ZRIA Heads to Texas. The First Business Mission Will Connect Regional Companies with Global Business

Thirteen companies from high-potential sectors will take part in the first trade mission to the American state of Texas, organised by the regional development agency ZRIA. Eight of them operate directly in the Zlín Region, while the remaining five represent other Czech regions — confirming that ZRIA’s activities have an impact beyond the region’s borders. The mission will take place from 14 to 20 October and is part of a long-term strategy to connect the Zlín Region with the global environment and open up new opportunities for businesses, universities, and public institutions.

“The mission is a concrete example of how, through ZRIA, we are fulfilling our vision: building the Zlín Region as a modern, open, and attractive region. We want our entrepreneurs to be able to succeed in global markets — and at the same time bring know-how and partnerships back to the region that will accelerate its development,” says David Vychytil, Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region for Finance, Property, and Business Development.

The delegation will visit three major Texas cities — Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. Each offers specific opportunities for business, innovation, and international cooperation. Participants will meet key players in American business, government, and the innovation ecosystem. The mission will thus give companies direct access to the contacts that are crucial for entering the American market. They will also have the opportunity to meet with important representatives at the state and regional level.

“We will be sitting at the table with people who are genuinely and fundamentally shaping the development of Texas. We will be directly at the source of information, ideas, and contacts that can help our companies. Over more than a year of systematic work, we have built a position and contacts there that we can now use for our companies and, in turn, for the development of the Zlín region,” says Petr Kubíček, Director of Strategic Development at ZRIA.

The programme will include, among other things, a visit to global aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin, where representatives of the Czech Ministry of Defence will also join the delegation. Companies can look forward to targeted B2B matchmaking sessions in the fields of aerospace, defence, ICT, and deep-tech, connections with innovation hubs, universities, and business associations. They will gain specific information and contacts needed for expansion, investment, and building international partnerships.

“Our goal is not only to open doors for local companies, but also mapping new foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows for the Zlín Region. It was precisely thanks to these activities that the cooperation between TBU and the American startup Yonder Materials came about. We are showing that even a regional agency can have a global impact,” adds Kubíček.