Location Sládkovičovo The representatives of Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) took part at the opening ceremony of Belgian company Bekaert plant expansion. This company is one of the largest producers of steel wire and tire cords for cars and truck tires. Iveta Radičová, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic participated at this event together with Kristián Takáč, the Deputy Minister of Economy of the SR, Anton Szabó, the Mayor of Sladkovičovo and the top management of Bekaert company. Iveta Radičová, the Prime Minister of the SR in her speech she appraised job creation and the fact that Bekaert stresses the safety at the workplace and employee social programs. Moreover this company may bring to our economy higher added value in the form of new technologies, research and development. Bekaert company has been established in Slovakia for over 10 years and in the region it has developed wide customer base. In order to satisfy growing demand, the company has decided to expand its production platform in Sladkovičovo by production line of semi products and create 100 jobs. Róbert Šimončič,SARIO CEO in this context added: “Oneof the basic rules of making business is that in difficult times you have to focus on the existing customers and motivate them to start new activities. The existing customers for SARIO are the established investors – therefore Bekaert is one of them as well, since it has decided to expand and create new jobs.” Currently Bekaert company employs in its 2 production facilities in Slovakia (Hlohovec a Sládkovičovo) over 2,100 people. Accumulated investment in Slovakia reach 240 million EUR. Profile Bekaert company Bekaert company (www.bekaert.com) is global leader in two technology segments: advanced metal transformation and surface processing, and it is the leader on the market of pulled wires products and their application. Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is the global company with headquarters in Belgium, employing over 28,000 people all over the world. Company offers its services to customers in 120 countries and in 2010 it has reached combined income of 4.5 billion EUR.
