Investors keep faith in Czechs

Foreign direct investment in the country between 1993 – when the country opened its doors to privately owned companies following the Velvet Revolution – and 2004 amounted to €41 billion, according to the Czech National Bank. Peaking at €9bn in 2002, the level has since dropped to around €3.6bn in 2004, but the Economist Intelligence Unit sees this level being maintained until 2008, as compliance with EU rules and regulations further improve the business environment.