Archive of articles - June 2004

Parliament requests carmaker contracts from cabinet

Slovak companies can apply for NATO projects

Dzurinda urges Ukraine to improve democracy

VUB replaces Tatra Banka as top Slovak bank

Investment agency registers 215 projects

Controversial businessman killed by hit men

Euro in Slovakia by 2010

Financial shark loses a partner

Ševc re-elected as Communist Party chairman

Iraq a duty for democracies, says Dzurinda

Minebea to invest Sk120 million

Cabinet looks weak on corruption

THE REPUTATION of Mikuláš Dzurinda's government for handling corruption has been corroding in the eyes of the public over the past five years, according to a recent survey by the Focus polling agency for the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Slovakia.While in 1999 only 10 percent of those polled thought that corruption was a serious problem, four years later that number jumped to 18 percent. Compared to a poll from 2003, however, when 24 percent said corruption was a major dilemma, the number has since dropped, according to the daily SME.

Slovakia's FDI tide is rising

IF THE VOLUME of foreign direct investments that flowed into Slovakia by the end of March 2004 were distributed among the country's population, each citizen would be Sk66,000 (€1,651) richer, according to the latest statistical data.Though the majority of the population claims to enjoy no benefits from the well-performing economy or from their country becoming an attractive site for foreign investors, the numbers speak a clear language: FDI over the first quarter of 2004 grew by Sk12 billion (€300 million) to stand at Sk361.6 billion (€9 billion).

Appliance producer heads to Michalovce

Dutch matchmaker

THE NETHERLANDS is the second largest investor in Slovakia and the interest of Dutch businessmen in starting new businesses in Slovakia also continues to grow. Machinery and the food industry remain as the main areas of focus."According to our experience, the machine industry seems to be the most important area of cooperation. It plays a significant role in the Netherlands, and Dutch companies often contact us to help them find partners in Slovakia with whom they can move part of their production. We do similar searches for firms from the food industry and floriculture," said Daniela Mikušková from the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia.

Minimum wage to rise to Sk6,500

Events Countrywide

BRATISLAVAWESTERN SLOVAKIACENTRAL SLOVAKIAEASTERN SLOVAKIACompiled by Jana Liptáková

Near-border Ukrainians to see free visas

Three parties want top posts