INVESTMENT In the past, the Karlovy Vary Region did not attract tremendous interest of foreign investors, but this is to change rapidly. In the first few months of 2014, seven investors applied for investment incentives in the Karlovy Vary Region, which ranks it sixth among the regions, together with the Olomouc and Zlín Regions, but higher than the latter two in terms of the number of jobs this may generate (up to 844 new positions). The Region offers a number of industrial parks and zones. For example, the Aš Industrial Park, on the territory of the town of Aš (13 090 inhabitants) is a ‘greenfield’ project. The land with a total area of 108 hectares is designated for sale or lease to companies which will engage in economic activities here in the areas of light industry, trade and crafts, without any negative effect on the environment. The town of Aš and its surroundings is a traditional area for the textile industry. But there are also several major enterprises concerned with engineering production. The town is situated on the border with Germany (Aš – Selb border crossing). In 2002, a new bypass was built past the town’s western outskirts, which improved access to the Industrial Park. Aš is connected with the new road bypassing the town of Cheb in the north (I/6 – E48 road) Nuremberg–Cheb–Prague, and the A93 Munich–Berlin motorway is within easy reach as well. The international airport in Hof, Germany, is about 35 km away, and the Karlovy Vary international airport is approx. 70 km distant. The Region’s advantage is cheap and experienced workforce, especially in mechanical and electrical engineering and textile production, in addition to having a good knowledge of the German language. The site of the 35-hectare Cheb Industrial Park is situated on the eastern edge of the town of Cheb, near a high-speed bypass, a mere 8 km from the Pomezí/Schirnding border crossing to Germany. The plots, owned by the Cheb municipality, are designated for the siting of production facilities, logistics centres and commercial or service buildings, preferably for investors who will ensure production with a higher value added. A number of firms operate in the zone, e.g. HF-Czechforge s.r.o. (Germany) – a sister company of the Hammerwerk Fridingen firm – operates a modern drop forge specialising in steel forgings, JSP International s.r.o. (Japan, France) – plastic products processing, and Playmobil CZ spol. s.r.o. (Germany) – plastic and rubber products. In September 2015, the construction of a manufacturing plant of BWI Group started in this industrial park.The Chinese investor, manufacturer of brake systems for automobiles, is planning to employ some 300 people in Cheb. The Staré Sedlo Industrial Zone is situated near Sokolov (24 177 inhabitants) and Staré Sedlo (820 inhabitants). The Industrial Zone, with a total area of 124 hectares, is ready for use in terms of planning documents. Given the good transport links, the area is designated as a site of strategic importance for the Karlovy Vary Region. The town of Sokolov is situated in the central part of the Sokolov basin, at the foot of the Ore Mountains. The brown coal reserves of nationwide significance, and the related power production, make the Sokolov District a major energy hub of the national and international transmission systems. The town is situated on the R/6 high-speed road, on the international Nuremberg–Cheb– Sokolov–Karlovy Vary–Prague international route, and an important role is also played by the Cheb–Karlovy Vary–Ústí nad Labem regional railway. There is a number of secondary vocational schools in the town, focused on mechanical engineering and the building industry.
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At the end of 2014, three new surfaces suitable for industrial construction were added to existing investment opportunities in the Karlovy Vary Region. Panattoni Park Aš – located in the close vicinity of the German motorway A93, not far from Saxon and Bavarian car factories. Owing to this fact and thanks to the good supply of skilled employees, Aš is an ideal location for suppliers to Germany. Skalná – a locality suitable for investment construction in the area of industrial and small-scale production, within easy reach of existing engineering networks. The local authority is open to further investment and cooperation with the business sector. The BSS industrial park of Báňská stavební společnost s.r.o., covering an area of 14.3 ha, is situated right in the city of Sokolov in Chebská street, linking Sokolov with Dolní Rychnov. The compound comprises administration buildings, halls and warehouses. It can be reached by local roads, with a link to road R6 Cheb – Karlovy Vary. The park has its own railway siding. It is suitable for public utilities, industrial production, or as a logistics centre, etc.
EDUCATION The Region is home to a number of secondary-level vocational schools, which have been focused for decades on education in local traditional sectors and branches, often specific to the Karlovy Vary Region. In cooperation with the Sokolov Municipality and the Karlovy Vary Region, the College of Information Management, Business Administration and Law offers studies in Applied Informatics and Management Economics in Sokolov. The town also hosts the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – an establishment of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň. The Czech University of Life Sciences – namely the Faculty of Environmental Science and the Faculty of Economics and Management – has a distance centre in Karlovy Vary, as do the College of Banking (BIVŠ) and the Faculty of Economics as a branch of the University of West Bohemia in Cheb. The only university based in the Karlovy Vary Region is the College of Karlovy Vary. Its Bachelor’s programmes offer studies in Criminal Law Activities, Business Law, Socio-Legal Activities, Judicial and Notarial Administrative Activities, and Public Administration.
Photo: CzechTourism archives, Ladislav Renner
USEFUL CONTACTS Karlovy Vary Regional Authority – www.kr-karlovarsky.cz Regional Chamber of Commerce for the Poohří Area – www.rhkpoohri.cz Internet portal for investors in the Region of Karlovy Vary – www.karlovyvary-region.eu District Chamber of Commerce in Cheb – support for entrepreneurial activities – www.ohkcheb.cz City Authority of Karlovy Vary – www.mmkv.cz