CzechInvest Celebrates Jubilee, Škoda Auto Named Investor of the Past Twenty Years

Johnson Controls, Red Hat Czech and Výzkumný ústav železniční have been named the 2011 Investors of the Year. Representatives of these companies received the awards during the announcement of the results of the Investor of the Year and Business Property of the Year competitions at Veletržní palác in Prague. Alca PLAST and JIC Innovation Park were awarded the title of Business Property of the Year. In commemoration of CzechInvest’s twentieth anniversary, special Investor of the Past Twenty Years and Business Property of the Past Twenty Years awards were presented to Škoda Auto and the Nošovice Industrial Zone, respectively. The winners were announced by CzechInvest and the Association for Foreign Investment in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

“With each new investment the Czech Republic’s competitiveness rises together the number of opportunities for domestic suppliers and the number of new jobs, which is increasingly important at a time when we are faced with a global economic crisis,” says Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba, under whose auspices the awards ceremony took place. “Thus, recognition is due to all investors that have placed their trust, know-how and financial resources in our country and realised their investments here, as well as to those who provided them with the necessary infrastructure and offered a helping hand.”

 “For CzechInvest, 2012 was a record year in terms of the number of mediated investments. We have recognised the best of these and we believe that they will become an inspiration for companies that are considering investing in the Czech Republic,” says Petr Očko, acting CEO of CzechInvest, adding: “A decisive factor for them may also be the amendment of the Investment Incentives Act that recently came into force. However, high-quality business properties, which we have honoured, also play an important role.”

“This year’s honoured investors are an example of the fact that for solid industrial firms the Czech Republic means stability and a reasonable rate of return on their investments and, at the same time, the country serves as a bridge for exports to key eastern markets. It is important that we maintain both this stability and Czech export potential next year and in the years to come,” says Kamil Blažek, chairman of the Association for Foreign Investment.

Results of the Investor of the Year and Business Property of the Year competitions:

Traditional categories:  

Business Property of the Year 2011 – High-tech Property

1.     JIC Innovation Park

2.     Hydraulics Laboratory of ČKD Blansko Engineering, a.s.

3.     Kunovice – Panský dvůr Business Incubator

Business Property of the Year 2011 – Brownfield

1.     Alca PLAST, s.r.o.

2.     Production/warehouse facility of Bělá – Wassa s.r.o.

3.     Green SquareŘíčany

Investor of the Year 2011 – Manufacturing Industry

1.     Johnson Controls

2.     LEGO Production s.r.o.

3.     Continental HT Tyres s.r.o.

Investor of the Year 2011 – ICT and Business Support Services

1.     Red Hat Czech s.r.o.

2.     Pixmania, s.r.o.

3.     IBM Global Services Delivery Center Czech Republic, s.r.o.

Investor of the year 2011 – Greatest Innovation Potential

1.     Výzkumný ústav železniční, a.s.

2.     Vyrtych, a.s.

3.     Continental Automotive Systems Czech Republic, s.r.o.

Special categories:      

Business Property of the Past Twenty Years

1.     Nošovice Industrial Zone

2.     Plzeň – Borská pole Municipal Industrial Park

3.     Ostrava – Hrabová Industrial Zone

Investor of the Past Twenty Years

ŠKODA AUTO, a.s.

The main partners of the event were the ČEZ Group and ČSOB. CTP Invest was the partner. The supporting partners were the National Gallery in Prague, the agencies Quix and AC&C, Zátiší group and the Association for Recognition of Quality. The media partners were Czech Radio, Ekonom weekly, Prague Leaders Magazine and the magazines Project & Property and Development News.

For more information please contact the CzechInvest Press Centre

Adéla Tomíčková, spokesperson, phone: +420 296 342 832, adela.tomickova@czechinvest.org

Contact to Ministry of Industry and Trade:

Veronika Forejtová, spokesperson , phone: +420 224 853 291, forejtova@mpo.cz

Contact to Association for Foreign Investment:

Martin Michalov, PR & Marketing Manager, phone: +420 725 555 344, martin.michalov@afi.cz