BRATISLAVA, December 31, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is establishing from January 1, 2011 an Information Center of Economic Diplomacy (ICED). Spokesman for the department Lubos Schwarzbacher told SITA news agency that ICED will inform businesses about services provided through Slovakia’s diplomatic missions abroad in promoting foreign trade, investments, public tenders, exhibitions and presentations. The ministry believes that establishing the center will streamline communication of the business community with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies in promoting exports, investments and internationalization of SMEs. This step is part of the transfer of economic diplomacy agenda under the Foreign Affairs Ministry from the Economy Ministry.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, this will be a permanent service to which any entrepreneur can turn with a question of his/her interest. „From time to time it happens that I get an e-mail with a question whether something can be exported to Iran for example, which is under a special type of embargo. I get also questions of various character, such as an investor inquires about invest conditions and incentives when he decides to invest to Slovakia, so from January 1, we are establishing this Information Center for Economic Diplomacy, to which they will be able to turn,“ said Dzurinda. ICED will be located in the premises of the ministry and its services will be provided internal staff of the department who will be available during working hours.
SITA