INVESTORS IN MSK

The American Dream

In the Moravian-Silesian Region

The largest economy in the world is also significantly represented in our region. Dozens

of companies with an American presence operate here across a broad spectrum of activities, from

the traditionally strong IT and automotive sectors to engineering, logistics and food processing.

In terms of non-European foreign direct

investment, investments from the USA

rank among the top three most important

investors in the Czech Republic (together

with Japan and South Korea). More

than 45,000 jobs have been created in

the Czech Republic as a result of US

investment, making it a strategic partner

for domestic companies as well, as the US

is the largest non-European export market

for them. The value of trade has increased

by around 60% over the past decade and

offers the potential for further growth.

The CzechInvest Agency, which promotes

business and investment in the Czech

Republic, also confirms the increased

interest in the Czech Republic on the part

of American investors. Last year, despite

the coronavirus crisis, they recorded

an increased interest in investments in

the Czech Republic. In total, CzechInvest

provided support to 53 projects worth

CZK 25 billion. Most of the projects were

directed to the Moravian-Silesian and

South Moravian Regions. The positive

news is that two thirds of the projects

were from areas with high added value,

i.e. technologically oriented or linked to

research and development. In this respect,

new investors came to us mainly from the

United States and neighbouring Germany.

The emphasis on higher added value

and support for science and research

is also a common feature of American

investment in our region. For example,

Roper Engineering has spent more than

CZK 120 million to transform a former

Ostrava brownfield in Výstavní Street

into its modern headquarters, which

consists of premises for production,

storage, offices and, most importantly,

a development and testing laboratory.

Here research and engineering activities

are carried out in the field of laboratory

equipment and instruments for testing

liquids and solids. The company also

cooperates closely with VSB - Technical

University of Ostrava and therefore offers

graduates the opportunity of professional

training. The traditional area of American

investment, IT, is also represented in

Ostrava. Since 2019, almost 3000 m2 of

modern office space in the Nová Karolina

Park office building has been occupied

by the telecommunications giant Verizon.

They run a section focused on supporting

enterprise solutions here, which means

taking care of the technology that helps

Verizon customers run their businesses.

One of the largest U.S. employers in

our region is Mondelez, which operates

the most modern biscuit factory in Europe

and employs 1,000 people in Opava.

The company has invested more than

CZK 4 billion in the construction of a new

hall and modern technologies in recent

years.

The list of US companies operating in

our country could go on and on. What

is important is that American companies

bring their know-how to us and support

bilateral trade, which is constantly

growing despite the current difficult years,

and both sides are getting the best out of

their cooperation.

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