Blog MOTOR JIKOV Group a.s. has a solid foundation__

Meet Ing. Miroslav Dvořák, the visionary CEO steering MOTOR JIKOV Group a.s. for over 11 years, shaping one of the most influential engineering enterprises in South Bohemia.

The 49-year-old Prague-born graduate of ČVUT exemplifies leadership not only for fellow managers but also for today’s university graduates. His career began in 1986 as an assistant in development and a designer at the very company he now leads. The year 2011 marked a milestone—exactly a quarter-century of dedication to MOTOR JIKOV Group, a testament to his unwavering commitment.

Since 2006, Miroslav Dvořák has also served as Chairman of the Board of the South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce, aiding entrepreneurs across diverse sectors. “The crisis introduced a new trend—customers and clients intensified their emphasis on quality, pricing, and delivery deadlines,” Dvořák remarks.

The Czech economy is currently navigating through a crisis. This undoubtedly influences local entrepreneurs in South Bohemia…

The impact varies by company size, industry, market presence, and management style—factors much more numerous than can be listed. Broadly, many have realized that in challenging times, entrepreneurs must adapt: reduce costs, seek new opportunities, and meet escalating customer demands. The crisis has added a new dimension—stricter quality, pricing, and delivery expectations, sometimes amid fierce competition for clients. Few can afford to lose a customer.

For the fifth consecutive year, you’ve led the South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce. What support can local businesses expect from this organization?

Our activities are diverse—covering legislation, partner search, international market entry, and corporate development. The Chamber offers consultancy, training, economic and legal services, management of info centers, business planning, and trade connection facilitation.

Where can entrepreneurs find more information?

Visit our website www.jhk.cz for detailed insights into specific services such as InMP – Information Centers for Entrepreneurs, out-of-court consumer dispute resolution, CZECHPOINT database extracts, document notarization and legalization. We also issue export documents like ATA Carnets, verify the origin of goods for transport formats, and serve as regional electronic toll collection points—contract arrangements, issuance of onboard units, and toll payments.

Do you believe there is still room for business in the market today?

Market space is always available. Its size depends on supply and demand dynamics, business type, company goals, and many other factors. While twenty years ago—during the rebuilding of market relations—the boom was exceptional, today, while market space for large projects may be limited, opportunities still exist—especially in services and small-scale manufacturing. Launching a car factory would be challenging, but entering the railway transport sector and competing with Czech Railways, as Radim Jančura does, is feasible. Manufacturing firms, especially in engineering, face more hurdles. Some have exited the market, unable to withstand the economic fluctuations. Nevertheless, I believe that despite fierce competition and complex challenges, business remains viable for those with a clear vision and robust strategy.

How is MOTOR performing amid current economic conditions?

MOTOR JIKOV Group, a company with a proud 111-year history, is built on solid foundations. Comprising three firms involved in engineering, foundry work, and assembly manufacturing, it offers a broad portfolio—high and low-pressure aluminum and zinc casting, ductile and gray iron casting, machining, mold production, specialized machinery, riveting tools, CNG stations, agricultural machinery, components for air brake systems, and fuel system parts. We export approximately 70% worldwide.

Financially, pre-2008—before the crisis—our turnover was about 1.5 billion CZK with 1,150 employees. Today, it’s roughly 1.35 billion CZK with around 900 staff. Productivity and efficiency are clearly improving.

While the workforce shrank during the crisis, this prompted us to reassess processes, costs, and operations—ultimately leading to increased added value and better alignment of costs and performance. We sought optimal solutions to maintain financial stability, which has allowed us to approach pre-crisis performance levels, despite fewer employees. The crisis has, in a paradoxical way, strengthened our management and operational skills. It was demanding—many colleagues volunteered for extended hours, facing sleepless nights, all driven by a sense of responsibility for our production and operations. So, I can confidently say that MOTOR JIKOV Group, a.s., is relatively well-positioned today—an achievement not by chance but through hard work.

South Bohemia reports the lowest unemployment rate in the Czech Republic after Prague in September. What is your assessment of this?

I believe the current unemployment rate, around 9%, reflects the ongoing supply and demand in the labor market. My stance remains that anyone willing to work can find a job—either as an employee or an entrepreneur.

Motor JIKOV Group also relies on its own “graduates.” Four years ago, you established a training center. How do you evaluate its performance today?

The training center was founded in autumn 2007. It annually trains dozens of apprentices and students from technical schools. Students benefit from practical experience in one of the largest engineering firms in the region. We also benefit, as it helps identify potential future employees and supports students with financial aid for studies.

Equipped with modern machinery worth millions, students learn programming and CNC machine operation under expert supervision. Additionally, MOTOR JIKOV collaborates closely with technical schools at various levels and participates in initiatives such as IQ Industry—training teachers of technical subjects as part of national projects.

Your company is also recognized for active sponsorship activities…

Nonprofits involved in sports, youth education, culture, or social work often struggle—funding is limited, and resources are scarce. As a Czech company, we support sports and culture generously, with significant contributions also to nonprofit initiatives. We cannot assist everyone, but to make a meaningful impact, we have two main partners: the Jihočeské naděje Foundation, supporting talented young people in South Bohemia, and the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in Opařany. We’ve collaborated with them for years, and the results are evident—I take great pride in that.