INVESTORS IN MSK

belongs to a category of co-called emerging global

superpowers. My work in India was a challenge in thriving

within a highly competitive environment. If you cannot

properly differentiate yourself from other diplomatic

missions, and prove that your mission is truly something

attractive and interesting to your target country, your

proposal will likely end up lost in the saturation of

the local diplomatic corps. Economic diplomacy kept us

very busy in India. I personally led multiple missions of

European ambassadors in the North Eastern Union states

(referred to as the Seven Sisters), which were previously

largely omitted by other ambassadors, or traveled to

rather sporadically. These activities then helped open up

a path for us not only in terms of economic cooperation,

but other branches as well.

I am expecting the mission in Washington to present

a brand new experience as well. The USA is currently

the world’s largest superpower. The operation’s

backbone will be centered around the fields of

security (cooperation aimed towards Ukraine, Euroatlantic cooperation, NATO, cyber-security, etc.),

economic cooperation, including energetics, human

rights, and without a doubt deepening our partnership

in the development of new technologies, and finally,

collaboration between our universities. I believe that

I am entering the US at an opportune time, which

presents circumstances that would allow us to push

our bilateral relations to a yet higher level.

The USA currently has the largest

“Czech

community outside Czech

Republic itself.

”

A couple years ago, we celebrated

the 100th anniversary since the formation of

Czechoslovakia, which also officially marked

the beginning of our diplomatic relations with the US.

How did this relationship develop over the last century?

Over the last 100 years, our mutual relationship

underwent big changes. In the past, the US became

the target country of four big migration waves hailing

from, what was at the time, Czechoslovakia. This

sizable community still plays an important role in

mutual relations.

The USA currently has the largest Czech community

outside Czech Republic itself (which amounts to

around ⅔ of all the Czechs that live outside their home

country). The influence of Czech communities and

their supporters was undeniably important not only

during the formation of Czechoslovakia, but also

after the year 1989. This group not only included

Americans with Czech roots, but also influential allies

of the Czech Republic, who were knowledgeable in

the Czech regional context and helped accelerate

the involvement of Czech Republic in western

structures (namely NATO).

Bilateral relations reached a peak in the early 90s, right

after the Velvet Revolution and the election of Václav

Havel as president. This was a time of great progress,

during which the political and economic changes taking

place in central Europe offered new opportunities in

bilateral relations. It is precisely this period of mutual

cooperation that we would like to follow up on.

“

The field that I consider to hold the

most potential, however, is cooperation

in the sciences, research, and

development of new technologies.

”

What lies at the center of the USA’s importance

as our partner?

The US is a key partner and ally to us. Their role in, for

example, security cooperation is highly irreplaceable.

Furthermore, even their significance in regards to Europe

as a whole is ever growing. On the other hand, we also

have to face many challenges, including the necessity to

find a way to halt Russian aggression in Ukraine, securing

energetic stability for our region and so on.

The US is also Czech Republic’s largest export

market outside Europe. Last year, Czechia ended up

11th among all possible export outlets, with a total

value of 5.4 billion USD (roughly 116.5 billion CZK).

From 2010 to 2021, the value of Czech exports to the

US more than doubled. Artificial intelligence (nano

technologies, cybersecurity, ICT, electromobility

and autonomous vehicles), energetics, engineering,

transport infrastructure, health and pharmaceutical

industries, agriculture, the food industry and the video

game industry are among the economic fields that

show the most promise in terms of our cooperation.

Do you think that there is untapped potential

in Czech Republic’s cooperation with the US,

whether it be in economic relations or otherwise?

I see great potential in further expansion of mutual

trade exchange and investment. The field that I consider

to hold the most potential, however, is cooperation

in the sciences, research, and development of new

technologies. Czech Republic’s economy is primarily

reliant on exports. Therefore, if we want to maintain our

success and competitiveness, we need to increase our

investment into the development of new technologies,

this includes both the civilian sector and the defense

industry sector. I am convinced that cooperation with

the USA in this field has immense potential.

Cooperation between the US embassy in Prague and

the Ostrava City Library resulted in the successful

project called American Center Ostrava. This is

a cultural and language center that helps familiarize

the wider public with the US. What is your assessment

of similar efforts?

I believe that similar activities are very positive, as they

bridge informational and cultural barriers between

both countries. One of the prerequisites to our region’s

success in the United States is the ability to maintain

the attention of the American public, and cooperation

between universities, libraries, science centers, etc.

while hosting big cultural events can be of great service

in this area.

Your excellency, thank you for the interview.

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