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Investment Advisory Guide 2014/2015 15th Edition Your key to understanding the Slovak business environment and its challenges € 4 INVESTMENT ADVISORY GUIDE 2014/2015 CONTENT ADVISOR The Slovak investment environment Contents 3 through the eyes of the Investment Support Association - ISA CONTENTS Investment Advisory Guide investor’s Checklist 4-11 Slovakia basics 4-6 Slovakia and Central Europe 4 Could the change of a single customers or their colleagues ranging all the way he year 2014 brought Slovakia a new president, Andrej Kiska, the first-ever independent Foreign direct investment: overview 5 candidate with no political background whatsoever, who defeated Prime Minister Robert Industrial parks in Slovakia 6 law attract or scare-off a from Scandinavia down to Cape Town. Slovak infrastructure 6 Fico in the second round of the presidential race and calmed worries that the ruling Statistics: Slovakia & the European Union 7 prospective investor? With TSmer, with its one-party government and majority in parliament, would extend its influence even Ratings 7 Information on Slovak regions 8-9 most of the investment ISA: Queries by sectors further. Structure of regional economies 8-9 The largest companies in Slovak regions 9 queries we come across at Štefan Harabin, who has been criticised by political ethics watchdogs, activists and a number Useful contact details 10 of judges for his negative influence on the country’s judiciary, failed to get re-elected as chairman the Investment Support Services of the Supreme Court and ended his tenure at the top of judicial council. His departure is believed Government policy & legislation 12-27 18% Geopolitical tensions intensify challenges 12 Rule of law needs more progress 15 Association (ISA) and the IT to create an atmosphere more favourable for judicial reforms widely desired by foreign investors and Supporting investments in Slovakia 18 8% the business community alike. Largest international law firms 21 Slovak Investment and Trade Other Largest Slovak law firms 22 18% Nevertheless, the major challenge for Slovakia and the whole Central and Eastern European Development Agency (SARIO), there is a whole bunch International and Slovak law firms 23 region were geopolitical tensions fuelled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent tit-for- Law Firms - 2014 Top 5 Deals in Slovakia 24 of factors affecting the decision whether a company tat sanctions between the European Union and Russia. A number of countries, including Slovakia, Law Firms - Top 5 All-Time Deals in Slovakia 26 will eventually settle down in this country. While were once again reminded of their energy dependence on Russia and the need to address their Economy & business environment 28-39 Manufacturing energy security. Yet, Slovakia has avoided any major economic slowdown, despite the crisis in the Slovak economy 28 legislative changes occurring in the course of a single Industry Slovakia’s ranking in various international comparisons 30 56% surrounding region. While Slovakia’s economic performance in the first half of 2014 opened doors for Survey: business leaders 32 year play a significant role, a more accurate indicator optimism, observers were quick to point out that its fate in the second half of the year and 2015 hinges Investment highlights 34 Chambers of commerce 46 from the long-term perspective is the number of in part on the region’s capacity to calm tensions in eastern Ukraine, as well as a worsening economic Consulting firms: management 37 outlook in Germany, its biggest trade partner. Slovakia is trying to use the potential of past investments Consulting firms: financial and tax 38 investment queries. And when evaluating the first six There is one more long-term trend: the struggle in automotive industry while trying to support investments with higher added value as well as research Consulting firms: specialised 39 months of 2014, this figure has increased compared for investors between the individual countries and development. Labour market & education 40-47 The Slovak Spectator team in its new edition of the Investment Advisory Guide provides readers with Labour market: overview 40 to the previous year. SARIO recorded an almost 100 has intensified. It is no longer sufficient to Vocational training 42 the information they need to understand the country’s business environment – the good and the bad. Dual education: success stories 43 % increase in interest on the investor side and the passively provide information on what a country Statistics: wages & labour costs 44 We hope that we were able to bring what is necessary for connecting all the dots. Statistics: labour market 45 Investment Support Association registered 64 queries in offers – what it takes, is to actively work with By Beata Balogová Employment relations in Slovakia 45 Job portals 46 this year only. For approximately half of them, Slovakia every single query landing on the desk or in the HR