SLOVAKIA has achieved enough economic prosperity that it no longer needs a World Bank office in Bratislava.
Shigeo Katsu, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, arrived in the capital on June 2 to officially close the office, the SITA newswire wrote.
During his stay, he met President Ivan Gašparovič, Finance Minister Ján Počiatek and other state representatives.
“We would like to congratulate the Slovak Republic on its huge success. Soon, Slovakia is awaiting eurozone entry, which is one of the biggest signs of this success,” Katsu said after the meeting with Gašparovič.
Katsu described the institution’s cooperation with Slovakia as very good and expressed his belief that it will continue despite the closure.
Slovakia’s transformation will serve as an example for other countries, such as those in the Balkans, Katsu added.
President Gašparovič suggested a more specific form of cooperation with the World Bank.
“We know that a centre for Europe, Asia and Africa is to be established somewhere in Central Europe,” he said. “That is why I have asked the vice president to keep Slovakia in mind. We would gladly take up this role, as our cooperation has been on a very high level.”
