Foreigners in Slovakia, page 44
News and features on living in Slovakia
Spain's rich experience from immigration
IN JUST a decade Spain received more than 5 million immigrants, equivalent to the entire population of Slovakia, turning the country, which in the past produced emigrants, into a new home for people from other countries. Félix Valdés, the Spanish ambassador to Slovakia, explains how Spain’s previous experience as a country with high emigration rates has made it, in his words, mentally prepared to receive immigrants.
Spanish investor aims for Prešov
THE EAST of Slovakia is continuing to attract foreign investors. A Spanish company now says it wants to employ 400 people in the IPZ Záborské industrial park in Prešov, the Hospodárske Noviny financial daily reported in late June.
Portuguese firms have a light presence
PORTUGAL and Slovakia are among the smaller member countries of the European Union, located at opposite ends of its territory. Even though the mutual presence of either country is not particularly visible in their respective economies, there are some links and similarities between them. Both countries use the euro, the automotive industry is an important segment in both of their economies, and both are hungry for more foreign investment. There are also ways in which Portugal could be an inspiration to Slovakia, as in its use of renewable sources of energy or its services sector.
Portuguese institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of PortugalAmbassador: Joao Luís Niza PinheiroMoskovská 10, Bratislava
Spanish institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of SpainAmbassador: Félix Valdéswww.maec.es
Spain: General facts
Political system: parliamentary monarchyCapital: MadridTotal area: 505,370 square kilometresPopulation: 47 millionMain language: SpanishCurrency: euroSource: CIA/The World Factbook
Portugal supports language training
THE CULTURAL exchange between Portugal and Slovakia is enduring, and currently includes a Portuguese studies course offered at Comenius University in Bratislava, and the efforts of the private Portuguese Institute to help spread the Portuguese language and culture.
From Spanish guitar to Picasso
SPANISH is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, a fact reflected even in Slovakia.A Spanish influence is quite palpable here, and when also taking into consideration Latin American culture, it could be considered wide-spread, ranging from flamenco music and dance through classical guitar music, movies, photographic and art exhibitions, to Spanish-themed festivals like Košice’s Days of Spanish Culture.
Portugal: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: LisbonTotal area: 92,090 square kilometresPopulation: nearly 11 millionMain language: PortugueseCurrency: euroSource: CIA/The World Factbook
The 'renewable' dream
JOAO Luís Niza Pinheiro, who has been a diplomat all his professional life and served the interests of Portugal in Latvia and Senegal among other places, says that Europeans are now living in a time of fundamental change and unprecedented financial crisis in which their leaders might not know exactly what scenarios the future will present. The Portuguese ambassador to Slovakia is optimistic about Europe’s future, though he warns that the years ahead will be difficult. He says that not even the painful austerity measures that his government has had to take have changed the fact that the Portuguese continue to identify themselves as European citizens.
Slovak Paralympic team prepares
SLOVAKIA will field 32 athletes at the Paralympic Games 2012, which London will host between August 29 and September 9. The Paralympic squad consists of 30 physically challenged athletes and two visually disabled athletes, who will compete in nine sports. Another four athletes will stand by as alternates, the SITA newswire reported.
High hopes for medals at the London Olympics
THE SMALLEST team ever, with half its athletes competing for the first time at a Summer Olympic Games: these are two characteristics often stated about the Slovak team competing at the world’s most prestigious sporting event, in London. Over the next two weeks many Slovaks will tune in to watch the 30th edition of the modern-day Olympic Games in the capital of the United Kingdom, hoping that several Slovaks will return home with medals.
Slovak House gets high-profile address
OLYMPIC venues in London will be not the only place where Slovakia is represented in the city. As in previous Olympic years and locations, Slovakia will have a temporary ‘Slovak House’ for the duration of the games. This time it will be sited in the high-profile address of the Institute of Directors, near Piccadilly Circus in central London. While the venue should serve for official celebrations of any medals that Slovak athletes win, as well as for official presentation of Slovakia and as a venue for prominent visits, the general public can get a taste of Slovakia in the nearby Sports Café in Haymarket.
Slovak athletes participating in the 2012 Olympic Games in London
Athletics (11 athletes):1. Matej Tóth (50km race walk)2. Miloš Bátovský (50km race walk)3. Lucia Klocová (800m, 1500m)4. Dana Velďáková (triple jump)5. Michal Kabelka (high jump)6. Martina Hrašnová (hammer throw)7. Mária Czaková (20km race walk)8. Anton Kučmín (20km race walk)9. Katarína Berešová (marathon)10. Marcel Lomnický (hammer throw)11. Jana Velďáková (long jump)
Slovak mobile app for the Olympics
THE SLOVAK Olympic Committee has launched an official free application for mobile telephones. The application, named Slovak Olympic Committee – London 2012, is in Slovak and English and is available for the Android and iOS operating systems. The latter is for iPhones and iPads. The app offers current information and photos from the Summer Olympics as well as a complete list of Slovak athletes competing in London, their events and basic biographical information. Another part of the application includes a list of past Slovak Olympic medallists.
Some companies with British capital in Slovakia
Allen & Overy, www.allenovery.comAquaCity Poprad, www.aquacity.skBoxperfect, www.boxperfect.comBPP Professional Education, www.bpp.com/slovakiaENL SK, www.enl.skG4S Secure Solutions (SK), www.g4s.skGlaxoSmithKline Slovakia, www.gsk.skKinstellar, www.kinstellar.comSlovak Health Spa Pieštany, www.spapiestany.skTesco Stores SR, www.itesco.sk
Eyeing more British investments
WHILE the ongoing economic crisis and problems in the eurozone have dimmed British investors’ interest in Slovakia, mutual trade is still growing, and the overall forecast is positive. As Slovakia is not widely known in Great Britain as an investment destination, it has had to take a more active approach towards promotion. In June the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency toured the UK seeking partners to host investment seminars and support mutual trade.
Slovak athletes participating in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London
Athletics (3 athletes):1. Hana Kolníková2. Adrián Matušík3. Miloš BardiovskýAlternates (2): Marek Margoč, Július Hutka
Britain looks to the Olympics, and Europe
SERVING as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Slovakia as her country hosts the Olympic Games has brought with it a rather special treat for Susannah Montgomery: on April 1 she got to carry the Olympic Torch at the head of the Bratislava Marathon, alongside elite Kenyan runners. Montgomery, who first visited the former Czechoslovakia only a couple of months before the Velvet Revolution changed the course of Slovak history in 1989, now says that over the past 20 years the country has been through tremendous changes, and that people here seem to her to be more confident now, not least in the way they walk and talk.
Websites of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and Slovak committees
London Olympic Games 2012www.london2012.com
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