Trade between the Czech Republic and Italy continues its record growth also in 2018, as evidenced by data recently released by the Czech Statistical Office and an analysis carried out by the Italian Embassy and the Chamber of Deputies of Commerce and of the Italian-Czech Industry. In 2017 - according to a statement - Italian exports grew by 8% to over €6 billion. Italy thus stands as the fifth supplier of the Czech Republic behind Germany, China, Poland, and Slovakia; and as the sixth global trading partner. For the first time, the volume of trade between the two countries exceeded the €12 billion threshold, with an increase of 5.7% compared to 2016. In the last five years, trade has registered an overall increase of over 40%. "The extraordinary growth of the commercial exchange, the increase of the Czech investments in Italy and the constant interest towards the made in Italy and the Italian lifestyle are all reasons to be proud of the Italian System in the Czech Republic - declared the Ambassador Aldo Amati. The Czech market, driven by a vigorous increase in household consumption supported by continued growth in employment and wage increases, is booming and this is why Italian SMEs look to this country with increasing interest."