Slovak businessmen want to restore older relationships and establish new ones

Representatives of 17 Slovak companies say they want to restore the older business partnerships with the Moldovan companies and establish new ones, Info-Prim Neo reports. Delivering a speech at the opening of the Moldovan-Slovak business forum, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said the political relations between Slovakia and Moldova have strengthened, mentioning in this connection the visit paid by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca to Bratislava. He voiced hope that this fact will have a positive impact on the economic cooperation. Miroslav Lajcak said Slovakia and Moldova have signed important economic agreements, such as the agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, and on mutual protection of investments, the cooperation agreement between the Slovak Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and the Moldovan Export Promotion Organization. The Slovak official voiced hope that the ties that will be established during bilateral meetings with Moldovan businessmen will be strengthened at a similar forum that will take place in Bratislava by the end of this year. He said the Slovak authorities are looking for possibilities of removing the barriers to obtaining visas that the Moldovan citizens, especially businessmen, can encounter following Slovakia's admission to the Schengen area. According to Alexander Scurla, a representative of the Slovak Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, the 17 companies that are participating in the forum want to establish relations with agricultural product processing companies, street and bridge designing and building companies, energy and ICT companies. Marian Banik, the representative of a food distribution company, said they want to establish contacts with Glass Container Company for purchasing packing and are looking for Moldovan partners to organize the production of food products that will be exported to the EU. Minister of State Victor Bodiu, who signed on behalf of Moldova the agreement on development cooperation between the Government of Moldova and the Government of Slovakia, said that under this framework agreement Slovakia will provide technical assistance to the Moldovan executive in implementing the major programs and structural reforms, in adjusting the legislation to the European standards. Under the given agreement, Teleradio-Moldova Company will obtain a grant of €100 000 for modernization.