16.02.2026

SARIO Investment and Foreign Trade Expert Conducts Meetings in Chicago

Speaker at a podium addressing an audience, with the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Chicago sign displayed on screen.

Vladimír Lackovič, Special Representative to the U.S. for Trade and Investment at the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), together with representatives of Slovakia’s diplomatic network in the United States, held a series of working meetings in Chicago focused on advancing economic diplomacy, developing business partnerships, and strengthening Slovakia’s presence in the Midwest region.

The program combined official engagements, meetings with business and community leaders, as well as the Slovak - American community, and expert discussions focused on supporting investment and trade cooperation between Slovakia and the United States. During the visit, Vladimír Lackovič also participated in the meeting of Slovak honorary consuls from across the United States and in the opening of the new Slovak Honorary Consulate in Chicago.

Meeting participants seated around a large conference table in a Chicago office, with presentation screens in the background.

The discussions focused on concrete ways to strengthen economic diplomacy, particularly on the identification of American companies considering expansion into Europe, support for business delegations coming to Slovakia, deepening direct trade links between Slovak and American companies, preparation of economic initiatives planned in Chicago in 2026 and involving local partners in activities supporting the entry of Slovak companies into the U.S. market, and opportunities in advanced technologies, including AI infrastructure and data centers, reflecting Slovakia’s ambition to position itself as a competitive destination for investment in innovation.

Audience seated during a business event in Chicago.

The series of meetings confirmed the strategic importance of Chicago as a key gateway for developing Slovakia’s economic relations in the United States and for supporting long-term trade and investment activities.