The last year's overall Slovak export volume to Italy reached 7,3%, and the Italian proportion in the Slovak imports was 6,5%, ranking Italy as the fourth most significant trade partners of Slovakia. Apart from the Italian Embassy Trade Department, Italian - Slovak Chamber of Commerce and the Union of the Italian Businessmen, the further development of the bilateral economic relations can be accounted to the efforts of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ing. Vladimír Bystriansky
director of the Regional Office of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lučenec:

"Agreement concluded between our Chamber of Commerce and the Tecla Regional Development Agency last July has launched a co-operation in support of the development of trade and production interface between the Novohrad and Gemer regions and the Italian district of Lazio. Our first step towards the local business milieu was the analysis of a potential and interest in an efficient co-operation. We have so far registered 35 companies searching partners with a compatible production programme. Twenty meetings were conducted with respect to the new co-operation links in the area of textile production, mechanical engineering, and leather processing industry. Since the agreement has no limited duration, we anticipate a carry-over of the interest in mutual contacts also for this year. Our businessmen would prefer technical and industrial co-operation with an option to establish joint ventures, in the contrary to the Italian partners who prefer trading. We are facing a period of extensive detailed efforts to bring the agreement to the level of benefit for all. It is our objective to step up efforts in identifying partners, and we also plan to carry out market research , provide assistance in organising trade negotiations and participate in exhibitions. We are well aware of the interest in a beneficial co-operation on both sides and we wish to create adequate room for its reciprocity."

Ing. Jana Hudáková
executive representative of the Slovak - Italian Centre of Commerce, House of Culture in Banská Bystrica:

"The House of Culture facility is housing a standing exhibition since July 27 1998. It is a joint project of the city of Banská Bystrica, Regional Office of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, House of Culture and the Ascoli Piceno Chamber of Commerce. It is also participated by the Slovak - Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Foreign Trade Agency. The exhibition serves as a place of reference for the Italian companies. It presents product samples of small- and medium-size businesses and operates as a supporting structure for the Slovak-Italian business co-operation. Companies such as the automotive components producer ADF, the shoe technology tools producer ATA, the shoe soles and leather sheathing producer Diam Fondi and Effebi, the Elpidiense Export Consortium, associating 200 shoe producers, the producers of ladies' and children's shoes Faber and Ecam Group, the custom made freezing technology supplier Frigotecnica, Aquaviva Piceno offering twelve wine sorts, and other companies have accepted the opportunity to present their products. The most successful among them proved to be the ADF, having entered several contracts, and also the Slovak companies such as Bálint and Son from Komárno, Dupan from Kriváň, that negotiated leather supplies. A number of Italian companies were interested in wood and ecological containers. The exhibition has quite a remarkable scope of effect. I keep a mailing list of all the national exhibition events to keep them informed about the offer of the Italian companies. I also inform Italian exhibitions on the co-operation potential of our region. The growing interest is evident, yet there is a discrepancy between the business targets - while our businessmen aiming towards international co-operation, the Italian seek a trade. On our part we are extremely interested also in direct foreign investments."

Slovak Trade FORUM