Robert Bosch and Deutsche Telekom named Investors of the Year 2016

•   The Investor and Business Property of the Year 2016 awards ceremony was held at Palác Žofín on Thursday, 15 June 2017.

•   Nine firms and institutions and two individuals prominent in the Czech investment environment received awards

•   Investors of the Year 2016: Robert Bosch, Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic

•   Business Properties of the Year 2016: Joseph Strategic Industrial Zone, Most; Spielberk Office Centre Brno

Today at Palác Žofín in Prague, CzechInvest presented awards for the most significant investment projects of 2016. The winners of the Investor of the Year 2016 competitions are Robert Bosch in the Manufacturing and Technology Centres category and Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic in the IT and Shared Services category. Business Property of the Year 2016 awards were presented to Joseph Strategic Industrial Zone, Most and Spielberk Office Centre. The professional partner of the competition, the Association for Foreign Investment (AFI), awarded two prizes for long-term benefit to the investment environment and significant achievement in the field of investments and one special award.   

Robert Bosch’s expansion of its research and testing centre and manufacturing plant in České Budějovice at a cost of CZK 2.2 billion will bring 625 new jobs to the region. For this project, the company won the Investor of the Year 2016 award in the Manufacturing and Technology Centres category. Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic was named Investor of the Year 2016 in the IT and Shared Services category for its investment in a new shared-services centre in Brno at a cost of CZK 500 million, which should create 565 jobs within three years. The second- and third-place awards in these categories were presented to Yanfeng Czechia Automotive Interior Systems, GE Aviation Czech, ConnectEU2Create CZ and OKIN BPS.

“The fact that companies are investing here not only in production, but also in research and development activities is evidence that the Czech Republic has potential for investments with higher value added. In terms of the future competitiveness of the Czech economy, it is essential that we succeed in gaining these types of investments on a much larger scale than previously. Therefore, we are planning to soon submit to the government a proposal of changes to the investment support system that reflect new trends,” says Minister of Industry and Trade Jiří Havlíček.

Joseph Strategic Industrial Zone, Most was named Business Property of the Year 2016 in the Industrial Zone of the Year category due to its high level of preparedness and four new investors that decided to set up operations in the zone in 2016. The Business Property of the Year 2016 award in the Property of the Year for Technology Centres and Services was presented to representatives of Spielberk Office Centre Brno.

“The investment process is faster compared with the past, but investors face more possible risks. In deciding whether they’ll choose the Czech Republic or go elsewhere, a sufficient supply of industrial areas and properties that are well prepared for their entry often plays a role. We’re taking care to ensure that the supply remains vibrant,” says Karel Kučera, CEO of CzechInvest.

The AFI Prize for Significant Achievement in the Field of Investments was awarded to representatives of Siemens, which last year opened a new design and development centre and, with nearly ten thousand employees, ranks among the most important domestic employers. Seiji Nakagoshi, chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry in the Czech Republic and long a key intermediary between Japan and the Czech Republic in the area of investments, received the AFI Prize for Long-Term Benefit to the Investment Environment of the Czech Republic. The special prize for Long-Term Service to CzechInvest and the Association for Foreign Investment was presented to Otakar Dobiáš, who has been active in both institutions since their establishment and currently works for the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

“I am honoured to give recognition for Siemens’ development and design centre project, which is evidence of investors’ rising interest in continuing their activities in the Czech Republic and links development to existing production. At the same time, I am pleased that we can present the prize for long-term benefit to Seiji Nakagoshi, who has been and continues to be a significant factor in gaining important Japanese investments for us,” says Kamil Blažek, Chairman of the Association for Foreign Investment.

In addition to the main competition, CzechInvest also presented awards to three regions for their approach to developing the business and investment environment. Following the regional rounds, which were part of this’s years edition of the City for Business survey, representatives of STAR Region, an association of the cities of Dolní Břežany, Zlatníky-Hodkovice and Vestec, accepted the award for first place. The cities of Kunovice and Třinec placed second and third, respectively.

The celebratory event at Palác Žofín was hosted by Jolana Voldánová. The professional partner of the Investor and Business Property of the Year 2016 competition is the Association for Foreign Investment; the main partner is Česká spořitelna – provider of Erste Corporate Banking services. Other partners of the event are Asental Group, Colliers International, CTP, Grafton Recruitment and Linkcity Czech Republic. Zátiší Group is a supporting partner. The media partner is the weekly Euro. The Investor and Business Property of the Year 2016 competition was held under the auspices of Minister of Industry and Trade Jiří Havlíček.