Trade Delegation Campaign: Czech Republic
A number of Czech companies have expressed interest in expanding or renewing their Iran business both before and after the implementation of the JCPOA.
In September 2014, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Martin Tiapa and a trade delegation consisting of 20 Czech companies headed by the Czech Chamber of Commerce visited Iran. Along with the delegation, Mr. Tiapa held a meeting with the President of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and delivered a speech to a business forum jointly hosted by the Iranian and Czech chambers of commerce, and organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tehran.
The Czech companies reportedly among those in the delegation were Tatra Trucks, Škoda Transportation, AŽD Praha, SOR Libchavy, ERA, Inekon Group, Sigmainvest, Veba, Mavel, UNIS, Farmak, and Technoexport.
Following the implementation of the JCPOA in November 2016, UANI warned Czech companies like CSOB and Skoda of significant business risks ahead of an official visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
UANI disagrees with Czech companies who do business in Iran – not simply because it will give aid and comfort to a lawless regime that foments terrorism and unrest throughout the Middle East – but because the legal, political, financial, and reputational risks of doing business in Iran outweigh any theoretical benefit of commercial involvement in that market.
UANI Corporate Campaign
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Tatra Trucks
Launched a campaign in 2014 calling on Czech automotive company Tatra Trucks to forgo business in Iran following its participation in a Czech trade delegation to Tehran. In January 2016 reports emerged that negotiations between Tatra and Iran have begun.
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Skoda Auto
Launched a campaign in 2014 calling on Czech automotive company Škoda to forgo business in Iran following its participation in a Czech trade delegation to Tehran. In response, Škoda confirmed to UANI it did not participate in the Czech delegation. However, in October 2017 Škoda signed preliminary deals with local Iranian partners to start semi knocked-down production in the country.
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SOR Libchavy
Launched a campaign in 2014 calling on Czech engineering company SOR Libchavy to forgo business in Iran following its participation in a Czech trade delegation to Tehran. In March 2017, SOR Libchavy signed a joint venture to supply 400 buses to Iran in the upcoming years.
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UNIS
Launched a campaign in 2014 calling on Czech technology company UNIS to forgo business in Iran following its participation in a Czech trade delegation to Tehran. While in Iran, UNIS reached an agreement with Turbine Machine M.e. Co to serve as the authorized exclusive agent of UNIS a.s. in Iran.
