Inc. Peter White , Senior Vice President, Smith Barney Inc . Soma Rao, Options Sales Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, Smith Barney Inc . The Department of Commerce's Foreign Commercial Service has offices overseas to help U.S. companies. The most activity and potential for business exists in the Czech Republic, which has the most educated Central European work force per capita. Austerity programs were introduced in the Republic in April and May, as there is a trade deficit problem, and major economic changes and restructuring are occurring due to low productivity and low employment.
Key sectors are telecommunications, energy, aerospace and pollution control.
Primary business opportunities exist in managing pollution, energy, telecommunications, and medical services. Loans are available from the ERBD to businesses that need financial help. The Czech Republic has two major cellular phone networks. Hungary has the highest American Central European investment and is rapidly becoming the biggest in trade. The government is still the key hub for finance, informatics, telecommunication, and information.