Control Engineering launches in Czech Republic, Slovakia

By Control Engineering Staff October 11, 2006

To serve solid industrial growth and large investments in the Czech Republic / Slovakia marketplace, Reed Business Information has launched Control Engineering Czech in print and online at www.controlengcesko.com in September. Like Control Engineering Poland and Control Engineering Russia , this new publication and Website bring the Control Engineering brand of how-to information to engineers, technicians and business people in one of the fastest growing manufacturing areas in the world. The publication is being produced in partnership with Trade Media International Sp. z o.o. Michael J. Majchrzak, publisher of the three editions, speaks highly of the region’s growth.

He says the Czech Republic recently has attracted new foreign direct investment from Toyota Motor Corp. and PSA Peugeot Citroën. The latter comprises Euro 1.5 billion greenfield car assembly plant in the Central Bohemian town of Kolín (the largest greenfield investment in the country).

“In 2002, the Czech Republic attracted nearly $8.5 billion of foreign direct investment (or FDI), which is equivalent to 12% of the gross domestic product, says Majchrzak. “This fell back to $5 billion in 2003, but the Czech Republic is still is the highest per-capita recipient of FDI in Central Europe. GDP growth is expected to continue at 3% to 4% at least until 2007.” Majchrzak attributes that growth to the fact that the government is starting to tackle issues such as excessive bureaucracy and delays in the commercial courts, and the generally good business climate for foreign investors. Growth in 2000-2004 was supported by exports to the European Union, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment, he says.

“The launch of Control Engineering in the Czech Republic/Slovakia expands coverage of the Central and Eastern European automation markets in these fast developing industrialized economies,” says Majchrzak. “Control Engineering was once the only reliable source of automation information in the former Eastern Block, and I believe it will soon be accepted by engineers as the leading and most important source of automation engineering information in the Czech and Slovak republics.”

Edited by Mark T. Hoske , Control Engineering editor in chiefMHoske@cfemedia.com