In this week’s Business News: Czech companies look to manufacture new generation of drones; toy makers see international playground; sale sign goes up on Zuno bank; Czech crown for Miss Universe event; and pay as you stay coffee shop revolution promised for Prague.
Czech consortium targets civil market for drones
Photo: ČT24
A Czech consortium has been created to develop a new generation of airborne drones that can be used on civil building projects such as the construction of motorways or gas pipelines and also by emergency services and police for searching for missing persons. Two of the partners in the cooperation are a subsidiary of the Metrostav construction company and the state Military Technical Institute. Series production could start within a few months.
Producers expect Czech toys to play big abroad
Photo: Alan Chia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Czech toy producers are expecting a record year for exports in 2015 with sales abroad jumping by 17 percent to around 2 billion crowns. There are around 230 such Czech producers who reckon they have held onto a local market share of between seven and ten percent. Products vary from traditional wooden toys to the latest hi tech Lego bricks.
Internet bank Zuno up for sale
Photo: Kristýna Maková
The Czech and Slovak operations of the internet bank Zuno have been put on sale by their Austrian owner, Raiffeisenbank. Total customers in the two countries amounted to only around 250,000 with Zuno failing to make a significant breakthrough into the loans market. The bank also suffered from the proliferation of similar low cost banks which, however, have also recently sought to develop local branch networks.
Czech crown assured at Miss Universe competition
Photo: Diamonds International Corporation
Whoever triumphs in the Miss Universe competition in Miami this Sunday, one Czech company will certainly be among the winners. Czech-based diamond jewellery company Diamonds International Corporation provides the crowns for the competition and will be doing so for the next nine years under a contract signed last year. The company was established in Prague in 2005 and has since become an international byword for glittering creations. It also provides the crowns for Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
Coffee shop revolution promised for Prague
Ziferblat in Moscow, photo: MashaChern, Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0
The revolutionary coffee shop concept Ziferblat – where you get the coffees and food free but pay for the time you stay there – is planning to open up in Prague. The intention to open in the Czech capital was announced on the Facbook pages of its recently opened London site. The concept was launched by the Russian Ivan Mitin with around a dozen outlets now existing. Prices per hour in the London and Moscow coffee shops each work out at around 66 Czech crowns.
