INVESTOŘI MSK

s pokročilými technologiemi rozrostly

na solidní ekonomiky v Evropě a Asii. Kromě toho Korea a Česko těžily ze svých

progresivních podnikatelů a pilné pracovní síly. Díky těmto podobnostem jsou si

obě země bližší, pokud jde o hospodářskou a průmyslovou spolupráci.

České investice v Koreji jsou však ve srovnání s korejskými investicemi v ČR relativně nevýznamné. Hlavní evropské

mocnosti se již angažují v indopacifickém

regionu tím, že jej považují za klíčový motor budoucí globální ekonomiky a politiky.

Upřímně doufám, že se silnějšího zájmu

českých investorů dočkáme i v Koreji.

Co si Korejci vybaví jako první, když se

řekne Česká republika? Čím je zajímavá

pro investory?

Česká republika je jednou z oblíbených zemí, kterou chce navštívit mnoho

Korejců. Je proslulá krásným hlavním

městem Prahou, nádhernými sceneriemi a nejlepším pivem na světě. Před

vypuknutím pandemie covidu-19 navštěvovalo Česko ročně více než

400 000 Korejců, a to díky každodennímu přímému leteckému spojení mezi

Prahou a Inčchonem. Nyní se horizont

rozšiřuje i na Moravskoslezský kraj

a rovněž Brno a Olomouc.

Pro korejské podnikatele jsou investice

v ČR často považovány za skvělou strategickou možnost, jak se dostat na evropský

trh. Oceňují zejména geopolitické výhody

České republiky (umístěné v srdci Evropy),

spolehlivé zřízení, centrální vládu a krajská zastupitelství vstřícná k podnikání,

vynikající lidské zdroje a vysokou úroveň

bezpečnosti.

Pane velvyslanče, děkujeme Vám

za rozhovor.

The Republic of Korea,

the Largest Non-European

Investor in the Czech Republic

Ambassador Kim Tae-jin was born in January 1969. He has been a career diplomat since 1991.

He was previously assigned in the United States, Afghanistan, Japan, etc. He has been the

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Czech Republic since december 2019.

There is a wide representation of

South Korean companies from the

automotive sector within the MoravianSilesian Region. Are there any plans for

investment in other industrial fields in

the near future?

According to CzechInvest, the Republic

of Korea is the fourth biggest investor in

the Czech Republic. Korean companies

are very active in investing in Czechia,

especially in the Moravian-Silesian

Region (MSR). Korean companies have

an excellent business relationship with

the MSR because it has an outstanding

workforce, convenient transportation to

bordering nations and proactive regional

governmental support.

The automobile industry, a focal point

of industrial cooperation between

both countries, has been leading

Korean investment in the CR so far.

Recently, it is facing a dramatic change

with technological breakthroughs. An

automobile is transferring itself into

a comprehensive electronic machine

with state-of-the-art technologies open to

tremendous opportunities.

As borders between different sectors

become more vague, Korea’s major

electronic and chemical companies

are already expanding their portfolio to

manufacturing electronic parts of vehicles

and EV batteries. And these companies

are considering the MSR as one of their

possible bases for reaching out to Europe,

one of the world’s biggest eco-friendly

automobile markets.

Can you describe some of the biggest

differences between Czech businessmen

and South Korean businessmen?

Between the two countries, we find more

similarities based on historical experiences

and economic structure. Both countries

have risen as solid economies in Europe

and Asia with the long and competitive

manufacturing experiences and export-led

economies with advanced technologies.

Furthermore, Korea and Czechia have

benefited from progressive entrepreneurs

and diligent workforces. These similarities

make the two closer in terms of economic

and industrial cooperation.

However, Czech investment in Korea is

relatively insignificant when compared to

Korean investment in the Czech Republic.

Major European powers are already

engaging in the Indo-Pacific region by

considering it a core engine for future

global economy and politics. I sincerely

hope to see Czech investors’ stronger

interests in Korea, as well.

What do you think is the first thing that

comes to the mind of a South Korean

citizen when they think of Czechia? What

makes the Czech Republic desirable for

investors?

The Czech Republic is one of the countries

that many Koreans want to visit. It is

famous for the beautiful city of Prague,

spectacular scenery and the best beer

in the world. In fact, before the breakout

of COVID-19, daily direct flights between

Prague and Incheon enabled more than

400,000 Koreans per year to visit Czechia.

Now the horizon is also being expanded to

the MSR, and also to Brno and Olomouc.

For Korean entrepreneurs, investing in

Czechia is often considered a great strategic

option for reaching out to the European

market. They especially value Czechia’s

geopolitical advantage (positioned at the

heart of Europe), reliable system, businessfriendly central and regional governments,

outstanding human resources and high

levels of community security.

Mr Ambassador, thank you for the interview.

Text: redakce

Foto: Embassy of the

Republic of Korea

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