Czech consulate to bolster trade (News)

RELATIONS between Bahrain and the Czech Republic are set for a major boost after the opening of the European country's first consulate.

Located in A'ali, it aims to improve business links and help stimulate tourism, with residents no longer having to deal with the Czech Embassy in Riyadh.

The consulate was officially opened by Prime Minister's Court Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and visiting Czech Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Hynek Kmoníček.

Also present was Bahrain's Foreign Affairs under-secretary Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla along with diplomats and other dignitaries.

The consulate will be headed by Georgios Antoniou, who is managing director of Bahrain-based Salman International Trading and Contracting Establish (SATCO).

"Czech nationals faced accessibility problems before as our embassy is located in Saudi Arabia," Mr Antoniou told the GDN.

"This new outpost will help ease some of that burden and will deal with issuing visas, documentation as well as offer assistance to business communities."

Mr Antoniou, who is of Cypriot nationality but married to a Czech national, was officially accredited by Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Ministry on February 3.

"The Czech Republic and Bahrain earlier signed the Agreement for Promotion and Protection of Investments in Prague in 2007 to strengthen our economic relations," he said.

"Discussions are also underway on a Double Taxation Agreement that will relieve Czech nationals abroad from paying taxes upon their return to their home country, which in turn will help improve the economies of the two countries."

Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Czech Republic Embassy in Riyadh Petr Hostalek said the new consulate would provide support to businessmen in Bahrain on a daily basis.

"Ours is a relatively small market here but we're both export-oriented economies and hence we can support each other," he said.

Bahrain is home to 42 Czechs, who mainly work in the hospitality sector.

"Czech nationals are employed with airlines as stewardesses, some are garden architects or nurses and they're also employed in the banking sector," said Mr Hostalek.

"They have distinguished themselves in diverse job fields such as coaching national sports teams.

"The last coach of the Bahrain national football team, Milan Máčala, was Czech."

The volume of trade between both countries was just over $15 million (BD5.6m) last year, with Bahrain importing a range of goods including Škoda cars, computer components, filtering and purifying products, electrical control panels and hospital beds.

Aluminium was the main export to the Czech Republic.

Mr Antoniou said the consulate would also help provide assistance to Bahrainis travelling to the Czech Republic for tourism and education.

"We have at present 87 Bahrainis who are mainly medical students," he said.

"We hope that with the opening of the new consulate, more students will be interested in choosing the Czech Republic as their destination for higher studies."

Mr Kmoníček, who travelled to Bahrain for two days of talks with Mr Abdullah, also had discussions with Shaikh Khalid at the Gudaibya Palace yesterday.

The consulate is housed in Villa 333 of Block 732 in Road 3207, opposite the National Driving School.

It will open on Sundays and Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm and can be contacted on 17764961.

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'Czech consulate to bolster trade', Gulf Daily News, May 21, 2010, Jennifer Gnana