SLOVAK economic diplomats are losing interest in the Russian Federation after the annexation of Crimea, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote in its report on the focus of economic diplomacy in bilateral relations until 2016, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia and the European Union consider the referendum in March on Crimea becoming part of Russia invalid and do not recognise it as such.
The focus of Slovakia’s exports and thus also its economic diplomacy in the area of trade until
2016 will remain the EU, where more than four-fifths of its exports are heading (82.81 percent) and from where three-fifths of imports of the Slovak Republic (62.5 percent) originate.
Another priority area of Slovakia’s economic diplomacy in trade represents territories near the EU: the Balkans, the CIS, eastern European countries and some countries in the southern neighbourhood of the EU.
The leaders of global economic growth in 2019 will be developing countries and emerging markets of Africa and Asia. The aim of economic diplomacy will therefore be to take advantage of new export opportunities in these markets.
Promoting trade and economic interests abroad, according to the Foreign Ministry, is an integral part of the country’s foreign policy. Last year, the ministry had a network of 64 embassies and eight general consulates of the Slovak Republic, with 49 economic diplomats stationed.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.