EconomyOther Economy

State-run Forestry Company Lesy SR Ended 1H10 in the Black

Bratislava, July 17 (TASR) - State-owned forestry company Lesy SR ended the first half of this year €4.71 million in the black, company spokesperson Veronika Petrikova has told TASR. Revenues from the sale of products and services stood at €109 million, with expenditure towards logging and related activities reaching approximately €56 million. "In the first… read more

Analyst: Slovakia\'s Signing EFSF Makes Cutting Budget Deficit Difficult

Bratislava, July 17 (TASR) - As a result of the Slovak Government's consent to the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), the country's budget deficit will almost certainly go up, F.A. Hayek Foundation analyst Andrej Beno has told TASR. "The politicians' task now is to cut the deficit, so by approving this commitment the accomplishment of this goal will get significantly… read more

ZPS Against Financial Aid to Greece and EFSF Guarantee Mechanism

Bratislava, July 16 (TASR) - The Slovak Government's consent to the European guarantee mechanism (EFSF) was expected, as Slovakia was under strong pressure from the EU, which sought to calm the financial markets, Association of Slovak Entrepreneurs (ZPS) president Jan Oravec told TASR on Friday. Oravec added, however, that the approval of the EFSF represents a departure… read more

Toll System Brings In €63.5 million in 1H10

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - Slovakia's electronic toll system collected more than €63.5 million in toll payments between January-June 2010, Skytoll, the system operator, told reporters on Thursday, adding that the payments feature 46 percent from foreign-based hauliers. The toll is charged on trucks of 3.5 tonnes and more for the use of selected motorway stretches,… read more

Miklos Signs Framework Agreement on EFSF

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - Slovakia's Finance Minister Ivan Miklos on Thursday signed a framework agreement on the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), head of the ministry's communications department Mikulas Gera told TASR on the same day. Miklos's signing follows the consent that the Government gave to the agreement at its extraordinary session earlier in… read more

Investors Want Open Dialogue With Government

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - Foreign investors expect the new Government to lead an open and productive dialogue with the business community in Slovakia, reads a statement by both foreign and domestic companies represented by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). "We hope to see an open and constructive dialogue between the decision-makers and business representatives… read more

Radicova: We\'ll Publish Tender Contracts by End of August

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - The Government plans to publish contracts stemming from public procurements by the end of the summer, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) said after an extraordinary government session on Thursday. "By the end of August we'll publish a list of existing, not completed contracts," she said. According to the Government's decision, contracts… read more

Gov\'t Expected to Okay EFSF But Reject Loan to Greece on Thursday

Bratislava, July 15 (TASR) - The Government at its extraordinary session on Thursday is expected to agree to sign the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The move has been proposed by the Finance Ministry and support was also indicated by the leaders of the governing Coalition parties (SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity/SaS, the Christian Democrats/KDH and Most-Hid)… read more

New Gov\'t Wants to End Megacasino Project by Restoring Legislation

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The new Government wants to restore legislation that was changed by the previous Government to allow for a megacasino project in Bratislava, said Agriculture Minister Zsolt (Most-Hid) Simon after the government session on Wednesday. "We don't support the megacasino in the form in which the previous Government prepared it in terms of legislation… read more

Miklos Dismisses Planned Deficit of 5.5 percent as Illusory

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia is unlikely to stick to its planned deficit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2010, with new Finance Minister Ivan Miklos saying that "the projected deficit is a mere illusion", TASR learnt on Wednesday. Speaking after a government session, Miklos questioned statements made by former finance minister Jan Pociatek regarding the feasibility… read more

Cabinet to Ask for Help From EU vis-a-vis Flood Damage by Friday

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - Slovakia will put in a request for financial assistance from the European Union's Solidarity Fund by Friday, July 16 vis-a-vis the floods that hit the country recently, according to a document that was submitted by the Finance Ministry and approved by the Cabinet at its session on Wednesday. The Government also has to submit an estimate of… read more

EU-harmonised Inflation Remained Unchanged at 0.7 percent in June

Bratislava, July 14 (TASR) - The prices of goods and services in Slovakia measured by EU methodology went up by 0.7 percent year-on-year in June, a figure unchanged since April, Slovakia's Statistics Office announced on Wednesday. Prices in June grew most rapidly in alcohol and tobacco (by 7.5 percent). Significant price increases were also reported in healthcare and… read more

SOPK Presses for Changes in Tender Procedures to Prevent Corruption

Bratislava, July 13 (TASR) - The Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK) said on Tuesday that it is in talks with the new Government aimed at having public procurement procedures altered in order to prevent and eliminate corruption. The changes, according to SOPK chairman Peter Mihok, should address time constraints and the practice of tailoring tendering procedure… read more

Canada\'s International Trade Minister to Visit Slovakia on July 20

Bratislava, July 12 (TASR) - Canada's International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan will come to Slovakia on July 20 to discuss the status of Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations with Slovak Government members and businessmen, TASR learned from Dusan Pastorek of the Canadian Embassy in Bratislava on Monday. According to Pastorek, the… read more

Tender on Consultant Services for Emission Quotas Sale Investigated

Bratislava, July 12 (TASR) - Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development Minister Zsolt Simon (Most-Hid) has decided to launch an internal investigation of the tender on consulting services with respect to the sale of remaining emission quotas. The tender was announced five days after the June 12 parliamentary election by the former Environment Minister (Jozef… read more