Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) has had a successful first half of 2011. Compared with the first half of 2010, SARIO managed to attract more foreign investments to Slovakia according to all indicators: the number of projects, volume of the investments and the creation of new jobs.
During the first half of 2011 SARIO implemented projects worth a total volume of EUR 259.5 million, which will probably create over 1,500 new jobs in Slovakia. Over the same period last year SARIO completed 8 projects with a total value of EUR 35.22 million, with the creation of approximately 500 new jobs.
“We are successful in reaching our goal that foreign investors have begun to perceive SARIO as a modern and transparent agency that acts as a gateway for them when investing in Slovakia,” said CEO of SARIO Robert Šimončič.
Traditionally, most investments went into the automotive industry, especially in respect of suppliers of metal and plastic components, electrical engineering, as well as shared services. This year SARIO has registered significantly higher levels of interest from international companies and investors, which is also proven by an increased number of trips made by potential foreign investors to Slovakia organized by project managers of the agency.
“I believe that by the end of this year SARIO will successfully have concluded a number of other projects that are currently at the decision-making phase. In terms of attracting foreign investments, I expect this year to be evaluated much more positively than last year” said Šimončič.