Trade ministry merges CzechInvest and CzechTrade branches

The Czech Industry and Trade Ministry has merged the foreign branches of the state run agencies CzechInvest and CzechTrade into a single network of trade missions. The merger is part of a new export strategy that defines 12 priority countries for Czech exports and so-called areas of interest covering 25 countries. The country is seeking to boost exports to Brazil, China, India, Iraq and the United States, among others. By the end of 2013 the Czech Republic should have 70 offices in 56 countries the world over.