During March 20-24, 2022 the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency, in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization and the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic prepared a program for Slovak companies accompanying the Minister Jan Budaj during the thematic week "Water" at the EXPO 2020 Dubai. Minister of Environment Ján Budaj inaugurated the last thematic week at this prestigious world exhibition. During this thematic week, as many as 7 Slovak companies had the opportunity to present themselves and their cutting-edge solutions in the field of AI, IT security, smart cities, waste management, water management as well as education. Some of them took advantage of the possibility to establish new business contacts with local partners. SARIO agency arranged tailor-made B2B meetings, in cooperation with its local partner, based on specific demands from Slovak companies. During this business mission, SARIO representatives accompanied them and other Slovak companies to several networking events - Global Business Forum LATAM 2022, networking sessions organized in the Estonian, Chilean, Slovenian and Serbian pavilions. In addition, during the business mission, SARIO organized a networking event Business Cocktail which was held at the Slovak Pavilion. This event was opened by the Minister of the Environment Ján Budaj. More than 75 participants from different countries - Pakistan, Estonia, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, UAE, etc. took part in the event. SARIO Agency also co-organized a business forum called “V4 Countries Water Day Event: Challenges and Opportunities in Climate Change Adaptation”, which was held at the Slovak Pavilion at the end of the business mission. In addition to strengthening links between V4 business entities, the event further strengthened cooperation with the V4 countries on the challenges posed by global climate change. Just as importantly, Slovak architect Lenka Petráková presented her project The 8th Continent. Her design of a floating cleaning station in the shape of a flower won the 2020 Grand Prix Award for Marine Architecture and Innovation of the Jacques Rougerie Foundation. Representatives of companies expressed positive feedback on their participation in the EXPO 2020 Dubai mission and the prepared business program.
