Doing Business in the Czech Republic

[Excerpt] Baker & McKenzie is one of the world’s largest law firms with its presence in 70 locations in 42 countries. We have been active in the Czech Republic since 1993 and our work includes a full range of legal and tax services directed primarily to foreign investors doing business in the Czech Republic, but also, increasingly, to large, domestic Czech companies, especially as they seek to expand into new markets. Over the past 10 years, the Czech Republic has adopted new laws in virtually every area of regulation in the Czech legal system consistent with European standards as it prepared for accession to the European Union. The Czech Republic formally joined the European Union on May 1, 2004 and its legal system continues to develop in line with European norms. Doing Business in the Czech Republic has been prepared by the Prague office of Baker & McKenzie as a general guide for those companies or persons who wish to engage in business activities or invest in the Czech Republic. The information contained in this publication is general in nature and is intended only to provide an introduction to the Czech legal system and investment climate. This publication may not be relied upon in relation to any transaction or investment decision and it should not be viewed as a substitute for specific legal and tax advice. In addition, readers should be aware that the law and its interpretation are constantly changing in the Czech Republic; as such, the information contained in this publication may quickly become outdated

Employment Connection: Demand-Driven Model Increases Job Placement

In this report, we examine the transition to a demand-facing, employer-driven model that focuses on the transition impact to the adult and dislocated worker populations served by the Workforce Investment Act. By looking beyond the Workforce Investment Act common measures, we found that the number exiting the program to employment increased five-fold. Even as more people exit the program, a higher percentage of exiters are being placed in jobs. These are surprisingly strong results in a still-troubled regional economy

Opportunities and risks for CO2 intense sectors in Turkey

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world. Over 3,000 organizations in some 60 countries now disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, water management and climate change strategies through CDP, in order that they can set reduction targets and make performance improvements. This data is gathered on behalf of institutional investors, purchasing organizations and government bodies, then, made available to CDP signatories for integration into business and policy decision-making. Since its formation in 2000, CDP has become the gold standard for carbon disclosure methodology and process, providing essential climate change data to the global market place. Since the beginning of the year 2010, Turkey is included in Carbon Disclosure Project with the support of Akbank and Ernst & Young-Turkey. The project is managed and controlled by Sabanci University Corporate Governance Forum, which has become a centre of expertise on corporate disclosure over the years. 50 companies, which constitute the Istanbul Stock Exchange’s ISE-50 index, have been invited by CDP Turkey in the year of 2010 to disclose climate change related information,10 of those companies responded to CDP’s invitation and presented their carbon emission levels and risk management strategies to international investors through the CDP platform. Additionally one company joined the CDP voluntarily. In the year 2011, the invitation is extended to 100 companies constituting Istanbul Stock Exchange’s ISE-100 index. A total of 17 ISE 100 companies responded to CDP, including two ISE 100 firms whose international parent companies answered the questionnaire on their behalf. In addition, there are three voluntary responses outside the ISE 100 sample, which increased the number of direct CDP responses from Turkish companies to 20. In 2012, CDP Turkey aims to enlarge its scope to cover both listed and non-listed firms in carbon intense industries through voluntary disclosure in collaboration with sector organizations. This report discusses the conditions in CO2 intense sectors of Turkey, in terms of market conditions, current & potential regulatory risks and opportunities. The first sections of the report elaborate on comparative GHG emission trends in Turkey. The second section lays down leading firms in the largest industries and the most CO2 intensive sectors in Turkey. The third section draws attention to the market dynamics in carbon intense industries. And the last section, points out risks and potential opportunities for those industries, including EC legislation and initiatives to transform consumption and production patterns

Використання хмарних обчислень для розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів

The article deals with the problem for development of techers’ information and communication competence and use of cloud computing for it. The analysis of the modern approaches to the use of cloud technologies and projects for professional development of teachers and development of teachers’ information and communication competence have been presented.There are the main characteristics of software as a service on the Internet for education leading companies Google, Microsoft, IBM. There are described some actions of these companies, which are conducted to help teachers to master cloud technology for improving the professional activities and development of teachers’ information and communication competence. The examples of ways of development of teachers’ information and communication competence and training teachers to use modern ICT in the professional activity are given in the paper. The Cloud based model for development of teachers’ information and communication competence has been proposed.Стаття присвячена проблемі розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів за допомогою використання хмарних обчислень. Здійснюється аналіз сучасних підходів до використання хмарних технологій та проектів для професійного розвитку вчителів та розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів. Пропонуються основні характеристики хмарних обчислень провідних компаній Google, Microsoft, IBM, з точки зори їх необхідності для здійснення навчального процесу в мережі Інтернет. Описуються дії цих компаній та інші навчальні проекти, метою яких є розвиток інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів за допомогою хмарних обчислень. Наводяться приклади шляхів рішення проблеми розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів за допомогою використання сучасних інформаційно-комунікаційних технологій. Запропонована модель розвитку інформаційно-комунікаційної компетентності вчителів на базі хмарних обчислень, виділені основні вимоги та елементи цієї моделі