By joining the eurozone, Slovakia became the leader of the Central European region, said the chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK), Peter Mihók, at the chamber’s annual assembly, reported the TASR newswire.
When assessing Slovakia's development in 2008, Mihók called the adoption of the euro the most important event. The SOPK chairman said that 2008 was the year of the euro, as EU institutions decided that year that Slovakia could join the eurozone and introduce the euro as its national currency as of January 1, 2009.
This decision, stressed Mihók, didn't come by chance. It was the result of the long-term preparation of the Slovak economy, during which Slovakia was monitored by several European institutions from the point of view of meeting the Maastricht criteria and its sustainability of economic development and growth. The decision also showed that the way to success leads through a positive business environment, budgetary discipline, and development programmes, TASR wrote.
According to Mihók, the SOPK has been a supporter of this process from the beginning, making sure that Slovakia's business sphere was well prepared for the adoption of the euro via its euro-programmes. Hundreds of Slovak companies in individual regions of Slovakia received training at SOPK seminars. They were given practical publications, and could obtain information on issues linked to the introduction of the euro directly via a “euro hotline”. When foreign investors decide on further activities, the use of the euro as the national currency is among the decisive factors, according to Mihók. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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