The assessment of linkages between FDI and SMEs in Czechia is a joint report produced by the OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs (DAF), led by Carmine Di Noia, and the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui. The report was prepared under the aegis of the OECD Committee on SMEs and Entrepreneurship (CSMEE) and the OECD Investment Committee (IC).
The report was prepared in close collaboration with a Czech inter‑ministerial taskforce created for the purpose of this assessment. It also benefited from consultations with the European Commission (EC) Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee. It is the third output of a multi-year OECD project conducted with EC support to develop policy recommendations on how national and subnational governments can strengthen FDI-SME linkages and increase the potential for productivity and innovation spillovers to local economies.
Martin Wermelinger, Head of the Sustainable Investment Unit (DAF), Marco Bianchini, Project Coordinator of the SME and Entrepreneurship Transformation Unit (CFE), coordinated the overall project and supervised the assessment of Czechia. Ana Novik, Head of the Investment Division (DAF), Lucia Cusmano, Acting Head of the SME and Entrepreneurship Division (CFE) and Enrique Garcilazo, Deputy Head of Division and Head of Regional and Rural Policy Unit (CFE) provided guidance.
Chapter 1 on “Overview and key policy considerations” was prepared by Stratos Kamenis (DAF), Madison Lucas (CFE), Fernando Riaza Fernández (CFE), and Anhelina Dombrovska (CFE).
Chapters 2 on “Enabling conditions for FDI and SME linkages”, and 3 on “FDI spillovers at play for Czech SMEs” were prepared by Stratos Kamenis (DAF), with inputs from Monika Sztajerowska (DAF), Kerstin Schopohl (DAF) and Irina Grigoryeva (DAF). Thanks are due to Fares Al Hussami (DAF) for specific comments on these chapters.
Chapters 4 on “The institutional and governance framework for FDI and SME linkages”, and 5 on “The policy mix for FDI and SME linkages” were prepared by Chiara Petroli with input from Juan Felipe Rodrigo and Oualid Mokhantar under the supervision of Sandrine Kergroach, Head of SME and Entrepreneurship Performance, Policies and Mainstreaming (all CFE). Anhelina Dombrovska provided research assistance, and contributed to finalise the drafts for publication with Madison Lucas (all CFE).
Chapter 6 on “Applying a regional lens: Ústí nad Labem and South Moravia” was prepared by Fernando Riaza Fernández (CFE). Thanks are due to Enrique Garcilazo (CFE) and Andres Sanabria (CFE) for specific comments on this chapter.
Stratos Kamenis (DAF) and Chiara Petrioli (CFE) coordinated consultations and cooperation with the Czech taskforce and relevant national and regional institutions, as well as the policy surveys that were conducted in preparation of this assessment.
Lucinda Pearson (DAF) helped prepare the report for publication. Heather Mortimer Charoy (CFE) and Angèle N’Zinga (DAF) provided project and administrative assistance.