OPTA
22.-24.2. 2013

A Brno meeting in the field of optics, optometry and ophthalmology has been serving as the most important novelty show and a contract platform in Central Europe for the past nineteen years. Representatives of trade associations from the Czech and Slovak Republics wished success to the fair during its launch, together with a well-known economist Miroslav Ševčík.

"Vision is a great privilege and we should be proud that we take care of it for the people of this country," said Beno Blachut in his speech, when he greeted the participants of the fair as the president of the Association of Czech Opticians and Optometrists and appreciated nineteen years of cooperation with the Brno Exhibition Centre. A salute from the Opticians’ Union of Slovakia was conveyed by its president Pavel Moravec, who expressed his belief that this year’s OPTA would be of professional and commercial benefit to both the Czech and Slovak opticians. President of the Czech Contactology Society Jiří Michálek highlighted the role of the fair as an increasingly rare opportunity for a personal meeting, which allows immediate discussion, exchange of experience and refinement of ideas.

The main guest of the opening was the of Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Public Economics in Prague and Chairman of the Liberal Institute Miroslav Ševčík. In his lecture on "The Economic Situation of the Czech Republic and its impact on business" he summed up the international economic context, the causes of the current financial, economic and debt crisis as well as the current and prospective situation of the Czech economy. Among other things he stated that the Czech Republic has in comparison with other EU countries still relatively favourable prospects, but the negative mood of Czech consumers would continue for at least several months.