Daily summary of the Czech economy: Česká spořitelna - Erste Group, ČEZ and Mitsubishi Corporation - 19 May 2025

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Overview of the latest economic events in the Czech Republic

Prague faces a major energy challenge. President Petr Pavel warned today at the reVision of the Czech Republic conference that postponing or freezing the construction of new units of the Dukovany nuclear power plant could have dramatic consequences for the Czech Republic. Among the most serious impacts is the risk of electricity shortages and the consequent threat to economic growth. Pavel stressed that unless available electricity is secured, sustainable economic development cannot be expected.

In its spring economic forecast, the European Commission lowered the growth outlook for the Czech economy this year to 1.9 %, down from the original 2.4 %. For 2026, the EC expects only a slight acceleration to 2.1 %. These developments confirm that the Czech economy is facing stagnation, with weak domestic demand and rising energy costs remaining key challenges.

According to the current Prosperity and Financial Health Index, the Czech Republic has dropped from 15th to 16th place in the EU. The biggest negative impact on the score has been the dramatic decline in housing affordability. In contrast, the Scandinavian countries and, more recently, Austria topped the rankings. Česká spořitelna, in cooperation with the portal Europe in Data, points out that the drop is mainly affecting the middle class, which is facing problems with mortgage repayments and unaffordable rents.

Foreign investment

The financial market has seen several key movements. The Austrian Erste Group increased its stake in Česká spořitelna and announced its intention to invest in the long-term digitisation of services in the Czech Republic. This move is seen as a sign of confidence in the Czech banking market. German electric car manufacturer Volkswagen continues to expand its Czech subsidiary Škoda Auto.

By 2026, it plans to invest more than CZK 10 billion to develop new electric models and expand the production line in Mladá Boleslav. This is one of the largest foreign investments this year. US software company Microsoft announced that it will open its new innovation centre in Prague, focusing on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The investment will support the local IT sector and create more than 200 new jobs.

Significant events outside the Czech Republic with global impact

On the global front, external factors also influence the development of the Czech economy. First of all, there is the expected decision of the US Fed regarding interest rates. The markets expect them to remain at their current level, while investors are cautious due to persistent inflation. The earthquake in the technology sector is the announced merger between Alibaba Cloud and Tencent AI Solutions.

The deal, worth over $90 billion, redefines China's position in cloud services and artificial intelligence. It is also expected to have an impact on European markets, particularly in the data centre and licensing space. In the South East Asia region, Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation has teamed up with Thailand's PTT Global Chemical in a joint venture to develop eco-friendly plastics. This alliance has the potential to have a significant impact on raw material prices in the European area as well.

Selected corporate transactions and acquisitions

Heat pump startup Woltair has announced a request for a general moratorium due to financial difficulties. The company is now looking for a strategic partner to raise capital and survive in the market. Czech energy group CEZ confirmed the acquisition of a minority stake in Zolar Energy from Germany, strengthening its position in the renewable energy sector. PPF Group announced an increase in its stake in Home Credit Vietnam, marking a shift in its Asian expansion.

Banking house Komerční banka has sold part of its real estate worth CZK 3 billion to CPI Property Group. Agrofert Group bought a plastics processing plant in Saxony from its German owner, expanding its portfolio outside the food industry. Finally, technology firm Avast announced a strategic partnership with Israeli cyber forensics company Cellebrite.

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