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Economy Minister Miskov: Reform of Business Environment Is Priority
Sunday 11 July 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, July 11 (TASR) - Newly appointed Economy Minister Juraj Miskov (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) told TASR on Sunday that comprehensive reform of the business environment will be his priority.
"More freedom for entrepreneurs and the removal of barriers in business will be the priorities of the ministry," said the former entrepreneur and general director of the Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency. He also sees the creation of new jobs as a key interest of his ministry. "Slovakia has to become more attractive to foreign investors. That will help us to create new jobs," he said.
The centre-right Coalition wants to focus on increasing competition in network industries, and enhance public protection from monopolies wherever competition can't be facilitated. "We'll depoliticise and increase the expertise and the professionalism of the regulatory offices," reads its programme statement.
The parties – SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid – want to privatise the heating industry and support the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region) only if it is financed solely by private investments and not the state. The Coalition also plans to quash legislative changes that interfere inappropriately in the management of energy companies, while the liberalisation of the energy market will continue.
According to the Coalition's programme theses, the National Property Fund (FNM) should be abolished. Clear rules for investment stimuli should be introduced, favouring regions with high unemployment. There are plans to abolish state subsidies that deform the business environment.
Tourism should be returned to the Economy Ministry from the Culture Ministry. In the ongoing downsizing of ministries, the new ministry will be called the Economy and Tourism Ministry.
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