The influx of foreign direct investments in Slovakia totalled Sk57.703 billion last year, which is 2.5 times more than in 2005 when foreign direct investments totalled Sk21.883 billion.
The corporate sector contributed to last year's increase in foreign direct investment with as much as Sk58.159 billion. In contrast, the banking sector reported a decline in investment volume of Sk456 million, according to information from the National Bank of Slovakia. Of the total volume of foreign direct investments in Slovakia, as much as Sk186.017 billion went to industrial production, Sk91.598 billion was invested in financial services and Sk66.001 billion went into energy production and distribution.
Italy was the most significant investor in Slovakia in 2006, investing a total of Sk31.724 billion. At the end of April 2006, the Italian energy company Enel took control of Slovakia's dominant power producer, Slovenské Elektrárne, as its 66 percent majority shareholder. Italy was followed by Austria, Korea, Germany, Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
From the territorial point of view, most funds were invested in Bratislava Region, which registered foreign direct investments of Sk42.515 billion. Žilina Region was second, followed by the Trenčín, Trnava, Košice, Nitra, Banská Bystrica, and lastly, Prešov Region.
The outflow of foreign direct investments from Slovakia totalled Sk9.5 billion. Most of which, Sk7.139 billion, went to Luxembourg. As much as Sk3.068 billion went to the Czech Republic and Sk568 million was invested in Russia. In terms of sectors, foreign direct investments from Slovakia were mainly in the fields of real estate, trading activities and financial services.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
