ACRI – the Association of Czech Railway Industry, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Delhi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised an incoming mission of representatives of industrial companies from India this week. The programme of the visit to the Czech Republic focused on presenting the Czech railway industry, its manufacturing capacities, technological know-how and specific solutions that may be relevant to the further development of modern railway transport and mobility in India. The programme for the visiting Indian companies was also held in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Prague and with the participation of the Indian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Raveesh Kumar.
“India is one of the most important and most dynamic markets in the world. For the Czech railway industry, it represents an exceptionally attractive opportunity, as Czech companies have a long tradition and a high level of know-how in the fields of rolling stock, components, control systems, electronics, information technologies and specialised industrial solutions. We are pleased that this incoming mission could take place thanks to very good cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Delhi, and that we can present the specific capabilities of Czech companies to our Indian partners. We believe that meetings of this kind can contribute to the development of long-term Czech-Indian cooperation in the field of rail transport,” said Marie Vopálenská, CEO of ACRI.
The programme included a meeting at ACRI, where member companies had the opportunity to present their products, services and technologies suitable for the Indian railway sector. Representatives of the Indian delegation also introduced Czech companies to the current needs, priorities and opportunities of the Indian market. The discussion confirmed that Czech companies have a great deal to offer India – from rolling stock and components to braking systems, electronics, control and communication technologies, and digital solutions for modern rail transport.
A number of Czech companies took part in the programme hosted by ACRI: Škoda Group (public mobility solutions), DAKO-CZ (braking systems), MSV elektronika (railway electronics), Passengera (passenger information systems), Wikov MGI (gearboxes and drives), TTC CONTROLS (control technologies), T-CZ (radio communication systems) and NDCon LOGIC (transport advisory services). The delegation subsequently continued to the Moravian-Silesian Region, where it visited the production facilities of BONATRANS in Bohumín, a leading global manufacturer of railway wheelsets, wheels, axles and related components, and Škoda Group in Ostrava, where the company focuses on the production and servicing of rolling stock.
The programme of the incoming mission also included a visit to the Škoda Group plant in Plzeň, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of solutions for public mobility and a company with a long tradition in the Czech railway industry. There, the Indian guests became acquainted with the company’s current production, development activities, technological background and specific projects. The visit provided space for sharing experience and discussing opportunities for future cooperation in modern and sustainable mobility.
The significance of Czech-Indian cooperation in the railway sector is also illustrated by the recent bilateral meeting between Škoda Group CEO Petr Novotný and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting sent an important signal of India’s growing interest in Czech industrial and technological capabilities and confirmed the potential for Czech companies to participate in projects focused on the development of modern railway infrastructure, sustainable mobility and industrial partnerships.
India has long been investing in the modernisation of railway transport, urban transport systems and sustainable transport solutions. This opens up opportunities for Czech companies to cooperate in high value-added areas, including the supply of components, technologies, system integration, digitalisation, safety elements, service solutions and the transfer of technical know-how.
“The Czech railway industry is export-oriented, technologically advanced and has long been successful in the most demanding foreign markets. India is a country with enormous potential and, at the same time, a market where Czech expertise can respond very effectively to local needs. ACRI’s objective is to help open up new opportunities for Czech companies and support their involvement in international projects,” added Marie Vopálenská, CEO of ACRI.
