ITALY is one of the most important investors in Slovakia. By the end of 2009 foreign direct investment from Italy to Slovakia had totalled more than €1.74 billion, making Italy the fifth biggest investor in Slovakia, according to the National Bank of Slovakia. During 2010 direct investments from Italy totalled €14.16 million. The balance of trade between Slovakia and Italy was positive for Slovakia during the first three months of 2011, according to Statistics Office data. Slovakia imported goods from Italy worth €414 million, amounting to 3.2 percent of its total imports. Slovakia’s exports to Italy totalled €739 million, accounting for 5.6 percent of Slovakia’s total exports. The trade balance was hence almost €325 million in Slovakia’s favour. During the whole of last year, Slovakia’s imports from Italy amounted to €1.555 billion (3.2 percent) and exports totalled €2.715 billion (5.6 percent), leaving the trade balance €1.160 billion in Slovakia’s favour.
Italian investors in Slovakia are active in energy (Slovenské Elektrárne), banking and insurance (VÚB Banka, UniCredit Bank Slovakia, Generali Slovensko, Genertel, and others), as well as waste management and the machine industry.
In addition to these large companies there are a number of small and medium-sized Italian companies (SMEs) present in Slovakia. An industrial park in Šamorín, near Bratislava, was established primarily for Italian SMEs, initiated by Confindustria Vicenza.
13. Jun 2011 at 0:00 | Compiled by Spectator staff
