Location Bratislava Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) continues its mission to promote Slovakia among foreign investors. One of its representatives participated on a business trip to the United States of America. SARIO representative visited Plug & Play Centre in Palo Alto to meet with Slovak companies participating in SARIO’s accelerator program and discuss their progress. Initial discussions regarding opening a similar program in Bratislava took place. He also met with investment funds focused on CEE region and discussed opportunities to invest in young Slovak start-up companies. In Ilinois, SARIO representative attended the opening of the Slovak Honorary Consulate office which took place in Naperville, which is a twin city of Nitra. President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gasparovic, Minister of Foreign Affaires Miroslav Lajcak and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires Peter Burian all took part in the event which had over 300 guests. Before the main event, there was a business meeting with more than 30 companies from Chicago. SARIO provided the participants with material on the Slovak business environment and had several one-on-one meetings with US companies interested in Slovakia as a possible location to invest. United States have great potential for investment in Slovakia. Investment projects applicants from the U. S. for the first time overtook potential European investors. SARIO is currently in progress on 15 projects from the U.S. totaling 350 million Euros, with the potential to create 4,000 jobs. SARIO strives to become a modern investment and trade promotion agency, which will be seen by foreign investors and domestic partners as a vehicle for growth and innovation in the SR. SARIO wants to facilitate the development of Slovak economy by attracting new investment and trade promotion, which would result in new jobs and raising living standards in Slovakia.
