(Central News Agency reporter Liu Yuting, Prague, 9th) The Institute of Business Research and the Czech Small and Medium Enterprises Association signed a letter of intent for cooperation today to promote cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the Czech Republic in forward-looking technologies and strategic industries. Jarosz, chairman of the Czech Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, said that in the past, Czech companies' exports were mostly concentrated in neighboring EU countries. In recent years, their willingness to expand overseas markets has increased significantly, with "Asia being the primary strategic target." He hopes to deepen industrial cooperation with Taiwan.
The Business Development Research Institute and the Czech Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (AMSP ČR) signed a "Letter of Intent on Cross-border Industrial Cooperation and Market Expansion" in Prague today, aiming to promote cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in forward-looking industries such as drones, medical care and semiconductors. In the future, in addition to assisting Taiwanese manufacturers to use the Czech Republic as a hub to expand into European and global markets, it will also guide Czech companies to delve into Taiwan and expand business opportunities in Asia.
Chen Liguo, representative to the Czech Republic, attended the signing ceremony and said that the bilateral trade volume between Taiwan and the Czech Republic has exceeded NT$67.5 billion in 2025, and bilateral cooperation has extended to investment, research and development and supply chain connection. The Czech Republic has outstanding engineering capabilities and EU market advantages, while Taiwan is good at semiconductors, information communications, and supply chain management. Combining the strengths of the two countries will create huge space for cooperation in forward-looking fields such as semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing, smart medical care, robotics, and green energy.
Chen Liguo said that this cooperation memorandum will support bilateral business partnerships, joint investments, new innovation incubation, R&D plans and supply chain restructuring, and create a key bridge connecting the Asian and European markets. Although Taiwan and the Czech Republic are geographically far apart, their advantages are highly complementary and they share an entrepreneurial spirit. The two countries have built bridges for the small and medium-sized enterprise ecosystem, which will create more investment and job opportunities for both parties and enhance economic competitiveness.
Josef Jaroš, chairman of the Czech Small and Medium Enterprises Association, said that small and medium-sized enterprises are an important cornerstone of the Czech economy, accounting for 99% of the total number of Czech enterprises. As the largest representative organization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic, the association’s members cover industries such as handicrafts, manufacturing, industry, software, high technology, digital economy and medical care.
Jarosz emphasized that Czech companies have long been open to global export opportunities. In the past, the main trade focus of Czech manufacturers was concentrated on the geographically close EU market. However, in recent years, Czech companies' interest in expanding beyond the EU has increased significantly. "The Asian market has become the current priority development direction." We look forward to deepening industrial cooperation with Asian partners such as Taiwan.
Xu Tiancai, chairman of the Institute of Business Research, said that the global supply chain is facing changes. Taiwan and the Czech Republic should transcend the traditional buying and selling relationship, leverage their complementary advantages in semiconductors, AI hardware and precision engineering, and jointly create a "hub of trust" in Europe.
Hsu Tim Choi pointed out that in Taiwan and the Czech Republic’s cooperation strategy on “drone and autonomous systems” and “smart medical care”, Taiwan can serve as a center for R&D, core intellectual property rights and information security certification; Czech small and medium-sized enterprises can serve as a European hub for advanced manufacturing, customization and regional deployment.
Xu Tiancai proposed three major promotion steps: first, alignment of regulations, simplifying information security, software bill of materials (SBOM) and digital product passport (DPP) and other standards to help products enter the EU market; second, community cooperation, promoting joint ventures, supply chain docking, and setting up small and medium-sized enterprise investment funds in information communications, drones and medical technology; third, talent exchange, deepening dual degree and R&D partnerships.
Hsu Tim Choi emphasized that Taiwan and the Czech Republic "not only manufacture products, but also build trust" and hope to jointly build a resilient global supply chain. (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1150910
