President Pellegrini Receives OECD Secretary General Cormann in Banska Bystrica

Banska Bystrica, October 5 (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini received on Saturday his first foreign visit at his office in Banska Bystrica, namely Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann. They discussed education, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, as well as cooperation with Banska Bystrica region in the preparation of a study to help adapt to demographic changes. "Slovakia is a long-standing and active member of this prestigious intergovernmental organisation, which brings together only the most advanced countries in the world, which gives significant benefits to the country," said Pellegrini. The president described the Slovak Presidency of the OECD in 2019 as successful, when the main topic was modern technologies. For the first time, the OECD discussed the incoming artificial intelligence and the need for some form of regulation so that we would benefit from it more than we would have problems. The head of state pointed out that our country also faces great challenges in the future. "The challenges are precisely those that are also OECD priorities. The use of modern technologies, artificial intelligence and an absolute focus on changing the way our citizens are educated," stressed the head of state. Secretary General Cormann confirmed that Slovakia is an active and respected OECD member, expressing his gratitude that Slovakia hosts their mission, i.e. that the OECD communicates with Ukraine through its office at the Slovak Embassy in Kiev. Cormann highlighted, among other things, the cooperation with Banska Bystrica region in the preparation of a study to help adapt to demographic changes. The organisation's recommendations for key sectors should be known in the first half of next year. am