On 8 January Polish Minister of Economy Janusz Steinhoff visited Slvoakia. He met his partner Ludovit Cernak to discuss cooperation within CEFTA and the Visegrad Group of Four, development of conditions of joint ventures and their potential on the third markets.

We want to extend our economic relations, says J. Steinhoff. Traditional meetings in Javorina are a major contribution to our relations. During the official meeting with my Slovak partner we defined problem issues in our cooperation that also include agriculture. We agreed that there should be a subcommittee within CEFTA that would draft measures for our economies. We hope for increasing cooperation between our enterprises, particularly in special productions. We would also like to have joint ventures operating on the third markets.

What is your position on the introduction of strict measures on the Polish-Slovak border concerning tourists, notably the requirement to prove availability of funds when entering Poland?

As a minister of economy I don't support such measures. I can imagine that slowing down cross-border tourism. We are in negotiations on the approximation to the EU standards. We shall attempt to liberalise the problem.

It is often said that the Polish-Slovak relations are suprastandard. Where do they show as such?

We want to improve the level of our relations within CEFTA and the Visegrad Group of countries. We have discussed cooperation in the energy sector in connection with energy safety our countries. We discussed mutual supply of gas, cooperation in electric energy and transfer of electric energy via Slovakia. I was given the position of Slovakia on the gas pipeline from Norway. I made a point on the crude oil pipeline Odessa-Brody-Gdansk continuously supported by Poland. Those are the examples of our very serious approach to cooperation. It involves two neighbours with no political tensions in their relations. We shall support cooperation between our businesses since they are the main actors of the bilateral cooperation between our two countries. Business environment should inspire us to remove all barriers including certificates or phito-sanitary regulations.

Foreign capital impact is visible in Poland. Still, there are no trade networks such as Woolworth, CA, hotel Ritz, Planet Hollywood. Pessimists suggest that Poland missed its chance to attract foreign investors and now it's too late. What is your position here? How do you see Slovak trying to attract foreign capital?

We certainly haven't missed the chance to attract foreign investors. In 1998 the value of direct foreign investment reached some USD 100md. We created exceptionally attractive conditions for foreign investors. Their share is exceptional in automobile industry. As the minister of economy I am most satisfied with the level of Polish economy. Why are we an attractive country? Our economy is stabilised and growing, for many years we have been reducing inflation, macroeconomic data keep on improving. Poland is already seen as the future EU member opening a market of 40m potential consumers. I can't say why there is no hotel Ritz or Woolworth. It maybe given by the strategy of those companies or Poland doesn't currently need their services. Foreign capital flow will keep on growing as we accelerate privatisation. We are through the first phase of privatisation of the Polish telecommunications, this year we privatise Polish metallurgy. In connection with Slovakia, I don't think it missed its chance either. Looking at the macroeconomic data, one comes to a conclusion that it is an attractive country for financial investment. It is a mere matter of co-ordination and proper management. The talks with my Slovak counterpart have shown that the economic areas where we apply traditional schemes are far from successful.

How do you protect the country against the Russian crisis?

The government has no direct impact on a trade contract. Polish trade volume with Russia is at USD 4.5md. Our deficit is USD 500m. Most import goods contain fuel, gas and crude oil. Most of our export to Russia includes medicines and foodstuffs. The export has significantly decreased within the past four months which we hope to be only temporary.

Slovak Trade FORUM