Location Bratislava The Minister of Economy of Ukraine Mr. Vasil Petrovic Tsushko met with Mrs. Andrea Gulova, Assigned CEO of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) during the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Slovak – Ukrainian Commission. The main topic of the discussion was the intensification of relationship between Slovak and Ukrainian business subjects. Mrs. Andrea Gulova presented the activity of agency and its three sections (Section of Foreign Direct Investment, Section of Foreign Trade and Section of the EU Structural Funds) together with their main goal to support export of Slovak companies to foreign markets, create a platform for business relations with foreign subjects, support of investment influx into Slovak economy and last but not least to assist with using the EU Structural Funds. Ukrainian guests were presented the option of more intensive cooperation with Slovak companies and also the interest in revitalization of cooperation with significant Ukrainian car manufacturers was submitted again. Total volume of the investment from Slovakia to Ukraine by 1. 1. 2010 reached 106.4 million USD which ranked us to the 16th. Place from 27 countries of EU. There are almost 240 companies with Slovak capital active on the territory of Ukraine. Significant volume of investment from Slovakia came to companies in the regions of Ruthenia, Zaporozhe, Volynska, Ivano-Frankovsk and Lvov. Currently the Slovak export to Ukraine is mainly comprised of machinery and equipment, vehicles, metals and metal products, plastics and plastic products, chemicals, transportation equipment and foodstuffs, household equipment, splint, plywood, drugs etc. Our import from Ukraine includes raw materials, metals, metal and chemical products, machines and equipment, electricity, wood, textile etc. The trade balance of the Slovak Republic with Ukraine in the last year was positive, since Slovakia imported goods in total volume of 252 million EUR and our export to Ukraine was 292 million EUR, although the potential of both economies is not full used by these numbers. One of the activities supporting the Slovak – Ukrainian cooperation is also upcoming visit of the President of the SR Mr. Ivan Gasparovic and the Minister of Economy and Construction of the SR Mr. Juraj Miskov connected with the business forum with the participation of the representatives of Slovak business sector. SARIO agency and Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry participate in the preparation process of this event which will take place on October 5th – 8th, 2010. Ukrainian minister in this connection invited Mrs. Andrea Gulova, Assigned CEO of SARIO to visit his ministry and said that he would welcome the discussion about our experience in the investment and export support. According to the SARIO Director of the Foreign Trade Section Mrs. Patricia Zacikova, the 4th Slovak Matchmaking Fair that will take place under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy and Construction on November 9th and 10th 2010 in Nitra, might also be a suitable opportunity for development of relationships between Slovak and Ukrainian subjects. This fair is an International matchmaking event focusing on the machinery, automotive, electrotechnics, energy, chemical wood and plastics processing industries and IT.
