Chamber Trip to Tuscany

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce World Trade Center is organizing a Partnership Mission to the cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Prague from September 9-16, 2006. This mission purpose is to promote companies, products, services and establish relationships in those dynamic sectors offering excellent potential partnerships for companies interested in entering the markets. In each city, mission participants will benefit from market briefings, business discussions and networking receptions with business leaders, government leaders and dignitaries.

Prague
Often called "The Heart of Europe," Prague resides in one of the more emerging democracies of Central Europe. The Czech Republic is known to have one of the most developed industrialized economies in the world. It became the first post-communist country to receive an investment-grade credit rating by international credit institutions. Successive Czech governments have welcomed U.S. investment, in particular, as a counter-balance to the strong economic influence of Western Europe. Its well educated population and developed infrastructure has helped build Prague into the international business center it is today. The GDP per capita of Prague is more than double that of the Czech Republic as a whole, with a per capita GDP of EUR 32,357 in 2002, 153 % of the European Union average.

Vienna
As the capital of the 4th richest nation within the European Union, Vienna is the seat of a number of United Nations offices and various international institutions including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It is Austria’s most important economic center, generating approximately 28% of the nation’s GDP and employing about a quarter of the nation’s workforce. Besides its significant banking, insurance and manufacturing sectors, corporate conventions and congresses play an important role in the economy. With three congress centers, excellent infrastructure, experienced congress and travel agencies and interpreters, Vienna is one of the world’s premier locations for international political and economic meetings and conferences.

Bratislava
Recently added to the European Union in 2004, the Slovak Republic is a young country in the heart of Europe that peacefully separated from the Czech Republic in 1993. As the fastest growing economy in Central Europe, Slovakia is now one of the most attractive investment locations in the region with its capital, Bratislava, representing the center of most investment opportunities. It also stands as part of the world’s largest common market comprised of more than 450 million consumers. This is one reason why U.S-Slovak business and investment relations currently are flourishing.

Czech Republic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_republic - practical information about the Czech Republic
http://worldfactbook.com/country/Czech%20Republic/2005 - statistics/facts on Czech economy, geography, history
www.czechtourism.com/index.php?lang=3 - Czech tourism
http://wikitravel.org/en/Czech_Republic - traveling in the Czech Republic

 

http://worldfactbook.com/country/Slovakia/2005 - statistics/facts on economy, geography, history
http://wikitravel.org/en/Slovakia - traveling in Slovakia
www.slovakia.org/tourism/ - links to maps and facts about Slovakia
www.slovakia.org/economy4.htm - facts about the economy and business customs in Slovakia

www.slovakia.org/culture1.htm  - summary on the history of Slovakia and how it has shaped its culture today

 

Austria
http://worldfactbook.com/country/Austria/2005 - statistics/facts on economy, geography, history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria - practical information about Austria
http://wikitravel.org/en/Austria - travel facts for Austria
www.austria.info/xxl/_site/us/_area/416153/home.html - transportation and tourist info