Foreigners in Slovakia, page 36
News and features on living in Slovakia
Norway: General facts
Head of state: King Harald V of NorwayForm of government: parliamentary democracyCapital: OsloTotal area: 385,186 square kilometresPopulation: 5 millionOfficial languages: Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk) (In some districts, Sámi is also an official language) Currency: Norwegian Kroner
Helping to save heritage
INGA Magistad prefers not to pick favourites when it comes to projects supported by Norway through the EEA/Norway Grants in Slovakia, since for her, “projects that have helped disadvantaged Roma children in eastern Slovakia to go to school and to develop their abilities are as notable as the more visible projects of restoration of venerated historic monuments”. As the Norwegian ambassador to Slovakia, she plans to further pursue projects through the EEA/Norway Grants. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Magistad about gender equality achievements in her homeland, environmental challenges and Norwegian medical students acquiring their degrees in Slovakia.
Danes focus on production, services and sales, farming
DESPITE the differences in the economic development between Denmark and Slovakia, both countries are similar in size as well as population, and both have open economies. Relations between the two countries remain healthy, with plenty of room for more cooperation in mutual trade or investments.
Representing a happy nation
CHRISTIAN Konigsfeldt often uses his bicycle in Bratislava and he is confident that Slovakia could find inspiration from Denmark’s bicycle-friendliness, as the Danish ambassador to Slovakia sees here “an evident potential to expand the possibilities for using bicycles, for pleasure as well as a means of transport”. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Ambassador Konigsfeldt about the energy policies of his homeland, which tops the World Happiness ranking, as well as its knowledge-based economy and the business and tourism potential between the countries.
Norway's presence small, but key
NORWEGIAN investments in Slovakia are not very extensive, but some companies with business links to Norway are among the more important firms and employers in the country.
'Putting responsibility where it belongs'
COUNTRIES should not be over-ambitious when it comes to their presidency at the Council of the European Union, but they need to prepare well ahead for the tasks they want to accomplish, said Richard van Rijssen, the ambassador of the Netherlands to Slovakia, who has already experienced four presidencies in diplomatic positions. His homeland will preside over the EU for the 13th time in 2016, the same year as Slovakia, for the first time. The Dutch ambassador suggests that the discourse around the presidency should also involve debating “what is really necessary that we do at the European level and what we can do at the national level”.
More Slovak car exports expected
BELGIUM is Slovakia’s 12th biggest export market. Based on the Global Slovakia database, 985 companies in Slovakia export goods to Belgium, according to Ján Tyrala from the Slovak Economy Ministry.
Belgium: General facts
Political system: Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyCapital: BrusselsTotal area: 30,528 square kilometresPopulation: 10.4 millionOfficial languages: French, Dutch, German Currency: euro
Štefánik returns from abroad
THE ARMOURED train Štefánik returned to Slovakia in September after spending six months on a trip to the Netherlands. The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) lent the train for the exhibition Flags in War, which presented several military trains in Utrecht.
Trade growth slow but steady
THE NETHERLANDS remains one of Slovakia’s key economic partners even though the economic crisis in recent years has not left bilateral cooperation unaffected. While bilateral trade continues growing, investors are being more careful about where they invest. Dutch investors like Slovakia for its cheap and qualified labour force, low taxes, central location, political stability and eurozone membership.
More than mills
FOR SOME, Dutch culture might evoke images of old paintings, windmills, cheese-based cuisine and, perhaps for younger generations, the music of prominent DJ Armin van Buuren. However, the cultural and artistic scene in the Netherlands encompasses much more, and Slovaks are able to get a good sampling of it.
Investment interest from Belgium up
THERE are already over 160 companies with Belgian capital in Slovakia, while last year saw an increase in interest among Belgian investors in Slovakia. They see Slovakia as a reliable business partner benefitting from a stable economy, the euro and a skilled workforce, as well as labour costs that are significantly lower than in Belgium.
Institutions of the Netherlands in Slovakia
Royal Netherlands EmbassyAmbassador: Richard van Rijssenwww.holandskoweb.com
The Netherlands: General facts
Political system: Constitutional monarchyCapital: Amsterdam (however, the parliament and the monarch reside in The Hague)Total area: 41,526 square kilometresPopulation: about 16.8 millionOfficial language: DutchCurrency: euro
Institutions of Belgium in Slovakia
Embassy of Belgium in SlovakiaAmbassador: Christian G. Lepagewww.diplomatie.be/bratislava
Belgian offerings
DURING KOŠICE’S year as the European Capital of Culture (ECOC), many cultural events in Slovakia have moved to the eastern-Slovak metropolis. One such event, the ISCM World New Music Days Festival, took place in Slovakia for the first time this year and featured, among many notable performances, a recital by Belgian pianist Daan Vandewalle.
US companies or companies with US investors in Slovakia
AT&T Global Network Services Slovakia, www.corp.att.comCisco Systems, www.cisco.skCitibank, www.citibank.skCBRE, www.cbre.skCoca-Cola HBC Slovenská republika, www.coca-cola.skCushman & Wakefield Property Services Slovakia, www.cushmanwakefield.comDell, www.dell.skDelphi Slovensko, www.delphi.comEli Lilly Slovakia, www.lilly.comFedEx Express - Inspekta Slovakia, www.fedex.skGetrag Ford Transmissions Slovakia, www.getrag.comGoogle Slovakia, www.google.comHewlett-Packard Slovakia, www.hp.skHoneywell Turbo Technologies, www.honeywell.skIBM Slovensko, www.ibm.com/sk/skJohnson Controls, Trenčín Technology Center, www.johnsoncontrols.skLear Corporation Seating Slovakia, www.learcorp.skManpower Slovensko, www.manpower.skMicrosoft Slovakia, www.microsoft.com/sk/skOracle, www.oracle.comPfizer, www.pfizer.skU. S. Steel Košice, www.usske.sk
Rankings are meaningful, says AmCham director
INVESTORS do look at global competitiveness surveys when considering where to invest, says American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jake Slegers in reference to Slovakia’s declining performance on such lists in 2013. He said he finds the results from these “meaningful, globally supported surveys” disturbing. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Slegers about the business environment, prospects for tourism, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, and AmCham’s plans for 2014.
US institutions in Slovakia
US Embassy to SlovakiaAmbassador: Theodore Sedgwickslovakia.usembassy.gov
'Slovaks can do something about it'
US AMBASSADOR to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick keeps in his Bratislava office a large map of Slovakia with numerous pins marking all the places in the country he has visited. “I am not just the ambassador to Bratislava; I am an ambassador to the whole of Slovakia,” said Sedgwick, adding that he adores the beauty that Slovakia has to offer and he will remember all of his travels.
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