Updated

The Czech government plans to step up support for Czech businesses in Ukraine, including a permanent representative of the CzechBusiness agency in Lviv, expected from January 2027, Ukrinform reported on November 10. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček announced the plans in an interview ahead of his visit to Ukraine, which begins that day and includes a business delegation of around 50 companies and talks with Ukrainian officials and politicians. Havlíček said local representatives familiar with the business environment could help Czech firms find partners and guide them through later stages of cooperation, and that the office would complement the work of Czech diplomatic missions and business associations. He also pointed to financing tools: the Ukraine Recovery Guarantee, a €125 million programme launched by the National Development Bank in September 2026, which generally covers 80% of loan principal and eligible interest, and the EGAP Ukraine Fund, increased to CZK 1 billion, which offers export insurance including against non-payment, with maximum cover extended to two years. A hospital modernisation programme is also being prepared. The first application round for the guarantee programme closes on November 11.