Location Bratislava During the "Week of International Business" the seminar "Slovakia and Slovenia - so close and interesting business partners" was held in Kortenberg, Belgium on 3 October 2012. This event was organized by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Belgium together with the Flemish Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry VOKA, the Flemish Agency for Investment and Trade FIT (Flanders Investment & Trade) and the support SARIO. The event was divided into two panels and opened by, Peter Van Biesbroeck, the regional director of the chamber VOKA Leuven. Jan Kuderjavý, the Ambassador of the SR to Belgium opened the first panel in which the presentation entitled "The economic and business environment in Slovakia" introduced Slovakia and the macroeconomic development of the country with the emphasis on its strategic location in the center of Europe, as well as investment, business and trade opportunities offered by the SR to Belgian partners. Followed by a presentation of Slovakia from the viewpoint of regional manager for Central Europe, Karine De Vleeschouwer of the Flemish agency FIT (Flanders Investment & Trade) and the panel was concluded by Tony Quintens, spokesman for the Convents Group who described the first-hand experience of doing business in Slovakia - from the perspective of the Belgian entrepreneur in Slovakia he very positively assessed the business environment where he has been active for many years in the furniture industry (production of custom-made furniture) in Topolcany and employs about 70 workers. In the second panel, Jean-Pierre Vonarb, the Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of Slovenia introduced the country and Evelien Staelens, regional manager for Eastern and South Eastern Europe of the Flemish Agency for Trade and Investment (FIT), evaluated the economic indicators and near countries in the Balkans. Panel concluded Flemish entrepreneur who operates in agro tourism in Slovenia. Roel Golvers, regional director for international trade VOKA Leuven, opened discussion for participating companies, whose participation was relatively high (32) while their interest was focused on information about Slovakia and the attention was drawn to the 6th Slovak Matchmaking Fair in Nitra, which provides space Belgian partners to establish new business contacts and space for bilateral negotiations.
