Annual General Meeting at Impact Hub Praha gathered Nordic business leaders, the Ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, the Honorary Consul of Iceland, and key Czech institutional partners around the theme “Economy 2026+: Trends Shaping Competitiveness, Resilience and Growth”.
The Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic held its Annual General Meeting 2026 on 22 April at Impact Hub Praha, bringing together members, partners, and guests from the Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish business community. The meeting elected a new Board for the 2026–2028 term, approved the opening of membership to the Baltic countries, and addressed the outlook for the Czech economy together with Chief Economist Helena Horská of Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic.
The evening was opened by Björn Mattsson, President of the Nordic Chamber of Commerce: “It is great to welcome you all to the 31st AGM of our business chamber, this year in our new “home” here at the Impact Hub. The purpose of the chamber is to serve as a platform for people and businesses, creating arenas for learning, sharing and supporting business opportunities for our members”. Mattsson also welcomed new members who joined in the second half of 2025 and so far in 2026, altogether 12 companies and 2 individual professionals: Asker Healthcare Services · Blika · Good Spirits Only (Bliss) · IVT Tepelná čerpadla · KOLAROVA LEGAL · Mgr. Pavla Kopečková Přikrylová · Olivier Mauritz · Pemamek Oy · Prague Spring · Scancom · Škoda Group (returning) · Talentor · TCO Prague Hybernska (Motel One) · TMF Group.
Remarks followed from Kateřina Zvěřinová of the Impact Hub Praha, and Petr Heczko, Director of the Department of Data Management and Analytics at CzechInvest.
Kateřina Zvěřinová of Impact Hub Praha said: „At Impact Hub, we believe that business grows through connection, collaboration and shared purpose. Hosting the Nordic Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic’s Annual Meeting was a great opportunity to support the kind of cross-border dialogue that can lead to meaningful change.“
Petr Heczko presented the audience with data and activities of the agency: „Since its establishment in 1992, the Czech Investment and Business Development Agency CzechInvest has facilitated investment projects from the Nordic countries amounting to over EUR 1.2 billion. As a result, Nordic companies assisted by CzechInvest rank among the top ten investors by total investment value. These figures clearly confirm the importance of Nordic investments for the Czech Republic.“
Opening to the Baltic States
Members approved a proposal to invite companies from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to join the Chamber as Associates, widening the platform from a five-country Nordic setting to a Nordic–Baltic business community in Czechia. This step responds to interest from the Baltic countries themselves and mirrors the way the Nordic Council coordinates its member states.
As H.E. Ms. Jana Vanaveski, Ambassador of Estonia to the Czech Republic commented: „Nordic and Baltic countries together form a unique, tightly integrated community of 33 million people with a shared democratic value space that strongly promotes innovation and digitalization. The Nordic-Baltic 8 collectively is the 10th largest economy in the world and the 5th in Europe. I welcome the decision to join forces and work together on promoting our common business interests here in the Czech Republic and hope for active participation of Estonian companies.“
Keynote: Economy 2026+ — competitiveness, resilience, and growth
Helena Horská, Chief Economist of Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic, delivered the keynote “Economy 2026+: Trends Shaping Competitiveness, Resilience and Growth”. Her address set the context for Nordic investors in Czechia: „As the likelihood of a prolonged Iran conflict rises, we are shifting to a more cautious economic outlook. What could have been a temporary shock is increasingly becoming a structural risk: the longer the conflict lasts, the more it weighs on growth, keeps energy prices elevated, and reopens the door to stagflation—especially in Europe. For the Czech economy, this means slower growth below 2 % and continued structural shifts to a less energy-intensive economy, with limited room for monetary policy to offset a supply-driven shock. In this environment, duration—not the initial shock—becomes the decisive factor shaping the macro path. But initially low inflation (10y min) and recently overheating labour market increase the resilience of the Czech economy.“
New Board
Members of the Chamber elected its new Board for 2026-2028 term, which now includes (in alphabetical order):
Fredrik Cederroth, Atlas Copco Group, Vice President Holding
Jan Christoph Harder, Škoda Group, President Region West, North and RoW
Birger Husted, Husted EMA Partners, Managing Partner
Jakub Lelek, the LEGO Group, Senior Government & Public Affairs Manager
Björn Mattsson, Skanska Residential Development, Business Unit President
Krasimira Stoyanova, Saab Technologies, Executive
Jan Šámal, KONE, Managing Director
The Chamber’s operations and strategic projects continue under the leadership of our Executive Director, Lenka Simerská, together with YIT Czechia — our general partner for 2026 and Impact Hub Česká republika — our new seat and base in Prague.
