Foreign companies entering Czechia often meet two public agencies early in the process: CzechInvest for investment and business development, and CzechTrade for export and international trade support.
The Czech government is now bringing these functions together under a new agency called CzechBusiness.
The legal change took effect on 1 August 2026, while full operational integration is planned for 1 January 2027. During the transition, existing projects, contacts and services are expected to continue.
For foreign investors, the practical message is simple: the support system is changing, but companies should not stop current discussions or wait until 2027 to begin preparing a Czech project.
Why the agencies are being combined
CzechInvest has traditionally worked with investors, start-ups, industrial zones, incentives and the development of business projects. CzechTrade has supported Czech exporters through its international network.
The government’s aim is to create one coordinated point of contact covering investment, exports, innovation and business growth.
In principle, this can help companies whose projects do not fit neatly into one category. A foreign manufacturer may invest in Czechia, build a supplier network, cooperate with local research organisations and later export from the Czech operation. A technology company may enter through a local partner before establishing its own entity.
A combined agency should be better placed to follow that whole path.
What changes now — and what does not
The name and institutional structure are changing in stages. Existing CzechInvest and CzechTrade teams, projects and contact relationships do not disappear overnight.
Official communication states that services will continue without interruption during the transition. Companies already working with an agency should therefore keep using their current contact unless told otherwise.
New investors should expect websites, contact points and internal responsibilities to evolve before full integration.
The integration is ongoing. Before submitting an application or relying on a specific contact, verify the current procedure on the official CzechInvest, CzechTrade, CzechBusiness or Ministry of Industry and Trade channels.
What CzechBusiness may offer foreign entrants
A foreign company may need public-sector support in several areas:
- initial information about Czechia and relevant regions,
- investment-location and industrial-property options,
- investment-incentive orientation,
- links to municipalities, ministries and regional institutions,
- supplier and partner identification,
- start-up and innovation programmes,
- recruitment and visa-related orientation,
- connections to Czech export and international networks.
A single agency can make this easier if information and responsibility genuinely follow the company across stages.
What public support cannot do
An agency can explain the environment, introduce institutions and help navigate available programmes. It does not replace the company’s own commercial preparation.
Before entering Czechia, a foreign company still needs to know:
- who will buy the product;
- which local problem it solves;
- how the offer should be explained in Czech;
- whether sales will be direct, through a distributor or through an implementation partner;
- who will provide local support;
- how results will be measured during the first months.
Investment support and market demand are related, but they are not the same thing.
A practical approach during the transition
Foreign companies should keep a simple record of all public-sector discussions, including names, dates, project descriptions and agreed next steps.
It is also useful to prepare a short Czech-market project brief covering:
- the company and country of origin,
- planned Czech activity,
- expected investment and jobs,
- location requirements,
- R&D or innovation content,
- local suppliers and research cooperation,
- the requested form of support,
- a realistic implementation timetable.
This document helps public institutions route the project and helps the company keep its story consistent.
Why this matters particularly to Asian companies
Companies from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and other Asian markets often coordinate a Czech project through several layers: regional headquarters, a European entity, local advisers and the team at home.
A changing agency structure can create confusion if different people use different names and contacts. One shared project brief and a clear owner on the company side can prevent duplicated communication.
How Kodo complements institutional support
Kodo helps foreign companies prepare the commercial and communication side of Czech market entry: positioning, Czech web and content, partner and customer mapping, analytics, early marketing and implementation coordination.
We can work alongside public agencies and specialist advisers. CzechBusiness may help explain the state support environment; Kodo helps make the company understandable and operational in the market.
If you are planning a Czech launch and need a local partner for the practical work around it, contact Kodo.
Sources
- CzechInvest — CzechBusiness Is Born: One Place for Your Growth
- Ministry of Industry and Trade — CzechBusiness is being established
- CzechTrade Offices — CzechTrade and CzechInvest merge
Keywords
CzechBusiness agency, CzechInvest CzechTrade merger, foreign investor Czechia, Czech market entry support, investing in Czech Republic, Czech investment agency, CzechBusiness 2027
Cover photo Prague: by Predrag
