
2005:
18.7
Source: nvest.dk
www.nordicchamber.cz