How well prepared is Czechia to respond to geopolitical shocks, economic uncertainty and changes in global markets? The 7th Annual Conference of the Association for Foreign Investment – AFI will explore these questions on 10 September 2026 at the Czech National Bank Congress Centre in Prague.
This year’s conference is entitled “Are We Ready? The Resilience of the Czech Economy in a Time of Global Change.” Economists, business leaders, representatives of public institutions and security experts will discuss Czechia’s ability to respond to concurrent economic, geopolitical, energy and technological challenges. The programme will also examine opportunities for Czech industry, strategic security, technological development and the conditions shaping the country’s future competitiveness.
The first panel, The Global and Czech Economies in an Era of Uncertainty, will bring together Jan Bureš, Chief Economist of the ČSOB Group; David Marek, Chief Economist at Deloitte Czech Republic; economic adviser and journalist Miroslav Zámečník; and Lenka Zlámalová, Lead Commentator and Analyst at Czech News Center. The discussion will focus on developments in the Czech and global economies and on the impact of continued uncertainty on businesses, investment and economic policy.
The second panel, Czechia’s Resilience: Are We Prepared for a Polycrisis?, will address crisis management, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity and strategic reserves. The speakers will include Jakub Ludvík, Chief Security Officer at T-Mobile Czech Republic; Daniel Miklós, Deputy Director General of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic for Prevention and Civil Emergency Preparedness; Marcel Procházka, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer at České Radiokomunikace; and Pavel Švagr, Chairman of the Administration of the State Material Reserves.
Opportunities for further economic and technological development will form the central theme of the third panel, Opportunities for Czechia: Do We Have a Chance to Succeed? The discussion will feature Michal Břečka of innogy Energo; Blanka Cupáková, Supply Chain SMR Department Director at ČEZ; Rudolf Klepáček, CEO of CzechBusiness; and Pavel Sovička, Managing Director of Panattoni Development Czech Republic and Slovakia. The panel will examine energy, advanced technologies, exports, strategic investment and the involvement of Czech companies in emerging supply chains.
The keynote address will be delivered by Karel Havlíček, Minister of Industry and Trade and First Deputy Prime Minister. Michala Hergetová will moderate the conference.
AFI will also present the results of its 2026 Business Environment Survey, providing an up-to-date view of how companies assess business and investment conditions in Czechia. The programme will include the AFI Awards ceremony, recognising individuals, investment projects and innovative initiatives that contribute to the Czech economy, improve the country’s investment environment and strengthen the international reputation of Czech industry.
The conference will begin at 2 p.m. and conclude with a networking reception. Attendance is by invitation from the organiser only.
