Final Word from Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The Economic Chamber's attempt to nationalize foreign chambers of commerce came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. The foreign chambers attacked it in the early stages for hearkening back to the pre-1990 period. The industry ministry then quietly killed the idea. The Economic Chamber apparently doesn't like the way large foreign investors, acting through their chambers, are influencing local legislation in areas such as bankruptcy and commercial registration. Converting the chambers to departments of the Economic Chamber would eliminate this competition. By trying to play catch-up, though, the Economic Chamber is missing another big competitive opportunity. The era of large foreign investments is nearing its peak, and the next big investment phase will belong to small and mid-size enterprises. This is where the Economic Chamber can have a significant impact. [Czech Republic Hospodářská komora SMEs]