EconomyOther Economy

SE: Slovak Nuclear Plants In Complience With Highest Safety Standards

Bratislava, January 4 (TASR) - Nuclear power-plants in Mochovce and Jaslovske Bohunice do comply with the strictest safety standards, and the shortcomings reported by the National Labour Inspectorate represent no threat towards either nuclear safety or labour stanadrds, Slovenske Elektrarne spokesperson Jana Burdova told TASR on Tuesday in response to the Inspectorate's report… read more

Stores in Slovakia Not Planning to Raise Prices Due to Higher VAT Yet

Bratislava, January 4 (TASR) - The increase in the VAT rate in Slovakia from 19 to 20 percent as of January 1, 2011 shouldn't lead to higher consumer prices in the upcoming period, representatives of stores approached by TASR have confirmed. According to the Government's promise, the VAT rate should return to its previous level when the public-finance deficit falls back… read more

Miskov: Talks With 80 Foreign Investors Ongoing

Bratislava, January 4 (TASR) - The Economy Ministry is holding talks with around 80 foreign investors who are interested in Slovakia, ministry head Juraj Miskov (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) told TASR on Tuesday. "The investors come from various spheres. Some of them are companies supplying components for the automotive industry, some are engaged in engineering, while… read more

Analysts: Debt Problems in Eurozone Will Challenge Slovakia in 2011

Bratislava, January 3 (TASR) - The Slovak economy will face a number of challenges in 2011. The consolidation of public finances will be among the internal ones, while the potential deepening of problems within eurozone members could affect it from the outside, Postova Banka analyst Eva Sadovska has told TASR. "I view the possible outbreak of debt problems within other… read more

FinMin: Last-year\'s Public-finance Deficit Reached €4.436 billion

Bratislava, January 3 (TASR) - The state budget ended last year with a deficit of €4.436 billion, which means that it grew by €925 million month-on-month in December and by as much as €1.645 billion when compared to the one posted in 2009, the Finance Ministry announced on Monday. Despite this, the outcome was better than was expected in the revised state budget.… read more

Radicova: Many Challenges Waiting for Government in 2011

Bratislava, January 3 (TASR) - The biggest challenges for the Government this year are unemployment, regional inequalities, the construction of motorways and public infrastructure, the creation of new jobs with added value, and investments in education, innovation and new technologies, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has told TASR. According to Radicova, another goal should… read more

Simon: Slovak Food-Processing Industry Participation in GDP Only 2%

Bratislava, January 2 (TASR) - It is abnormal that Slovakia's food-processing industry only participates in the GDP at a rate of 2 percent, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid) has told TASR. "Something is failing in Slovakia in the sphere of the food-processing industry ... it's not normal," Simon said, pointing out that in most EU countries… read more

Slovakia\'s Budget for 2011 Counts on Deficit to Be Reduced to €3.81 billion

Bratislava, January 1 (TASR) - Slovakia is as of Saturday following the new state budget, the deficit of which is set to fall from last-year's €4.54 billion to €3.81 billion in 2011. Total state revenues will stand at €13.15 billion, while expenditures will reach €16.96 billion. read more

Radicova: Increasing Age of Retirement Would Be Inhumane

Bratislava, December 31 (TASR) - Current demographic developments mean that the long-term sustainability of pension systems is an issue for almost every country, including Slovakia, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) has told TASR. "That's why we help young families, because the basic solution for pensions is to have more children. This is the only long-term solution,"… read more

Analysts: Food Prices May Rise by 7 percent in Some Months of 2011

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The main challenge that the Government will have to face next year is the planned consolidation of public finances, whose deficit is projected to drop below 5 percent of GDP, analysts approached by TASR concur. "The economy will need to restore its reputation in the area of public finances and stick to the path of planned consolidation,"… read more

Miskov: 2010 Saw Squandering Halted and New Rules Instituted

Bratislava, December 28 (TASR) - An end to squandering and the introduction of new rules for spending at the Economy Ministry are the main achievements in the way that the ministry functions, Economy Minister Juraj Miskov has said in an interview for TASR. "What I view as most important is that I've taken over the ministry and stopped wasting in spending and established… read more

IES: Confidence in Slovak Industry Grew by 2 points M-o-M in December

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - Confidence in the Slovak economy as expressed by the Index of Economic Sentiment (IES) grew by 2 points on monthly terms to reach 94.8 points in December, the Statistics Office announced on Monday. The increase was mainly due to increased confidence in industry, retail and the construction industry. In a y-o-y comparison, the IES… read more

Two Rail Companies to Receive €200 million Each for Services to State

Bratislava, December 27 (TASR) - The state has ordered services totalling over €400 million for 2011 from the country's rail-infrastructure operator Slovak Railways (ZSR) and passenger-transport provider Railway Company Slovakia (ZSSK), with the contracted sums divided more or less evenly between the two, Transport Minister Jan Figel (Christian Democrats/KDH) told a press… read more

PAS: Entrepreneurs View 2010 With Very Wary Optimism

Bratislava, December 26 (TASR) - Entrepreneurs when looking back at 2010 feel a very wary level of optimism for the future, executive director of the Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) Robert Kicina has told TASR. The quality of the business environment was influenced by two major events in 2010 - the rightist Coalition taking power and a cautious post-crisis recovery in… read more

Cargo Transport at Bratislava Airport Breaks Records

Bratislava, December 26 (TASR) - Volumes of cargo passing through Bratislava airport (BTS) continue to rise, with the airport breaking last year's record of 12,000 tonnes of cargo handled as early as in October of this year, BTS spokesperson Dana Madunicka has told TASR. The growth was due to more air routes and more interest on the part of transport companies, she added.… read more