On 20 May 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka welcomed his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar in the Czech Republic, accompanied by a business delegation of more than 50 Israeli companies and institutions. Together, the ministers officially opened the Czech–Israeli business forum, which gathered approximately 150 representatives of Czech companies, marking it as one of the largest bilateral business events of its kind.

The visit followed earlier high-level engagement between the two countries, including Minister Macinka’s trip to Israel in April 2026. During that visit, both ministers signed a declaration establishing a joint commission between the Czech and Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs, underlining the long-term strategic framework for cooperation.

Reflecting on the significance of the forum, Minister Macinka stated:“Today’s business forum is exceptional. For both Gideon Sa’ar and myself, it is the largest business event we have hosted during our time in office, and I am truly proud of it,” and added,“Our goal is for similar business interactions to take place regularly.”

The programme surrounding the forum demonstrated the practical depth of Czech–Israeli cooperation. Already on 19 May, Israeli companies engaged directly with Czech partners through visits and meetings with firms in key sectors such as healthcare and security. In parallel, institutional cooperation was also strengthened, with the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and the Manufacturers’ Association of Israel signing a memorandum of understanding.

Political discussions during the visit addressed both bilateral relations and wider regional and global issues. Minister Macinka reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s clear and consistent support for Israel within the European Union, stating:“We will not agree to any further trade sanctions, nor to further attempts to suspend or restrict the EU–Israel Association Agreement.”

The ministers also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East, its impact on Europe, and coordination within the framework of the European Union’s foreign and security policy.

Looking Ahead: Czech Business Mission to Israel in July 2026

Building on the momentum of this successful cooperation, a follow-up business mission led by Minister Petr Macinka is scheduled to take place in Israel on 13–14 July 2026, accompanied by a Czech business delegation.

The mission will focus on supporting Czech companies in establishing new partnerships and strengthening existing ties with Israeli counterparts. Its programme will include a business forum, targeted B2B and B2G meetings, and networking opportunities designed to generate concrete business outcomes and long-term cooperation.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tel Aviv, together with its partners, encourages Czech companies interested in expanding to the Israeli market to take part in this mission.

Companies wishing to participate can find further details and register via the following link: https://www.spcr.cz/podnikatelska-mise-do-izraele-2

Additional information is also available on the website of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tel Aviv: https://mzv.gov.cz/telaviv/cz/obchod_a_ekonomika/podnikatelska_mise_do_izraele.html

Participation in the mission represents a unique opportunity to enter one of the world’s most innovative markets, establish direct contacts with Israeli partners, and actively contribute to the continued growth of Czech–Israeli economic cooperation.