The role of Honorary Chair of the Chamber was handed to H.E. Ms. Snøfrid Byrløkken Emterud, Ambassador of Norway, as it traditionally belongs to the longest‑serving ambassador of the Nordic countries. “I am truly honored to fill the position as honorary chairperson of the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic. The Chamber not only plays a key role in assisting Nordic companies in the Czech market, but it also actively promotes Nordic values such as gender equality, transparency and equal opportunities,” Ambassador Snøfrid B. Emterud says. “I am also very pleased that the Chamber has decided to invite members from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In these troubled times, Nordic-Baltic cooperation is more vital than ever.”
Nordic values — put into practice with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
To translate Nordic values into a shared, hands-on experience, members took part in a facilitated LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® session led by Pavla Žížalová, Coach and Facilitator at the LEGO Group. The format invited participants to model, in the language of bricks, what transparency, trust, sustainability, equality and long-term thinking look like in daily business. Pavla Žížalová explained the method: “LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is not about building models — it’s about making thinking visible. When people can see and explain their ideas, it creates shared understanding much faster and turns abstract values into concrete actions. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® gives everyone a voice through their hands, making even complex topics easier to explore, challenge, and turn into real behavior and action.”
Culture and Business Connection
The evening closed with a cocktail and networking reception, accompanied by live music on the venue’s newly installed Petrof piano, donated to Impact Hub Praha by PETROF Pianosand cared for by the Chamber’s new member, Pražské jaro / Prague Spring introducing Slovak pianist Pavol Praženica who belongs among the most prominent talents of his generation. He is the winner of the 2023 Smetana International Piano Competition, collaborates with leading orchestras at home and abroad, and last year performed at the Prague Spring International Music Festival.
2026 Prague Spring programme brings a strong Nordic focus, highlighted by the festival debut of the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra on 21 May and by Klaus Mäkelä, Oslo Philharmonic and Truls Mørk on 23 May.
Nordic business matters in the Czech Republic
Founded in 1995, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce has grown into a trusted business community of over 130 member companies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — a group that is expected to broaden further with the accession of Baltic associates approved at the AGM.
Nordic and Nordic-linked companies are long-standing employers and investors in the Czech economy.
About the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic
The Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic was founded in 1995 and today represents over 130 Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish companies. Rooted in shared Nordic values — transparency, responsibility, equality, sustainability, innovation and long-term thinking — the Chamber connects, supports and empowers businesses through knowledge, collaboration and trusted network. With the AGM 2026 decision, the Chamber extends its scope to welcome Baltic associates and offers reduced membership rates to individuals up to 26 years old to support young professionals. YIT is General Partner of the Chamber for 2026, and Impact Hub Praha is the Partner of the AGM 2026.
NORDIC ARTISTS AT PRAGUE SPRING 2026
| 6–14 May | COMPETITION | Joonas Ahonen — piano judge, Prague Spring International Competition (Finland) |
| 21 May | RUDOLFINUM | Helsinki Baroque Orchestra — Aapo Häkkinen (cond.), Tuomas Katajala (tenor) |
| 23 May | MUNICIPAL HOUSE | Oslo Philharmonic — Klaus Mäkelä (cond.), Truls Mørk (cello) |
| 20, 24, 26 May · 2 Jun | RUDOLFINUM | Barbara Hannigan — conductor & soprano, artist in residence; from Sept 2026 chief conductor of Iceland Symphony Orchestra |
| 27 May | NATIONAL THEATRE | Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir — mezzosoprano (Iceland) |
| 29–30 May | DOX | Michaela Antalová — composer, arctic residency in Norway (OFFSPRING) |
