Honourable Members of the Cyprus-Slovakia Business Association, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a privilege for me to be a part of this initiative strengthening economic bilateral ties between our countries. Since the Slovak Republic declared its independence twenty-five years ago, the Slovak people have kept company of the fraternal people of the Republic of Cyprus in their bids for finishing Turkish military occupation and achieving reunification of both sides of the island, violently divided.  

I assume responsibility for a strong engagement of the Slovak Embassy in facilitating bi-communal dialog between the leaders of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties in the way to approximate views of both sides about the resolution of the Cyprus issue. We are also very proud on Slovak peacekeepers within the UNFICYP, who are carrying out their duties as a leading nation in sector 4. We are strongly confident that the main prerequisite for the economic and social development of every country is peace, stability and good neighbourhood.

Based on our very close cooperation within the bodies of the European Union, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the Slovak-Cypriot relationship is excellent and is historically the best ever. Nevertheless, my ambition is to develop and cultivate them further by deepening and strengthening our ties in technological, trade and business fields, trying to find out new forms of cooperation.

As you probably know, Slovakia is the largest car producer per capita in the world (191 in 2016) with three carmakers located in western Slovakia, while the fourth carmaker, the British Jaguar Land Rover, is already building its plant near the city of Nitra. It is worth to mention that Slovak economy has been traditionally developing its pillars in the electrical and chemical industries and forestry. Nevertheless, a most promising sector in Slovakia is IT, where apart from Bratislava, also in other Slovak cities have been built strong IT clusters. The country I have an honour to represent is becoming a home to several business service centres including start-ups and R&D centres, most of them located in the capital.  

A challenge we are facing now in Slovak-Cypriot relationship is to know how our national economies can be complementary. Slovak economy is export oriented one with ambition to expand to the markets of the Middle East and even further away. Cypriots have knowledge in financial, banking, and consultancy services, and experiences with the business habits, as well as in trade in the Eastern Mediterranean region. By this way of joint-ventures we could assist each other in doing cooperating mutual business.

I see as well much more opportunities for smart cities, promotion of start-ups and innovations, exchange of knowledge between universities developing research and science. I am convinced that the close cooperation between the Slovak Embassy and the Cyprus-Slovak Business Association will have a strong impact on the plans we all together want to turn into the reality.