Location Hong Kong Mrs. Andrea Gulova, Assigned CEO of SARIO, being an official member of the delegation of the Minister of Economy and Construction of the SR Mr. Juraj Miskov, took part at the meeting with the Vice Minister for Trade and Economic Development of Hong Kong Mrs. Yvonne Choi Ying-pik. “Just like Hong Kong is considered to be the gateway to Asia, Slovakia might become the gateway to Europe”, said the Minister of Economy and Construction of the SR Mr. Juraj Miskov at the meeting with the Vice Minister for Trade and Economic Development of Hong Kong. Hong Kong, similarly to Slovakia, is characteristic with low tax burden making it an interesting country for investors. Minister Miskov therefore welcomed the idea to use Hong Kong experience in the area of free trade area and attractive business environment without barriers since Hong Kong is in the World Bank rating Ease of Doing Business on the 3rd place in the world. The representatives of both countries stressed their similarities – Slovakia and Hong Kong are small and open economies dependent on the export of their products. On the long run the Slovak Republic has negative trade balance with Hong Kong. Slovakia imports from Hong Kong mainly electric machinery and sound and TV image recording equipment, clothing and accessories. Slovak export to Hong Kong includes cars, nuclear reactors, boilers, machines and equipment, electric machinery and shoes. The Minister and the representatives of Slovak companies met also with the representatives of Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Mr. Miskov also participated in the negotiations with the representatives of Hong Kong companies that presented their interest in investing in Slovakia especially into telecommunication and aviation industries. The visit resulted in deepening the cooperation of both countries and one of the first steps of this cooperation should become the business mission of Hong Kong businessmen to Slovakia that should take place next year.
