BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Czech
Republic could be an important partner for Azerbaijani companies
seeking access to the European Union market, Radek Špicar, vice
president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic,
said at the Azerbaijan-Czech Republic business forum in Baku on
Monday, Trend’s
correspondent reports from the event.
“We see Azerbaijan not only as a destination for our products
and services, but also as a potential hub for broader regional
operations. At the same time, the Czech Republic could be an
important partner for Azerbaijani companies seeking access to the
European Union market,” he said.
According to Špicar, there is significant potential to expand
economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic. He
noted that Czech businesses are interested in Azerbaijan’s strategy
to transition from an economy based on oil production toward
high-value-added industrial and service sectors, as well as its
plans to become a major economic hub in the region.
“We are closely following Azerbaijan’s strategy to transform its
economy, develop advanced industrial and service sectors, and
become a regional hub. We believe these priorities create broad
opportunities for cooperation between our countries,” he said.
The vice president noted that the Czech Republic is one of
Europe’s traditional industrial centers, with companies offering
competitive products and services on international markets.
According to him, Czech companies operate successfully not only in
the European Union, but also in the United States, Southeast Asia,
Latin America, and Africa.
“The Czech Republic has strong industrial traditions. Our
companies compete not only in the European market but also in some
of the world’s most demanding markets. They offer high-quality
products and maintain their positions in international markets,”
Špicar said.
He noted that Czech companies manufacture metro trains, railway
vehicles, buses, and defense products, and undertake projects such
as airport construction in challenging geographical conditions. The
Czech Republic is also among the countries capable of designing and
manufacturing aircraft across the entire production cycle.
Špicar attributed the success of Czech companies in
international markets to high product quality, a favorable
price-to-quality ratio, equal partnerships with local businesses,
and after-sales service.
“One of the main reasons for our companies’ success is their
ability to offer high-quality products at competitive prices. We
also attach great importance to cooperation with local partners,
establishing joint ventures, and training local personnel. Customer
service is another priority for us,” he said.
Špicar added that Azerbaijan could also offer Czech companies
broader regional opportunities. According to him, Azerbaijan is not
merely a market for Czech products and services, but also a
potential hub from which companies can expand their operations into
other countries in the region.
He added that closer cooperation in heavy engineering,
transportation, information technology, the automotive industry,
and chemicals could create new opportunities for companies in both
countries.
The vice president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech
Republic noted that numerous companies had expressed interest in
joining the business delegation visiting Azerbaijan. However,
limited seating on the government aircraft meant that not all
applicants could be included in the delegation.
“We received many requests from companies wishing to visit
Azerbaijan and join this business delegation. Unfortunately, the
number of seats on the government aircraft was limited, so we could
not include all of them,” Špicar said.
He also highlighted the longstanding historical, political,
social, and business ties between the two countries, noting that
bilateral cooperation has intensified in recent years.
Špicar said that strengthening direct contacts between business
communities, establishing joint ventures, and building long-term
partnerships could further deepen economic cooperation between
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic.
