Pilsen Region is the leading Region of the Future in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy and second best region in Eastern Europe overall, according to a ranking for fDi Magazine, published by The Financial Times. A committee composed of economists, analysts and specialists in banking, the public sector and regional development evaluated European regions based on socioeconomic indicators, with Pilsen Region was categorised as an Eastern European country. Ivo Grüner, Vice President of the Pilsen Region for Regional Development, EU Funds and Information Technology, accepted the prestigious European Cities and Regions of the Future 2014/15 title in Cannes, France, on 12 March 2014.
The foreign investment magazine ranks European cities and regions and announces the Cities and Regions of the Future every two years. This year’s ranking analysed data collected from 468 cities and regions, which were evaluated in five categories: Economic Potential; Human Capital and Lifestyle; Cost Effectiveness; Infrastructure; and Business Friendliness. A sixth, separate category was FDI Strategy.
Pilsen Region, which was categorised among Eastern European Regions, made the top ten in three areas. In the overall ranking it came in second place, and was just edged out by Pardubice Region.
And in the category focused on foreign direct investment, Pilsen Region’s strategy was evaluated as the best in Eastern Europe. „Pilsen Region was able to prepare a friendly business environment in advance by being the first region in the country to approve a regional Master Plan, and again being one of the first to update it just this March. Industrial zones, which were included in the Master Plan in as early as 2008, are located in the region’s main developing areas, especially near the D5 motorway. The zones in Mýto, Štěnovice and Borská Pole are now fully occupied; additional developing zones include Orange Park near Nýřany, Myslinka, Ostrov (Stříbro), Stříbro, Bor (Tachov) and Vysočany. By approving the Master Plan in a timely manner, we attracted a number of foreign investors to our region ub a relatively fast period of time. This is another reason why Pilsen Region has long had the lowest unemployment rate in the Czech Republic,” Miloslav Michalec, Head of the Regional Development Department at the Pilsen Regional Authority, said regarding the region’s foreign investment strategy.
Due to its excellent results, Pilsen Region also made it into the Top 10 most improved regions among Eastern European regions.
„We would like to thank all business owners, mayors, the City of Pilsen, which also ranked fourth and sixth in the ranking of European cities, the University of West Bohemia and chambers of commerce for the work they’ve done over the past six years,” said Ivo Grüner, Vice President of the Pilsen Region for Regional Development, EU Funds and Information Technology. „They also deserve credit for Pilsen Region receiving this prestigious title,” he added.
The award ceremony was one of the highlights of the 25th annual MIPIM show, one of Europe’s largest property markets, which brings together the most influential players from all international property sectors.
„Last year MasterCard rated Pilsen Region as the region with the greatest socioeconomic improvement over the past decade and ranked it second only to Prague – and therefore first among actual regions – as the Best Place to Live in 2013. Our excellent results in the fDi Magazine ranking have further added to our region’s successes, but we particularly appreciate that Pilsen Region’s potential is also recognised by international experts,” Pilsen Region Governor Václav Šlajs summarised.
Vice President of the Pilsen Region Ivo Grüner and Regional Development Department Head Miloslav Michalec accepting the title in Cannes, France