Press Release

Press Release 03/07

The Hon'ble Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, is visiting Slovakia on 23-24 March 2007. During his visit Mr. Sharma will meet the Foreign Minister Mr. Jan Kubis, the Economy Minister Mr. Lubomir Jahnatek, the Defence Minister Mr. Frantisek Kasicky and the State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, Ms Diana Strofova. Mr. Sharma will discuss matters of mutual interest with the Slovak leaders.

The visit of Mr. Sharma is at the invitation of the State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Diana Strofova, who visited India in January this year. Bilateral ties between India and Slovakia were given a boost by the visit of President Mr. Ivan Gasparovic to India in December 2004. The Economy Minister Mr. Jahnatek visited India in November last year at the time of the 6th Indo-Slovak Joint Economic Committee held in New Delhi. The last such visit of a Minister of Foreign Affairs from India to Slovakia took place in 1993.

Press Release 02/07

A group of MPs in the Slovak National Council has formed a Group of Friendship with India. Mr. Tabor Kabaj is the Chairman of the Group. In its first meeting of the group on 1^st February 2007, 2 vice-chairmen were elected. The Group consists of 42 Members of Parliament. Members of the Group expressed their interest to enhance friendly relations with India.

Press Release 01/07

The State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Diana Strofova, visited India from January 28-31, 2007. The visit was at the invitation of the Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, to attend the International Conference organized in New Delhi on 29-30^th January 2007 to commemorate the Centenary of the Satyagraha Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. During her visit Ms Strofova met Mr. Anand Sharma and discussed matters of mutual interest. Ms Strofova expressed Slovakia's desire to enhance economic relations with India.

Slovak Economy Minister visits India

The Slovak Minister for Economy Mr. Lubomir Jahnatek made a 3-day visit to India from 13th to 15th November 2006. During his visit Mr. Jahnatek met the Indian Minister for Commerce & Industry Mr. Kamal Nath and the Indian State Secretaries for Power and Defence production. During their meeting both the Ministers recognized the importance of exploiting the full potential that exists for bilateral trade and investment. Mr. Kamal Nath informed Mr. Jahnatek of the growing importance of India in the global economy and about the decision at the recent Indo-EU summit in Helsinki to negotiate a Trade and Investment Agreement between India and the EU. Mr. Jahnatek offered to the Indian Minister to take up issues of interest to India at EU Council meetings. He stressed that his Government was pursuing the policy of strengthening relations with countries outside Europe like India, China, South Korea and other Asian countries. During his visit, Mr. Jahnatek also visited the prestigious India International Trade Fair in New Delhi.

Mr. Jahnatek also met the State Secretary for Power, Mr. R.V. Shahi, who briefed them on the developments in the power sector in India. The Slovak side expressed their desire to take part in the development of the power sector in India. He also met the State Secretary for Defence Production Mr. K.P. Singh on 13th November 2006. Both sides noted the long-standing ties in the defence sector between the two countries and agreed to enhance the cooperation further.

Indo-Slovak Joint Economic Committee meets in New Delhi

The 6th Indo-Slovak Joint Economic Committee met in New Delhi on 13th November 2006. The deliberations reflected the warm and friendly relations between the two countries. Both sides reviewed the progress achieved on the decisions taken at the Fifth JEC in Bratislava in October 2004. The Slovak side highlighted the investment opportunities in Slovakia and the potential for investment in energy, environment-friendly technologies, agriculture and establishment of joint ventures. The Indian side pointed out that apart from seeking foreign investment, India has also become a major source of foreign investment for European countries.

A protocol was signed between the two sides at the conclusion of the meeting on 13th November 2006 wherein both sides agreed on the need to enhance cooperation in traditional areas and diversify the trade basket. The Slovak side agreed to organize an Indo-Slovak Business and Investment Forum in Slovakia during 2007-08 on the lines of the one held in New Delhi on 13th November 2006. Both sides noted that trade delegation played an important part in advancing trade relations and identified sectors for Indian trade delegations to visit Slovakia. Both sides also agreed on increasing participation in trade fairs and exhibitions by companies in each other's fairs. Both sides also agreed that promotion of investment flows was important for strengthening bilateral relationships.

Both sides agreed to schedule a meeting of the Joint Committee on Science & Technology in the first half of 2007 and noted that regular exchanges have been taking place between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Indian National Science Academy and the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Both sides agreed on the need for increased cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals. The Indian side also welcomed the Slovak participation and investment in the Indian power sector. The Indian side extended an invitation to the Slovak side to participate in the forthcoming India Soft, a software exhibition being organized in 2007 by the Indian Electronics and Software Export Promotion Council.

While noting that the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA) was signed between the two countries in September this year, both sides agreed to conclude the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) at the earliest. The issue relating to visa to Indian businessmen visiting Slovakia was also discussed. Both sides also agreed to hold the 4th Session of the Indo-Slovak Joint Business Council at an early date and hoped that this would give impetus to the bilateral trade and economic relationship.