Foreigners in Slovakia, page 37
News and features on living in Slovakia
Lajčák gives address at Harvard
MIROSLAV Lajčák, the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, described Slovakia in his address at the Law Faculty of Harvard University in Boston as a successful country situated in the very centre of European integration, and as an active member of the eurozone and the Schengen agreement area. His speech on November 7 concluded his visit to the US, the ministry informed on its website.
Diplomats praise Roma integration
THREE primary schools in eastern Slovakia were praised by a group of American diplomats on October 25 for their efforts to integrate Roma students into their classrooms, the TASR newswire reported.
US investors open new offices
ECONOMIC cooperation between the US and Slovakia, countries whose economies differ vastly in size, does not exactly result in a high volume of trade. Nevertheless, the presence of US investors in Slovakia remains visible, while the free trade agreement between the US and the European Union that is currently under negotiation is expected to boost bilateral economic relations.
Learning Slovak online in the US
THE CENTRE of Slovak Language, to be launched in the US, will enable US businesspeople, and anyone else who is interested, to learn the Slovak language online.
IT recycling centre opens
A NEW IT recycling centre opened in Bratislava in mid July. The centre was launched by CSI Lifecycle Europe, a subsidiary of American firm CSI Leasing, and it is the US company’s second centre in Europe, the first of which is located in Sheffield, Britain. The new centre processes electronic devices containing sensitive data, like computers, notebooks, tablets, mobile phones and servers, the SITA newswire wrote, citing Martin Kardoš of CSI Lifecycle Europe.
USA: General facts
Political system: federal republicCapital: Washington, DCTotal area: 9,826,675 square kilometresPopulation: 317 millionOfficial languages: English (Hawaiian is also an official language in the state of Hawaii)Currency: US dollar
EdF sells stake in SSE
THE FRENCH energy company Electricité de France is selling its 49-percent stake in the regional power distributor Stredoslovenská Energetika (SSE) to the Czech energy concern Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH).
Orange's H1 revenues down
REVENUES of the biggest mobile phone operator in Slovakia, Orange Slovensko, shrank 7 percent year-on-year to €319.3 million in the first half of 2013.
Sharing the 'culture capital' title
THE SLOVAK people have an outstanding capacity to face and overcome difficulties and to move forward, says Jean-Marie Bruno, France’s ambassador to Slovakia, adding that this has been especially clear since the beginning of the economic crisis. Bruno has been serving in Slovakia since 2010 and says that Slovakia has been a real discovery for him. The Slovak Spectator spoke to him about crisis-related challenges his homeland faces, but also the European Capital of Culture title, which in 2013 is shared by Marseilles and Košice.
Crisis brings decline in trade, new opportunities
BIG French firms like PSA Peugeot Citroën, France Telecom, Gaz de France and Electricité de France have historically been among the most significant investors in Slovakia, and though some have since sold off their Slovak assets, French business presence in Slovakia remains strong.
ECOC project boosts partnership
BRATISLAVA has had its share of French cultural events for some time already, with annual celebrations of the French Day, the seizure of Bastille (the French national holiday) in the Main Square in early July, as well as a host of other events throughout the whole year. In 2013, however, the focus of activities moved slightly eastwards, to Košice. Košice and the French city of Marseilles became European Capitals of Culture, which naturally made them partners and initiated an exchange of experiences, numerous joint events and projects.
Some companies with French capital in Slovakia
-Alcatel-Lucent, www.alcatel-lucent.sk-BC Torsion, www.dirickx.sk-Bongrain (Milex, Liptovská Mliekareň), www.bongrain-slovensko.sk-Capgemini, www.sk.capgemini.com-Cesty Nitra, www.cestynitra.sk-Coface Slovakia, www.coface.sk-Dalkia, www.dalkia.sk-Danone, www.danone.sk-Eurovia SK, www.eurovia.sk-Faurecia Automotive, www.faurecia.com-Gefco Slovakia, www.gefco.sk-Inžinierske Stavby, www.iske.sk-Mazars, www.mazars.sk-Orange Slovensko, www.orange.sk-PSA Peugeot Citroën, psa-slovakia.sk/-Sanofi-aventis Pharma Slovakia, www.sanofi.sk-Servier, www.servier.sk-Stredoslovenská Energetika (SSE), www.sse.sk-Synergie, www.synergie.sk
Institutions of France in Slovakia
French Embassy to SlovakiaAmbassador: Jean-Marie Brunowww.france.sk
AXA ends banking business in Slovakia
THE FRENCH financial group AXA is winding down its banking business in Slovakia to focus on different financial services. In late May AXA and UniCredit Bank Slovakia signed a cooperation agreement, based on which AXA Group will focus exclusively on insurance, pension savings and mutual fund investing, while UniCredit Bank will take up the banking portfolio.
French organist played Slovak folklore
THE SLOVAK Philharmonic featured an organ-based cycle in its programme for the last season, offering four concerts of both Slovak and foreign musicians. French organist Thierry Escaich delivered a particularly memorable performance on the new organ in the Reduta on June 2, playing the works of French composers and an improvisation of a Slovak folklore tune.
General facts: France
Political system: republicCapital: ParisTotal area: 550,000 square kilometresPopulation: about 66 millionOfficial language: FrenchCurrency: euro
Spain buys fewer Slovak CO2 quotas
SPAIN will buy fewer excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas from Slovakia than originally planned. Environment Minister Peter Žiga has announced that instead of the planned 27 million tonnes of greenhouse-emission quotas, Slovakia will sell to Spain only 7 million tonnes. The Slovak cabinet approved the draft agreement on August 21, the TASR newswire reported.
Portugal: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: LisbonTotal area: 92,090 square kilometresPopulation: 10.8 millionMain language: PortugueseCurrency: euro
Talking tourism, trade and tapas
FÉLIX Valdés, who is an admirer of Slovak churches, is supportive of a project which looks into the possibility of extending the famed El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk into Slovakia. Spain’s ambassador also pointed to growing ties among university students and a future push for business collaboration. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Valdés about the challenges of combating his country’s high unemployment rate, Spain's draw as a pensioner paradise and the joys of the Mediterranean diet.
Spanish institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of Spain Ambassador: Félix Valdésemb.bratislava@maec.eswww.exteriores.gob.es
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