Pavel Lakatos (source: stano jendek, AGH Slowakei/Stano Jendek)
The latest survey of foreign chambers of commerce operating in Slovakia indicate a worsening sentiment among companies with foreign capital operating in Slovakia. This is unsurprising given recent geopolitical developments, but the situation in Slovakia – with increases in existing taxes and the introduction of new levies, paired with high energy prices and a lack of qualified labour – has not helped either. Nevertheless, companies still see Slovakia as a good location for business, praising its EU and eurozone membership, says Pavel Lakatos, newly elected President of AHK Slowakei, the German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce. He adds, however, that policymakers should bear in mind the country’s long-term prosperity when making decisions.
“I believe that politics benefits most when leaders act not only as policymakers, but as true statesmen: individuals who look beyond short-term gains and prioritise the long-term well-being of their country. In Slovakia and the former Czechoslovakia, we have seen such leadership in the past. While some may have considered these figures idealists, their vision and integrity remain deeply inspiring.” Lakatos told The Slovak Spectator.
The Slovak Spectator spoke with Lakatos about Slovak-German economic ties, the impact of the government’s recent public finance consolidation package, and the 20th anniversary of AHK Slowakei.
What is the role of AHK Slowakei?
Pavel Lakatos
Pavel Lakatos was elected President of AHK Slowakei, the German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce, in April.
He is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of management experience across the telecommunications, energy, industrial and global business services sectors. During his career at Siemens he has held key leadership roles including CFO of Siemens Energy Czech Republic, CFO of Siemens High Voltage Substations in Asia and Australia, and CFO of Siemens Saudi Arabia. He is currently CFO of Siemens Slovakia and leads the Order-to-Cash (O2C) operations for Global Business Services in Central and Eastern Europe.
The chamber stands at the intersection of the business world and the political sphere. We are not politically engaged, but the chamber strives to create a business environment that is attractive to investors – not just from Germany, but from anywhere – and to any entrepreneur operating in Slovakia.
At AHK Slowakei, we seek dialogue with policymakers whenever developments arise that impact the business community. Our aim is to hold up a mirror – to show them how we perceive certain developments, and how an industry or companies are likely to respond. In other words, we try to offer a realistic picture of what the impact of a decision might be and create a platform upon which businesses and the government can discuss. We as an organisation of businesses shouldn’t focus solely on ourselves, but also on the environment around us. Because, ultimately, that environment affects us all. So if we neglect it, we’re ultimately neglecting our own business as well. And that’s where our role becomes so important.
How do you assess the current state of Slovak-German economic relations? To what extent has the somewhat negative development of the German economy impacted these relations?
