The Export Strategy in 2010 was performed in a gradual recovery of the global economy and a renewal in the growth of external demand.

Czech exporters have increased their activity as a response to the improvement in external conditions. They have succeeded in reversing the trend of falling exports that had been evident for most of the last year and have gradually returned exports to the pre–crisis level.

While exports fell by 14 % in 2009 on a year–on–year basis, they rose by 16 % in the first ten months of this year. A comparison shows that its two–digit growth ranks the Czech Republic among the European Union Member States with the highest export growth dynamic.

The Czech Republic is also among the EU Member States that are able to generate a balance of trade surplus over a long term period. Although it fell by CZK 20.8 billion to CZK 111.6 billion in the first ten months of 2010, it remains one of the highest trade surpluses in the Union.
Competitiveness of the CR

The above data show that the drop in the competitiveness of the Czech economy as indicated by some international comparisons taking into account institutional and regulatory environment, infrastructure, macroeconomic stability, expert competencies, technological environment, the level of innovation and other key factors, has not yet significantly influenced the macroeconomic figures indicating the position of the Czech Republic in the global economy in terms of the trade.

At the same time, it is true that Czech export remains strongly dependent on cyclical developments in the markets of European Union Member States where almost 86.1 % of export was directed (32.7 % to Germany). Together with Slovakia, it represents the highest intra–Union share of total exports. Although the share has fallen to its current level of 84 % (31.6 % to Germany), diversification of export and a search for new markets outside the European Union remain an imperative for the coming period.
Future trends and steps

Products with a low share of domestic research and development make up a significant part of Czech exports. If export is to retain its competitiveness in a long–term perspective, positive changes towards modern technologies and high value added products must occur.

The new government considers export and an ability to penetrate foreign markets as key assumptions for the recovery of the Czech economy and the resumption of economic growth. It has, therefore, announced an active and comprehensive pro–export policy and a support of economic interests of the Czech Republic abroad as one of its economic priorities.