Location Lyon, France The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) promoted Slovakia on April 16, 2013 during the International Forum held in Lyon, France, organized by the Rhône-Alpes International Chamber of Commerce (CCI). Thanks to the initiative of the Honorary Consul of the SR in France Christian Michel-Mestrallet and great support of Emmanuelle Vigne from the CCI Lyon, Slovakia had a privileged position among all 33 countries – the 'Business Friendly Slovakia' seminar, embedded within the two day conference program. SARIO closely cooperated on the seminar content with the Embassy of Slovak Republic in France and Slovak-French Chamber of Commerce. The ultimate objective of the seminar was to highlight the reasons why invest in Slovakia and present the existing possibilities for trade cooperation in order to support the French-Slovak business relations and boost the French investments in Slovakia. Slovakia was promoted by Marcela Torokova, Head of the Business Development Department, with its core value proposition for investment and business opportunities. Thirty participating French companies perceived the seminar as valuable and fruitful for their upcoming business plans. France is one of the most important investing countries in Slovakia: over 400 French companies have invested approx. 5 milliards of EUR and created 50 thousands job positions in various sectors. The Rhône-Alpes is industrially the 2nd most powerful region in France creating almost 10% of the GDP of Metropolitan France.
