Modernisation and improvement of the competitiveness of the economies of the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation are the main goals of the Joint Declaration on the Partnership for Modernisation signed by Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov.
The declaration shall also create the prerequisites for increased participation of Czech companies in the implementation of investment projects in the Russian Federation. The signing of the declaration in the presence of the presidents of both countries, Václav Klaus and Dmitry Medvedev, is an expression of thanks to all those who have actively participated in its creation, and at the same time an enormous commitment for all those who will implement it. The value of the projects included in the list is currently around EUR 3 billion. The list will be completed in the first quarter of 2012 and regularly updated and supplemented to include new joint modernisation projects.
Agreements signed
An additional framework and specific economic documents were signed with a total value of agreed contracts around EUR 2.15 billion. The Agreement on Cooperation between the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation stipulates priority areas for cooperation, including activities of Czech and Russian companies and their representation during the development of economic relations. The Agreement on Strategic Cooperation and Support for Financing between EGAP and the Ural Industrial-Ural Polar Corporation expresses the readiness of both sides to provide support for development projects in the Ural Federal District, in particular in the rail infrastructure and energy sectors. The Agreement on Strategic Financing by Czech and Russian Banks for the "Northern Latitudinal Railway" project between the Czech Export Bank and the Yamal Railway Company contains the planned strategic financing of the project for the construction of a wide-gauge railway on the Obskaya – Salekhard – Nadym section.
The Protocol on Performance of Amendments in the Agreement between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Organisation of Repairs to Mi-24 (Mi-35), Mi-171Š (Mi-8, Mi-7) Helicopters and their Modernisation in the Czech Republic has a significant economic importance as well. A Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the firms Plynostav Pardubice holding and Strojtransgaz is focused on the possible forms of cooperation during the implementation of long-term projects for the construction of oil, gas and energy structures. Further, the firm Alta has concluded a contract for the delivery of a plant for production of methanol with an annual capacity of 600 tonnes in Nizhny Tagil in Sverdlovsk Oblastand and the firm OHL ŽS has concluded a supplier contract with the Yamal Railway Company for the construction of a railway on the Obskaya – Salekhard – Nadym section, including the construction of a railway bridge over the River Ob.
The Russian Federation is among our top ten most important foreign trade partners with a share of 4 % in its total volume. Over the past 10 months of 2011, Czech exports rose by 48 % and imports by 22 %. The total volume rose by over 31 % to reach USD 10.8 billion. The key export producs include traditional engineering products such as machinery and transport means, while mineral fuels dominate in imports.
