Slovakia Confirms Intention to Deepen Economic Cooperation with Serbia

Bratislava, November 8 (TASR) - State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Rastislav Chovanec confirmed the intention to expand Slovakia's economic diplomacy activities in the Western Balkans after his return from a working trip to Serbia, TASR was told by the ministry's press department on Friday. Chovanec's visit was a follow-up to the October meeting of Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), who announced in Belgrade the strengthening of Slovak-Serbian cooperation. "Serbia has long been one of the most promising business partners of Slovak companies. This is confirmed by the interest of 54 companies from Slovakia in the business mission that we're organising as part of Premier Robert Fico's [Smer-SD] upcoming visit to Serbia in November. Our aim is to support investment and the business plans of Slovak companies in this territory and to find new areas in which we can deepen cooperation between companies with Slovak and Serbian capital," said the state secretary, who discussed these issues on Thursday (November 7) in Belgrade with Serbian Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and other representatives. The politicians discussed the exchange of information through expert, so-called twinning projects, as well as the setting up of direct air links between Belgrade and Bratislava and Kosice, which can contribute to the promotion of Slovak investments in Serbia, and vice-versa Serbian investments in Slovakia. am/mcs