BRATISLAVA, April 1, (WEBNOVINY) – The National Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (NADSME) continues its operation. So far this year, the agency has organized five events to support conducting business, the Economy Ministry reported. Due to suspected unlawful distribution of funds, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova requested the agency’s immediate dissolution in the fall of 2010. Eventually she and Economy Minister Juraj Miskov agreed that with regard to complexity of the situation, NADSME would continue operation until the end of the year, which was later extended until late January 2011. The Cabinet has not yet debated shutdown f the agency or its future operation.
Rado Bato, spokesman of Prime Minister Iveta Radicova could not say when the ministers should discuss the agency’s fate. He added that the proposal to dissolve the agency has to be submitted by the Economy Ministry.
The Economy Ministry is intensely discussing and looking for the most efficient solution for establishing a new agency, said its spokesperson Daniela Pirselova. “Our aim is to create an effectively working agency that will be the key instrument for Slovakia’s economic growth and that will support foreign investments, business, and tendering for business, export, as well as uniform presentation of the country abroad,” Pirselova added.
In late 2010, Minister of Economy Juraj Miskov confirmed for SITA news agency that establishment of a new super-agency, which among other things should take over activities of the National Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (NADSME), was within reach. “We have met with the Entrepreneurs‘ Association of Slovakia (ZPS) and it seems that we will find common ground where the association and small entrepreneurs will be conformable and so nothing should stand in the way to NADSME transformation,“ said the minister.
The new “super-agency“ should also take over tasks of the Slovak Agency for Investment and Trade Development (SARIO) and some duties of the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA).
The current government made decision on termination of activities of NADSME at the end of September 2010 following the warning of the current and previous leadership of the Ministry of Economy about improper allocation of financial sources in the agency. The Ministry of Economy underscored that there was suspicion that the NADSME unlawfully earmarked EUR 13.5 million for friendly companies. The ministry stated that the state had lost control over about EUR 30 million, which it allotted to the agency for the development of business activities.
SITA