The National Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (NADSME) – along with all its funds – will be shut down, the government decided on Wednesday, September 29, delegating Economy Minister Juraj Miškov (SaS) to prepare its closure, the TASR newswire wrote.
“The shutdown can be carried out [easily] ... one letter from the Economy Minister is enough and, at the moment, the agency ceases to exist,” said Prime Minister Iveta Radičová to TASR. The government had asked Miškov to recall all ministry representatives in the management and administrative boards and the collegium of NADSME. Miškov was also asked to replace all members of the agency's bodies, section directors and all members of the bodies in the related company Fond Fondov.
The economy minister should then report to the government about the current situation and all the replacements in NADSME, including reports on ongoing inspections and criminal investigations. Subsequently, Miškov should submit to government a proposal on the shutdown. Meanwhile, all its projects will be transferred to other institutions.
According to Radicova, the government has decided to shut down NADSME after learning about ongoing prosecution for embezzlement of €4.5 million in the agency between 2006-09, and also about the fact that according to the current statutes the Economy Ministry bears full responsibility for these institutions.
Miškov pointed out that the state will have to agree on any replacements at NADSME with other partners such as the Association of Slovak Entrepreneurs (ZPS) and Slovak Tradesmen Association (SZZ).
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
