Article by Hans Weber

On the morning of May 7, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic, together with Her Excellency, the Canadian Ambassador Emily McLaughlin, hosted a high-level business breakfast and interactive discussion at the Embassy of Canada in Prague. The event brought together representatives from business, trade, and diplomacy and provided an excellent opportunity for participants to exchange views on the current state of economic relations between Canada and the Czech Republic.

Even before the official program began, a welcoming yet highly professional atmosphere prevailed throughout the embassy’s elegant premises. Numerous members and partners of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, many of whom maintain close business ties with Canada, used the occasion to network and hold informal discussions over breakfast.

The event was opened by the President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Jiří Krejča. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasized the importance of the long-standing economic cooperation between Canada and the Czech Republic and highlighted the value of personal contacts and trusted partnerships, particularly during economically challenging times. He noted that Canada represents not only an attractive export market for Czech companies but also an important strategic partner in North America.

Following his remarks, Her Excellency, the Canadian Ambassador Emily McLaughlin, addressed the guests. The Ambassador underlined the traditionally excellent bilateral relations between the two countries and highlighted the many opportunities to further strengthen economic cooperation. In particular, she highlighted innovation, modern technologies, energy, tourism, and sustainable economic development as areas with considerable potential for joint projects and investments. She also praised the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for its active role as an important platform connecting Czech and Canadian businesses.

The morning’s keynote speaker was Mr. David Müller, Deputy Minister at the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. In his introductory speech, he addressed current challenges and opportunities in international trade and emphasized Canada’s importance as a stable, reliable partner for the Czech economy. Topics discussed included export promotion, investment opportunities, industrial cooperation, new technologies, and tourism.

Particular attention was devoted to the prospects for further strengthening mutual trade relations. Several speakers noted that the CETA free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union continues to offer substantial opportunities for companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Representatives from various industries used the subsequent discussion to raise specific questions regarding trade conditions, investments, and market developments.

The discussion quickly evolved into a lively and open exchange of ideas between the participants and the Deputy Minister. It became evident that there remains a strong interest in deepening economic relations between Canada and the Czech Republic. Many participants shared practical experiences from their own business activities involving Canada and spoke positively about the continued growth of bilateral cooperation in recent years.

In addition to the official speeches and discussion, networking played a central role throughout the event. Before and after the presentations, guests took full advantage of the opportunity to establish new contacts and strengthen existing professional relationships.

The culinary part of the morning was provided by Zátiší Catering, whose breakfast buffet received excellent feedback from the guests. The quality, freshness, and presentation of the food contributed significantly to the pleasant atmosphere of the event. Also present was Sanjiv Suri, founder and long-time driving force behind the renowned Zátiší Group, which operates several well-known restaurants in Prague, such as V Zatisi and Mlýnec, and has for decades been considered one of the leading names in Prague’s fine-dining scene. The restaurand have been mentioned in the Michelin Guide and Gault&Millau.

The event once again demonstrated that economic relations between Canada and the Czech Republic continue to rest on a very solid foundation. At a time of global economic uncertainty, stable international partnerships and direct dialogue between business and government are becoming increasingly important. The business breakfast at the Canadian Embassy provided an excellent setting for such exchanges and once again highlighted the close ties between the two countries.

Thanks to the great organization by the chamber’s Executive Director, Mrs. Lucie Krejčová, it was a memorable event.