JIHOZAPAD - Economy
Agriculture highly developed
Industrial production is centred particularly in and around Ceské Budejovice and in districts of Tábor and Strakonice. The processing industry prevails (food and drink processing, means of transportation, machinery and appliances, and the textile and cloth industries). The travel industry has had the highest growth in business activities in the region.
Especially the economic sphere underwent extensive changes. Most industrial enterprises, providing jobs for approximately one third of the town inhabitants, transformed into joint stock or other companies, some of which are operating foreign capital. Among the most important companies the following have to be mentioned: Budweiser Budvar Brewery, which also accepted the role of an important sponsor (especially in the culture and the healthcare system), pencils manufacturer Koh-i-noor Hardmuth, enamel factory Sfinx and Samson Brewery, run by the joint stock company Jihoceské pivovary (South Bohemian Breweries). The engineering factories then include Motor Jikov or the manufacturer of auto accessories Bosch with a considerable capital share of the German trust. Also a whole range of private and joint stock companies, operating in various fields, were established in Ceské Budejovice: approximately 19 000 such companies were in operation in 1997.
The agricultural sector focuses on plant production, predominantly on growing cereals, oil plants and potatoes. In animal husbandry, the breeding of cattle and pigs prevails. Fishing has a long tradition in the region of Jihozapad. Fish farming in the total aquatic area of 25 000 ha, makes up half of the total production in the Czech Republic.
The region of Jihozapad is becoming an important tourism and recreational area. In 2002, there were 843 hotels and similar establishments in the region with almost 30 828 bed places. The number of nights spent in the region exceeded 5.7 million in 2002 of which almost 80% were spent by residents.
In 2000, industry generated 47 % of the total gross value added of the region, while services represented only 45 % (the lowest share in the country) and agriculture had the highest share amongst the region with 8 % of the gross value added of the region.
Transport
In the Jihozapad region a completely new transport situation formed in the beginning of the 1990s. Opening of borders resulted in huge increase of road transport, namely transport by trucks.
The region is covered by relatively dense railway network. The most important railway routes basically copy the most important roads. The first important railway route is the railway from Prague to Plzen and then to the border with Germany. The second important route is a railway from Prague to Ceské Budejovice and then to the border with Austria.
From Prague to Plzen and then to the border with Germany an important international road E50 leads, which is almost through all its length on the territory of the region covered by D5 motorway. The second backbone road in the region is E55 connecting north and south of Europe, which leads from Prague to Ceské Budejovice and then to Austria. On the territory of the region it uses only via the first-class roads. Planned construction of a motorway has not been realised, yet.
There are no important waterways or international airports in the region.
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