Czech Chamber of Commerce

We are the national Chamber of Commerce established by the law No. 301/1992 on the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic and the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic representing the large, medium and small businesses in local and regional chambers and branch associations. Chamber plays also the role of the public law institution authorized by the Government to take over some of its competencies such as the issuing of the certified copies from the state administration registers. The name of the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic in English language was replaced by Czech Chamber of Commerce since 1st September 2007.
The Czech Republic is well known for its high level of culture, qualified workforce, and advantageous geographical location in the centre of Europe, favourable taxation system, and an extensive transport communication network.

To enter the Czech market foreign companies may need help or advice from someone who is familiar with the local business environment. That is why the Czech Chamber of Commerce can be the first point of contact and a useful partner for doing business in the Czech Republic.

The Chamber’s main task is the improvement of the business environment and the support for trade. on which it focuses most of its activities.  A comprehensive range of professional services in all areas related to trade, industry and commerce are available to all representatives of the business community in the Czech Republic.

Czech Chamber of Commerce has become an integral part of Czech economic life and a trustworthy partner for thousands of companies. It has become the place where key entrepreneurial services can be found. It meets the needs not only of the Czech, but also foreign, businesses. It is a partner for the support of mutually beneficial relations and a place where contacts can be made.

History
Austro-Hungarian Empire
The institution of chambers of commerce was brought to the territory which now forms the Czech Republic from France, where the first chamber of commerce was founded in Marseille in 1650. Inn 1850 Act of Parliament divided the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 60 chambers of commerce where traders and merchants could associate. Their importance gradually rose and in the second half of the 19th century the chambers pursued a wide range of activities: they set up export offices, museums, and industrial and commercial schools, organised exhibitions, specialist lectures, courses, etc. Later the chambers even obtained political rights, and could elect deputies to regional assemblies and the Imperial Council.

Czechoslovak Republic
An important change took place in 1920 when the range of their activities was modified within the framework of the new state of Czechoslovakia. Two years later the Centre of the Economic and Commercial Chambers was set up in Prague. During the first years of independence the chambers made an important contribution to the development of the new country, for example drafting many specialist reports and recommendations related to economic, socio-economic, and politico-economic matters. Arbitration courts founded as part of the trade and commercial chambers were given greater authority and provided fast specialist services. The activities of the chambers relating to the provision of information expanded rapidly. In the 1930s the Export Institute of the Commercial and Trade Chambers was established. Between the wars economic and trade chambers were to be found in Prague, České Budějovice, Plzeň, Cheb, Liberec, Hradec Králové, Brno, Olomouc, and Opava.

After the 2nd World War
There was a fundamental change in 1948 when the communists seized power: the commercial and trade chambers were disbanded and their functions - especially those connected to international foreign trade commitments - were transferred to the Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

After new legislation was passed in 1952 a new legal entity, the Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce was established. In the following years the chamber underwent numerous changes, including a change of title to the Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

After the Velvet Revolution – Czech Republic
When Czechoslovakia split on the January 1st 1993 the chamber's institutions in Slovakia became independent and the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic (Hospodářská komora České republiky, HK ČR) was established by a special law in 1993.

In 1994 the Czech parliament passed a law approving the merger of the Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Czech Chamber of Commerce, subsequent to which the Czech Chamber of Commerce became the legal successor to the Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry and acquired all its rights and obligations. This made it the only chamber-type institution in the Czech Republic in the non-agricultural field.