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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