companies in Slovakia 46 Consulting firms: human capital 47 is still in the game. inbox. In this respect, Slovakia relies not only on IS Real estate 48-61 the capacities of SARIO, but also on the know- Real estate market overview 48 Real estate prices in Slovakia (sale, rent) 54 ISA: Queries by individual months how of ISA-members assisting in the planning Construction firms 56 N FIN Real estate consulting 57 11 and the implementation of investments in this S Developers 58 10 Architectural services 59 EST Real estate agencies 60 8 country. This is also the reason why its members RUS 7 7 Moscow DK IRL LT Opportunities 62-67 6 are primarily companies providing real estate, Copenhagen 5 5 GB Vilnius BY EU funds 62 Start-ups 64 legal and auditing services; human resources NL Warsaw 3 B Success stories: start-ups 65 2 Brussels D PL L Prague Kyiv How to start a start-up 65 management and logistics or the necessary CZ UA SK Shared services centres (SSCs) 66 F MD AVienna H Success stories: (SSCs) 67 infrastructure. The capability of the Investment CH SLO RO Chisinau July Belgrade Bucharest Foreigners in Slovakia 68-70 April May June Support Association to develop the investment P BIH March Lisbon AND I January August SRB Soa Finding a new home – Slovakia 68 February October BG September E Banks in Slovakia providing their web pages in English 69 environment in Slovakia lies in the expertise and Rome AL MK Tirana Private international schools & kindergartens 69 Furthermore, this year’s figures confirm that international experience of its members. GR TR Universities in Slovakia 69 Athens Relocation companies 70 Slovakia is no longer the final destination just M CY Index 71 for the automotive industry. Although the truth Using their means and professional experience, is that the “wheels” of that sector served as a the SARIO/ISA-tandem can assist the investors “vehicle” for other industry sectors as well. The even in setting up their business case. This SP013360/001 car manufacturers accelerated the development of provides Slovakia with the potential of attracting the entire supply-chain, delivering the necessary new investment, bringing in (along with the production inputs, as well as support services. company) also up-to-date technology or entire Employment and IP law specialist Along with that, Slovakia is gradually becoming an research departments. SSC for the entire Euro-African region. According 10 years of high level legal services www.nitschneider.com to independent analyses, the SSC-sector employs Róbert Šimončič 35 to 40 thousand people delivering services for General Manager of SARIO and Chairman of the ISA Executive Committee SP70374/001 4 Investor’s CheCklIst Investor’s CheCklIst 5 SLOVAKIA BASICS Towns: 135 (settlements with more Guinea, Fiji, Iraq, Colombia, Peru and and sewages, air transport and provisi- adopt a united motor vehicle tax as of Germany (11.63%), Italy (8.5%), the sumers: €0.127 per kWh (H2 2013, current prices) and Eurostat (labour Area: 49,036 km2 than 5,000 inhabitants) Central America (Source: EC website) on of health care. 2015), dog licences, usage of public the Czech Republic (7.39%), Hungary Eurostat) costs per hour in euro, whole economy Land use (2012): arable land: 49.07%, Villages: 2,755 (settlements with Regulation There is also a special levy in the ban- space and others. (5.21%), South Korea (4.49%), Lu- Electricity prices for businesses in Slo- - excluding agriculture and public forest: 41.07%, urban areas: 4.74%, fewer than 5,000 inhabitants) The Regulatory Office for Network In- king sector to be paid at 0.4 percent Excise taxes are applied on alcoholic xembourg (4.32%), Cyprus (4.18%), vakia also include regulated portions administration): Slovakia (€30.7), water: 1.93%, other: 3.19% dustries (ÚRSO) regulates the energy on corporate and private individuals’ beverages (spirit, wine, beer), electrici- France (3.59%), Belgium (3.33%), of the fee for the National Nuclear Poland (€33.8), Hungary (€34.0), sector as well as water management deposits. The special bank levy was de- ty, coal, natural gas, mineral oil, and Other (10.58%). Note: several com- Fund (€3.15 per MWh for 2014) and Estonia (€38.8), Czech Republic Protected area as national parks, (more information pages 12-27) protected grounds: 23.3% in areas such as price policies, while signed to be a temporary measure and tobacco products panies which have invested in Slovakia the charge for operating the national (€43.5), United Kingdom (€57.2), Borders with neighbouring states: Hun- GOVERNMENT the sector of telecommunications will end once banks have paid a total Tax licences: Companies registered are registered in the Netherlands, grid (€21.82 per MWh as of August Germany (€67.2) gary (654.8 km), Poland (541.1 km), POLICY & LEGISLATION and postal services is overseen by the of €1 billion. The 0.4-percent rate of in Slovakia are obliged to pay tax Luxembourg or Cyprus, even though 19, 2014).
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