The business mission is heading to the USA

To establish or develop business contacts in IT technology, e-commerce, ecology or engineering. That is the aim of the seven-day business mission of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, which will depart on Thursday, 2 June, for the United States of America. Nearly forty exporters, led by the Confederation's Vice President Milena Jabůrková, will accompany Senate President Miloš Vystrčil to Chicago and Washington, D.C., on his official visit.

The business mission of the Confederation is heading to the largest country of the North American continent after 6 long years. The last time the former Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek took Czech exporters under the auspices of the Confederation on his official visit to the USA was in spring 2016. 

„The United States is one of the markets where Czech companies thrive. For several years now, the USA has been our most important export partner outside the European Union and also one of the most important destinations in terms of value added of exported goods. We are therefore pleased that, thanks to the President of the Senate, we can take Czech entrepreneurs to the USA,“ explains Milena Jabůrková, Vice President of the Confederation. 

„Current events show how important it is not to be dependent on just a few foreign markets or totalitarian states. On the contrary, we need to look for reliable trading partners and consistently address raw material security. Therefore, I appreciate the fact that the official Senate delegation visiting the USA is accompanied by Czech businessmen under the auspices of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. I believe that this visit will be fruitful and will lead not only to further development of bilateral trade, but also to the strengthening of friendly relations between the Czech Republic and the USA,“ says Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

The mission participants will take part in business forums in both cities where they will have the opportunity to interact with American companies and institutions in related sectors. In Washington, they will visit, for example, the technology centres of IBM and Honeywell. The exporters will also make a short visit to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, which offers a range of business opportunities for foreign companies. In Chicago, the mission participants will also meet with Czech associations and Czech academics on the occasion of the opening of the Conference of Czech Schools in the USA. 

OPPORTUNITIES IN IT, HI-TECH AS WELL AS ENGINEERING

The USA is the world's largest economy with high purchasing power. With over 300 million people, 70% of this highly flexible market relies on consumer spending. Bilateral trade and investment between the Czech Republic and the USA has been growing over the last 5 years. Moreover, Czech exporters are more successful and confident in entering the US market than in the past. The business mission itself offers potential opportunities for companies in the hi-tech industry, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, renewable energy technologies or IT application development, especially in Chicago.

„It is only natural that we should go to Chicago, as we are almost umbilically connected to this city. Both historically, thanks to the successful businessman and mayor of Chicago of Czech origin Antonín Čermák, who made an indelible mark not only in the history of the city but also in the history of the United States, and thanks to the significant Czech minority of around 200,000 people. Moreover, Chicago is a city of inventors and innovators, which is reflected in its vibrant technology and startup scene. The local startup community saw unprecedented growth last year. Successful startups are particularly active in software solutions, information and financial services, and logistics. We are convinced that Czech business has a lot to offer here,“ notes Milena Jabůrková, Vice President of the Confederation.

For example, Retailys, an e-commerce company, could take the opportunity to penetrate the US market. „We are currently preparing to establish an entity in the USA and to open a small office in the near future in order to assist American trading companies in their online expansion into Central Europe. The Czech Republic is a superpower in e-commerce, our software companies developing e-commerce tools are at a high level,“ explains Petr Heller, founder and partner in Retailys.

Logio, which is one of the experts in the field of supply chains, automation processes and digitization, also hopes to establish new business contacts during the business mission. „In the Czech Republic, our clients include the largest stakeholders in the field of e-commerce, retail companies and others. We also successfully export our know-how abroad. We are grateful to be able to use business missions organized by the Confederation of Industry to enter foreign markets, and we believe that this time we will also establish contacts with entities with excellent market knowledge in the USA,“ says Vojtěch Cuchý, head of Logio partner network.

But the US market also presents opportunities for companies in traditional industries such as engineering. The USA continues to be one of the largest market for engineering products in the world, with a specific demand for machine tools for weapons production. „In addition, the US administration is seeking to bring automotive and aerospace manufacturing back to the United States, which may increase the demand for machinery in new plants,“ explains Petr Jonák, member of board of the Confederation who is also taking part in the business mission.

That is why TATRA TRUCKS from Kopřivnice, which is interested in entering the American market in the short term, decided to take part in this mission to the USA. „For TATRA, the USA has an interesting potential to offer heavy off-road trucks for both civil and defense use. However, we are aware that there are pitfalls in entering the market there and it is important to get a relevant American partner. Therefore, we see the business mission as an opportunity to present our company and TATRA vehicles as well as an opportunity to establish contacts that we can use for our purpose,“ says Vladimír Sokolovský, TATRA TRUCKS sales manager. 

Czech exports to the United States are also supported by trade and investment representation, a state agency that offers significant assistance to companies. For example, the opening of a CzechTrade office in Texas is in the pipeline. „We certainly need to further develop and improve the transatlantic ties between the Czech Republic and the USA, and subsequently between Europe and the American continent. Czech exporters are very interested in penetrating markets outside the EU. Even in view of the collapse of the markets in Russia and Ukraine, it is important to open up new business opportunities for companies in countries that have long been reliable partners. Expanding exports outside Europe is therefore very important,“ adds Milena Jabůrková, Vice President of the Confederation. 

THE CONFEDERATION OF INDUSTRY HAS BEEN SUPPORTING CZECH EXPORTERS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS

Since 1993, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic has organized 208 business missions for companies to 107 countries around the world. During this time, it has helped more than 4 700 companies to establish business contacts abroad. Moreover, after the pandemic and in connection with the effects of the war in Ukraine, it is an ideal time to focus export support also on areas and regions that have received less attention from the state as well as the companies themselves. 

Therefore, the Confederation is continuously negotiating with ministers on business missions to other locations that are interesting for export. For exporters, the Confederation is also planning consultations with economic and agricultural diplomats and heads of CzechTrade foreign offices on 9 and 10 June at the Letňany Exhibition Centre in Prague.