During his multi-day visit to the Zlín region, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet visited the facility of U.S. semiconductor manufacturer onsemi in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. This past June, the company announced a planned multi-year investment totaling up to $2 billion (around 44 billion CZK) to expand its chip production and establish a state-of-the-art vertically integrated silicon carbide (SiC) manufacturing facility at the Rožnov plant. One of the largest planned foreign investments in Czech history, this expansion would position Czechia and the Zlín region as a European hub for chip production and high-tech industry. Onsemi has operated in the town beneath the Beskydy Mountains for almost three decades.
Following his visit to the Rožnov facility, Ambassador Sabet stated: “Onsemi is a great example of a U.S. company making a real and positive impact on Czechia. This investment would help realize the economic potential of this region and also strengthen the U.S.-Czechia relationship.” Ambassador Sabet further praised the company’s development efforts, leveraging brownfield investments in the existing industrial complex to bring additional high-tech manufacturing.
“Silicon carbide is becoming increasingly fundamental as global demands for power and energy-efficient solutions continue to rise. This strategic investment would underscore the Czech Republic’s commitment to innovation and position the broader European region at the forefront of critical technologies enabling advancements in electrification and artificial intelligence. We are thankful for Ambassador Sabet’s support of our planned investment, which is crucial in driving these transformative global megatrends forward,” said Aleš Cáb, onsemi Vice President, Rožnov Operations.