EconomyOther Economy

Euro Hampering Tourism in South-eastern Slovakia

Bratislava, August 9 (TASR) - Fewer visitors have been coming to south-eastern parts of Slovakia, particularly from Poland, with the introduction of the euro seen as partly to blame. "Currently, we are registering fewer tourists in the Spis and Gemer areas," project coordinator for co-operation between Northern Hungarian Borsod-Abaujd-Zemplen areas and Slovak Spis-Gemer… read more

Prices of Potatoes to Rise by up to 70 percent This Autumn

Bratislava, August 9 (TASR) - As the overall area planted with potatoes in Slovakia has dropped to 11,000 hectares, it's highly likely that Slovak potatoes will be sold out very quickly this season, chairman of the Slovak Association of Potato Growers Viliam Bezak said on Monday. "Due to the fact that a similar situation prevails across almost the entire EU, while certain… read more

Industrial Production Grew by 23.5 percent Y-o-Y in June

Bratislava, August 9 (TASR) - Industrial production in Slovakia grew by 23.5 percent year-on-year in June, the Statistics Office announced on Monday. The increase was mainly due to 24.4-percent growth in supplies of electricity, gas, steam and cold air and a 24-percent rise in manufacturing; along with falls in mining and quarrying, whose outputs dropped by 0.6 percent… read more

ZMOS Will Accept Changes to Spending Rules Under Certain Conditions

Bratislava, August 8 (TASR) - Local councils would accept the changes to their spending rules planned by Iveta Radicova's Government as long as they are to the public benefit and don't suppress their independence, Michal Sykora, chairman of the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) has told TASR in an interview. Sykora noted that any major change in the rules to… read more

Volkswagen Slovakia Still Looking for New Employees

Bratislava, August 8 (TASR) - Following a two-week stoppage at its Bratislava plant, car-maker Volkswagen Slovakia will recommence full production as of Monday, August 9, TASR has learnt. The company at the same time continues to hire new workers, as due to increased demand for the vehicles made at its Bratislava production facilities, it plans to launch seven-days-a-week… read more

Figel: Toll System May Still Coast Us Dearly

Bratislava, August 7 (TASR) - Transport Minister Jan Figel has commissioned an analysis into the efficiency of Slovakia's near-8-month electronic toll system, while the European Union is reviewing a contract with Sky Toll company for doubts over transparency amid tender procedures, Figel told TASR in an interview. The minister believes that the toll system charging trucks… read more

Senec Building Logistics Centre to Attract Investors

Senec, August 7 (TASR) – Local authorities say that investors are still interested in facilities along D1 motorway just outside Bratislava where they can place their logistics centres. In particular, lands along the road from Senec and Pezinok (both Bratislava region) appear to be highly attractive due to their proximity to Slovakia's capital. Besides being well-equipped… read more

Figel: R4 Highway Will Help Eastern Slovakia to Develop

Bratislava, August 5 (TASR) - Construction company Skanska SK in the next few days is set to begin work on the R4 highway, a 14-kilometre road that will connect Kosice to the village of Milhost, located south of the city and near the border with Hungary. The costs are set to reach €77.69 million, and the road should be ready by the end of 2012, said Transport Minister… read more

Radicova: Childbirth Benefit Won\'t Be Scrapped

Bratislava, August 5 (TASR) - One-off benefits given to parents on the birth of a first, second and third child won't be abolished, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said on Thursday. She was speaking after plans concerning this area were announced recently by Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jozef Mihal. "Nothing like this is included in the Government… read more

Figel: Rail Companies Won\'t Be Merged as Was Planned

Bratislava, August 5 (TASR) - The three state-run railway companies - rail-infrastructure operator Slovak Railways (ZSR), passenger-transport provider Railway Company Slovakia (ZSSK) and freight company Rail Company Cargo (ZSSK Cargo) - won't be merged into one, but will continue to operate separately, Transport Minister Jan Figel has told TASR in an interview. "I don't… read more

SaarGummi to Expand Rubber-component Operation in Vestenice

Bratislava, August 4 (TASR) - Rubber-component maker SaarGummi's Slovak unit plans to invest in ramping up production by 80 percent, increasing the number of workers at its plant in Dolne Vestenice (Trencin Region) from 608 to 1,058, states an Environmental Impact Assessment study unveiled by the company on Tuesday. The factory in Vestenice will manufacture more of its… read more

Towns and Villages Urge State to Grant €141-million Subsidy

Bratislava, August 4 (TASR) - Towns and villages will request a state subsidy amounting to €141 million to make up for lower tax revenues and to mitigate the repercussions of the economic crisis, head of the Slovak of Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) Michal Sykora told TASR on Wednesday. The Finance Ministry has already been updated on the request, but no final… read more

PAS: Business Environment Worsened in 2Q10

Bratislava, August 4 (TASR) - The business environment in Slovakia took a turn for the worse in 2Q10, Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) executive director Robert Kicina reported on Wednesday. The Business Environment Index, drawn up by PAS based on its own observations, stood at 91.5 points, representing a drop of 2.61 percent quarter-on-quarter. The biggest falls… read more

Real-estate Prices Fell Again in 2Q10, But at Slower Rate

Bratislava, August 4 (TASR) - Real-estate prices in Slovakia continued to go down in 2Q10, Slovakia's central bank (NBS) reported on Wednesday. However, the drop in prices slowed from the 8.28 percent recorded in 1Q10 to 3.65 percent, representing the smallest drop since the beginning of 2009. Buying a house or apartment cost €1,293 per square metre, with the… read more

Miklos: Slovakia to Become Part of EFSF in Autumn 2010

Bratislava, August 3 (TASR) - Slovakia won't become part of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) only by having the Slovak Parliament pass the framework agreement on joining EFSF. "We'll become an EFSF member only after we change the legislation. The current legislation doesn't enable us to accept such a guarantee, so we'll need to modify our laws in September… read more