More than one hundred companies from Slovakia and seven other countries held talks in Šamorín

On November 23, 2023, the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) welcomed 115 companies and institutions from Slovakia and 7 other countries at the international business forum Slovak Industry VISION Day 2023. The forum was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and organized with the support of ČSOB - the general partner of the event.

"It is imperative that we work together and share experiences and ideas on how to address sustainability challenges in our industry. I believe that today's negotiations will bring innovative solutions and strengthen our partnerships on the way to a more sustainable future for our industry," said Kamil Šaško, the State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Economy of the SR during the opening of the forum.

The business forum Slovak Industry VISION Day 2023, in addition to more than three hundred business negotiations and networking of participants, also brought professional discussions on attractive topics: sustainability as a key factor in the success of companies, ESG principles, and their impact on the future of business, or heat pumps as a new pillar of Slovak industry.

"The companies producing heat pumps have brought almost 500 million EUR worth of investments to Slovakia and created 3,000 jobs, also through SARIO. The total annual production in the volume of more than 500,000 pieces will rank Slovakia among the leading producers of this technology," said Robert Šimončič, CEO of SARIO, in the discussion.

The Slovak companies also had the opportunity to negotiate with selected economic diplomats and representatives of chambers of commerce or use the space for individual consultations with representatives of the SARIO agency and event partners.

The participants from the ranks of companies, institutions, organizations, and the academic community within the framework of the international business forum postponed more than 300 bilateral pre-planned meetings, while dozens more negotiations took place throughout the day in the form of networking. The Slovak Industry VISION Day 2023 also included an interactive exhibition of specific projects and technological solutions.

The consultations on the financing of green projects were provided throughout the day by representatives of the general partner of the event - Československá obchodná banka.

"The financial sector is increasingly focusing on sustainability, including the products it offers to its clients. These are, for example, loans for green investments, including those under the InvestEU program guarantee schemes, accident insurance specifically for electric cars, eco-leasing, responsible investment options, ESG advice, or a mortgage reward upon presentation of the property's energy certificate. We all feel a social responsibility for our common future, which is why it is also our intention to support business, the goal of which is not only profit but also public interest," said Koloman Buzgó, director of the Division for Corporate Clients of ČSOB.

The Slovak Industry VISION Day is a platform of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency connecting Slovak companies with foreign and Slovak partners, and also connecting companies, research, development, and the academic community. During the seventeen years, the platform provided space for cooperation to several thousand Slovak and foreign companies and institutions, thereby contributing to the internationalization of Slovak companies and increasing their competitiveness.

See more photos in our photogallery