By Marinel E. Peroy
Over 10 companies from the Czech Republic are offering business opportunities in trade, workforce development, education, and digitalization to expand in various industries such as IT, logistics, and transportation in the Philippine market.
At the business-to-business forum, Czech Connect 2024 held Thursday, October 10, at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, said the Philippines and the Czech Republic match each other’s needs.
She said the Philippines is a rapidly growing economy with a large and young workforce and a vibrant startup ecosystem while the Czech Republic is known for having an advanced manufacturing industry, cutting-edge technology, and innovative solutions.
“By working together, I believe we can check into the strength of both our nations and create new and innovative products and services that will benefit our economics. Let me mention that the Filipino workers are an increasingly important link between our countries,” Adamová said at the event organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila, the Czech Chamber of Commerce, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Earlier this year at THEPHILBIZNEWS’s Embassy Night Year 3, Ambassador Karel Hejč noted that the Czech Republic has increased the quota for Filipino migrant workers this year.
In a related development, ŠKODA Digital s.r.o., a well-established manufacturer of all kinds of public transport in Europe is looking for new partners and opportunities in the ASEAN region, particularly the Philippine market. Currently, they have active partners in Germany, Finland, and Poland, respectively.
“[As] an innovative company that is focusing on technologies and with the target to develop fully autonomous vehicles, [Skoda] will increase comfort [and] safety, and will have a positive impact on ecology,” said Jiří Horáček in an interview with THEPHILBIZNEWS.
The sales and marketing director also shared that their company can offer strategies and services to help ease Manila traffic.
“We don’t have partners yet [in the Philippines]. We are observing the market,” he added.
Moreover, other participating Czechia companies include Abydoss s.r.o, Becker a Poliakoff s.r.o., Grapecare s.r.o, Hödlmayr Logistics Czech Republic a.s., MS. logistika a.s., Orienta Czech s.r.o, Randstad Czech Republic, TRANSCON ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS s.r.o, Charles University, ERDOS Internet a.s., YOKEE s.r.o, Zako Skotnice s.r.o.
This year’s Czech Connect Forum serves as a key platform to strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines, laying the foundation for broader and forward-looking partnerships. Hence, it continues to drive significant strides toward achieving economic growth and fostering innovation between the two countries.