The Czech Post in cooperation with the town hall at Boží Dar launched a pilot project called PARTNER Post Office. Once proved, it will become a new channel for providing postal services to small town communities.

PARTNER Post Office is the title of a branch operated by a partner of the Czech Post under a contract that clearly sets the partner's duties and financial compensation. The partner in this project is the Municipal Office in Boží Dar.

The Post Office believes this model of partnership will be able to secure availability of postal services in remote areas, with benefits both for customers and the contractual partner. At the same time it will help the Czech Post maintain the level of service quality and cut costs.

"Rather than seeking anything new, we used a model applied successfully by the neighbouring EU countries for inspiration. It will not be forced on anyone: to set up a PARTNER Post Office needs an agreement with the local government. I believe the form of partnership will be attractive, the Boží Dar project is the best example of it. In the first stage we would welcome cooperation with local offices. It can become a profitable business for them as well as improve services provided to the population living in small communities. We are expecting that a minimum 60 branches of this type will be set up in the coming year," Petr Sedláček, Director General of the Czech Post, said.

"I was strongly against the closing down of post offices in small communities announced by the Czech Post in the mid-2008. But I clearly understood that unprofitable post offices can have no prospects. Therefore I welcomed the proposal of the Czech Post to set up a postal franchise because I have been aware of the concept run by the neighbouring countries. I am pleased that our community is the first one where a PARTNER Post Office has been opened. It is located on the reconstructed ground floor of our town hall together with our new Information Centre. Local population as well as thousands of tourists visiting Boží Dar every year will appreciate the services of the new centre," Jan Horník, Mayor of Boží Dar, said.

PARTNER Post Offices are not merely a modification of the present postal agencies operating in attractive tourist destinations whose main offer are philatelic goods, commemorative handstamps and where letters can be posted.

Services available at PARTNER Post Offices:

• posting and delivery of letter and parcel mail;
• posting of money orders and SIPO payment orders;
• sale of postal stationery;
• sale of obligatory goods.

After evaluation of the pilot project the Czech Post intends to add the following services:

• payment of money orders and pensions;
• certain services of the postal savings bank Poštovní spořitelna - especially bank transfers;
• contactless delivery (letters, leaflets).

Detailed information on the new Information Centre at Boží Dar:

• the project of reconstruction of the newly opened premises was co-financed by the Countryside Reconstruction Programme;
• the reconstruction cost more than one million Czech crowns;
• the premises have a wheelchair access;
• the opening hours of both the Information Centre and the PARTNER Post Office will be seven days a week, from 8am to 6am;
• the premises offer additional services such as, Czech Point or public Internet access;
• a wooden statue of the Child Christ, probably the largest (more than 2.5 m high) one in Bohemia, is located at the entrance; it was co-financed by the Karlovy Vary Regional Office.