Innovations in Foreign Direct Investment Attraction

Case Study: Jetro and Czechinvest join forces to connect suppliers with Japanese customers

In September 2015, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Czechinvest jointly organised the third 

Reverse Trade Fair, which successfully built on the previous editions of the event held in 2003 and 2005.

“In cooperation with Czechinvest and other partners, the Japan External Trade Organisation held a Reverse 

Trade Fair on 16 September 2015. Under the name Japanese Component & Material Buyers “Exhibition, the 

event took place in connection with the international Engineering Fair in Brno. Exhibitors presented compo-

nents and materials that they were interested in purchasing from local suppliers. Czechinvest assisted with the 

selections of suitable suppliers and, through its professional team, chose and subsequently advised a suitable 

local supplier. Fifteen exhibitions (Japanese firms operating in Europe) took part in the trade fair along with 43 

registered local suppliers, of which thirty were from the Czech Republic. In total, 131 business meetings between 

exhibitors and local suppliers were held during the event. 

JETRO is prepared to continue in its successful cooperation with Czechinvest and looks forward to doing so in 

the future.”

CzechInvest has clear annual targets for attracting FDI and for supply chain develop-

ment across the following key performance evaluation metrics:

• Value of investments facilitated by CzechInvest;

• Number of investment projects facilitated by CzechInvest;

• Number of direct and indirect jobs created;

• Number of companies supported;

• Value of sourcing (supply chain) contracts facilitated;

• Volume of greenfield sites development;

• Volume of industrial and commercial space developed; 

• Volume of brownfield sites redeveloped; and 

• Ratio of government and non-government funding used in business development 

(min. 1:5).

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Since 2001, CzechInvest has mediated supplier contracts worth US$250 million.

The supplier development program takes place as part of a wider after-care program, 

which provides the following key services:

1. 

Support to expansion, re-investment and the development of research capacities;

2. 

Assistance in seeking suitable industrial zones and business properties;

3. 

Advising how to draw investment incentives and project co-financing from EU 

structural funds; 

4. 

Seeking suppliers in the relevant region; 

5. 

Providing support in the human resources area; 

6. 

Promoting cooperation between investors and secondary schools, vocational col-

leges and universities; 

7. 

Providing for negotiations with local authorities, state administration bodies and 

public institutions; 

8. 

Ensuring that investors’ proposals to amend legislation are submitted to the Czech 

Government; cultivating the Czech business environment; and

9. 

Organizing specialised workshops, working breakfasts with top officials, round 

tables and social events.