events 2008

Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Jack Fischer at the Johnson Controls plant

Embassy Commercial Section Hosts Business Delegation from Milwaukee

April 28, 2008

On April 21-23, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett led a business delegation to Prague (coincidentally, Milwaukee is Ambassador Graber's hometown). Other notable participants in the 40-plus member delegation included: Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Jack Fischer, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Gail Lione, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Harley-Davidson.

The Embassy’s Commercial Section organized a Country Briefing led by Ambassador Graber and Commercial Counselor Greg O'Connor; a series of appointments for Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Jack Fischer with the Ministry of Industry Trade and the Confederation of Industry, along with company tours at Rockwell Automation (research center for industrial controllers), S.C. Johnson (sales office for consumer products) and Johnson Controls (tour of their plant in Benatky nad Jizerou which manufacturers car seats for Skoda Auto); a briefing by the Deputy Mayor of Prague; receptions at the Ambassador's Residence and Harley-Davidson's Prague showroom; a well-received presentation on the Czech business climate by AmCham Executive Director Weston Stacey; a roundtable with the AmCham IPR Committee that discussed trademark protection strategies for Harley-Davidson's clothing merchandise and accessories and the Czech Republic's being placed on the Section 301 Watch List; and several private  appointments for delegation members.