Industrial Zone of the Year 2005
12 Oct. 2006 | CzechInvest | Awards were presented at Prague Exposition Grounds for the highest-quality industrial zones and business properties in the Czech Republic. The sixth annual Industrial Zone of the Year awards presentation was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the business development agency CzechInvest, in cooperation with the Association for Foreign Investment. This year’s edition of the awards was also supported by the Ministry for Regional Development. In addition to representatives of both ministries, representatives of regions and municipalities throughout the Czech Republic also participated in the event.
The Krupka Industrial Zone was recognised as the Industrial Zone with the Greatest Economic Benefit, while the Zatec-Triangle Industrial Zone took top honours as the Industrial Zone with the Greatest Social Benefit. The Brownfield of the Year was the former sugar refinery in Chrudim, whose conversion was performed by TMT Chrudim.
In addition to the three traditional categories, an award was presented for the Business Property with the Greatest Benefit for Development of Applied Research, which was received by the Institute of Physical Biology Nove Hrady.“It is already clear that if we want to succeed in international competition, it will be necessary to create a basis for quality and technologically advanced investments. Support for this type of property is one of the main directions that we want to maintain in the future,” said Tomas Hruda, CEO of CzechInvest, in his speech during the ceremony.
“The Usti region suffers from the highest rate of unemployment in the Czech Republic. The fact that the Krupka and Zatec-Triangle industrial zones are located in this region verifies the active approach of the responsible authorities to the question of employment and development of the region. I believe that these two examples will serve as a model for other regions in the Czech Republic,” says Martin Slaby, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Association for Foreign Investment.
The Industrial Zone of the Year 2005 awards were presented in the following categories:
Industrial Zone with the Greatest Economic Benefit
- Krupka Industrial Zone
- Pisek-Cizovska Northern Industrial Zone
- Cheb Industrial Park
Industrial Zone with the Greatest Social Benefit
- Zatec-Triangle Industrial Zone
- Ostrava-Hrabova Industrial Zone
- Kadan-Kralovsky Vrch Industrial Zone
Brownfield of the Year
- TMT Chrudim (renovation of a former sugar refinery)
- Orlicke kasarny Zamberk (revitalization of an extensive site)
- Fides Bruntal (building renovation)
Business Property with the Greatest Benefit for Development of Applied Research
- Centre for Biological Technology, Institute of Physical Biology Nove Hrady
Industrial Zone Manager of the Year
- Ing. Jan Sixta, CSc. (Zatec-Triangle)
A special award was presented to the mayor of the city of Solnice, Mr. Ladislav Kubicek.
(Skoda Solnice-Kvasiny Industrial Zone)
On the basis of the Industrial Zone Development Programme of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, by the end of 2005 a total of 92 industrial zones had received support. Thanks to these industrial zones, 51,000 jobs have been created and another 72,000 newly created jobs are expected by the end of 2007. Approximately 360 investors have undertaken to invest CZK 146 billion. These investors have occupied nearly 80% of the prepared land, which represents the optimum rate of occupancy. The remaining space is now available to tens of interested parties from a range of investors who are currently looking for suitable locations in the Czech Republic.
