BRATISLAVA, November 12, (WEBNOVINY) — A significant improvement of the business environment in Slovakia and reversing the currently unfavorable situation in this area is the ambition of the Economy Ministry. The ministry would like to turn Slovakia into Singapore of central and eastern Europe considering freedom of doing businesses, said Economy Minister Juraj Miskov (SaS) at discussion forum of the Slovak-Austrian Chamber of Commerce. “It is absolutely clear that Slovakia will probably never become Singapore, but nothing is preventing us from aspiring for the top ten on the chart of Doing Business,” said the economy minister. The ministry itself has only a limited influence on the business environment, he added. According to him, entrepreneurs find as the biggest burdens the high compulsory health insurance and social security contributions and poor enforceability of law, which does not fall under the direct competency of the ministry.
The Economy Ministry would like to reduce the administrative burden for businesses by more than 25 percent. At present, the ministry is measuring the burden. The minister estimates that the evaluation will be ready in February of next year and based on that they will set the desired reduction. Next year, the ministry plans to propose draft bills aiming to reduce the burden for businesses. According to the ministry, thus far about fifty laws, directives and regulations have been examined. The third phase of establishment of unified contact places for businesses, i.e., electronization, should start in January of 2012. “We would like to gradually introduce elements of e-government into service in the state and public administration,” Miskov said.
Another aspiration of the ministry is to renew the influx of foreign investments into Slovakia and return to the level from 2006. The ministry is preparing an amendment to the law on state investment stimuli, which should be approved in February of next year. The goal of the amendment is to direct investment aid mainly to regions with high unemployment. Slovakia’s promotion abroad should be concentrated and more effective via the Agency for the Support of Doing Business, Foreign Investments, and Export. The economy minister concluded by saying that improving of the business environment will help local businesses much more than investment stimuli.
SITA