Message from Ambassadors

Slovakia – A Country ofInvestment Opportunity
Marián Tomášik
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Japan
Ambassador of Slovakia to Japan since 2017. Served as the Slovak Ambassador to India (1994-98 and 2009-2013),
Thailand (2000-2005).

Economic Overview in Slovakia
Key values, such as strategic location in the heart ofEurope, the EURO as a national currency, one of thehighest economic growth rates within the EU, stable
political and economic environment, high adaptability
and productivity of Slovak labor force, wide range ofsatisfied investors from all over the World are only several
examples why Slovakia remains one of the strongest
foreign direct investment destinations in Central andEastern Europe.
Slovakia is one of the most rapidly growing
economies in Europe with a strong focus on R&D andinnovation in the technology sector. It is also among top
countries worldwide in adapting to new technologies &high innovation potential.
We believe in a rapid and successful post-pandemic
economic reconstruction. The pre-covid economic levelshould be reached by the end of this year. Forecasts of theInternational Monetary Fund for the Slovak Republic
predict a GDP growth on the level of 6.9% in 2021, 4.8%
in 2022 and 3.8% in 2023. Ranking of international
agencies is at the level A+ with stable outlook. An26

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expected economic growth provides a wide “window ofopportunity” for direct foreign investments – including
Japanese ones.
In the present days, the Slovak economy is one of
the most open and export-oriented economies in the EU.
The export of goods represents 82% of the GDP, the 1stplace in this category in the whole EU. The exports ofgoods and services together is 93% of the GDP, the 4thposition in the EU. According to the World Bank Ranking,Slovakia ranks as No.1 globally in Easy of Trading AcrossBorders category reflecting the time and costs associatedwith the logistical process of exporting and importing
goods.
The sector of services produces 61% of the GDP, anindustrial sector 35% and the agriculture 4%. The mostdynamic economic branches in Slovakia are machinery(mostly automotive industry), production of electronicand electrical components (9%), information andcommunication technologies and chemical andpharmaceutical industry. In Slovakia, such giant car
producers as Volkswagen, Peugeot, KIA and Jaguar
established their plants making Slovakia the world No.1
in production of cars per capita.

Slovakia is a leader in a robotization in the industry
and belongs to the TOP 20 countries with the highest
number of industrial robots in the production industry per
10000 employees (definitely the highest rate among
Central and Eastern Europe countries). Such a backgroundgenerates a significant potential for product and process
innovations as well as an implementation of the latest
Industry 4.0 solutions.
Stability, sound economic development andbusiness-friendly environment continue to make Slovakia
an attractive destination for Japanese companies to invest
and establish operations, especially in the fields ofautomotive, energy, ICT, logistics, R&D and innovations.

Eligible are costs for a land acquisition, building
construction, new technological equipment, licenses,patents, rent for buildings and land, wage of new
employees for the period of two years etc.
But Slovakia also provides attractive investment
scheme and special tax regimes for research anddevelopment activities and production with a higher
added value. During several last years Slovakia has stepby step become a very innovative “ecosystem” with thehighest share of higher add-value jobs in Central and EastEurope.

Why to Consider Slovakia as Your
Future Investment Destination

Concerning foreign direct investment, with volume of500 mil. EUR Japan is Slovakia’s third largest Asianinvestor after South Korea and Taiwan. Slovakia has
already a successful final investment destination for about
70 Japan companies and their projects employing together
13000 people. The most important are Minebea (inKošice), Yazaki Wiring Technologies (in Michalovce),
Panasonic Industrial Devices (in Trstená and StaráL’ubovňa), Akebono Brake (in Trenčín).
Regarding successful Slovak companies operatingin Japan, the joint venture of ESET-Canon established in2018 is serving as an example for further Slovak-Japanesecooperation in Japan, Slovakia or in third countries. ESET
is the fourth largest seller of security software in Japan. It
has entered Japanese market in 2003, and it is the fastest
growing company in the field of IT security. Slovak wines
are regularly awarded highest awards at the prestigious
competition “SAKURA” Japan Women’s Wine Awards.

Slovakia and Japan enjoy friendly and constructive
bilateral relations based on shared values and principles.
We remain committed to creating attractive businessenvironment for Japanese investments, in particular thosewith research and development elements.
The strategic partnership of the European Union
and Japan is very important dimension of our mutualcollaboration. EU-Japan Economic Partnership
Agreement has become effective and created for bothsides new export opportunities.
Slovakia offers potential investors a competitive
business environment including several distinctive
features setting Slovakia apart from other Europeancountries.
The first above all it is a unique location with a very
good transport connection to all sides and to all the mostimportant European economic centers and ports. In aradius of 2000 km about 600 million potential clients live.
As a member-state of the European Union, NATO,
Schengen zone and the Eurozone Slovakia is located not
only in the geographical but also in political heart of theEurope.

Success Stories in Slovakia

The Embassy of Slovakia in Tokyo, together with theHonorary Consuls of Slovakia in Osaka, Kirishima andUtsunomiya, stand ready to work even closer withpartners for promoting further Slovak-Japan cooperation.
Investment Incentives
Slovakia is an investor-friendly country and the Slovak
Government is continuously increasing the quality oflocal business and investment environment. Available
form of the aid are corporate income tax relief, cash grant,
contribution for newly-created jobs and a reduction of arent for a real estate in public ownership (up to 90%).

お問い合わせJOI 事業企画部

E-mail: bd@joi.or.jp、TEL:03-5210-3311

駐日スロバキア共和国大使館
E-mail: emb.tokyo@mzv.sk
URL: https://www.mzv.sk/web/tokio

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