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Slovakia: Rising Slovakia aims to scale more heights after 25 years of existence

Friendly talks: Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák (right) talks to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Session in New York at the United Nations in 2015

The Jakarta Post
Mon, January 8, 2018

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Slovakia: Rising Slovakia aims to scale more heights after 25 years of existence

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span class="inline inline-center">Friendly talks: Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák (right) talks to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Session in New York at the United Nations in 2015. (Courtesy of Embassy of Slovakia, Jakarta)

This year, Slovakia, a dynamic Central European country, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On Jan.1, 1993, after the dissolution of Czecho-Slovakia in a peaceful manner often referred to as “The Velvet Divorce,” the present Slovakia was born. The country has achieved a lot economically and politically over the last 25 years. It wants to reach more heights in the coming 25 years. In order to know more about Slovakia, its achievements and more details about its relations with Indonesia, The Jakarta Posts Veeramalla Anjaiah interviewed the Slovakian Ambassador to Indonesia Michal Slivovic recently. The following are the excerpts of the interview.

Question: This year Slovakia is celebrating the 25th anniversary since the breakup of Czecho-Slovakia. How important is this day for the Slovak people?

Answer: The first of January is a day of double celebration in Slovakia. In addition to New Year we celebrate the anniversary of independence of our country, which came true in 1993 after the dissolution of then Czecho-Slovakia whose 100th anniversary will be commemorated in October this year. Let me highlight the peaceful way of this dissolution, which took place in accordance with the Constitution without any violence, which is a rather unique development in history and can serve as an example. It deserved a name “The Velvet Divorce”. The good news is that today´s relations between Slovaks and Czechs are very intensive and really excellent.

This day is of great importance for Slovak people as 25 years ago they launched the building of own nationhood thus fulfilling the long-term desire for emancipation. I remember very well Jan. 1, 1993 when despite freezing winter Slovak people went out to the streets and squares and welcomed the new country with deep emotions in their hearts and big expectations.

What is important, Slovakia offers a compelling story. In January 1993, many people abroad spoke about how unsustainable the new, young state would prove to be. Certainly, the process of the building of the new statehood is never easy. There are always many ups and downs on this path and painful reforms. In our case these reforms were immense both in scope and depth. However, at the end of the day we handled the process of transformation successfully and were able to realize our integration ambitions and join European and Euro-Atlantic integration structures. Our partners and friends in the democratic world supported us in this endeavor, however the bulk of the work lied on shoulders of Slovak people.

What are Slovakia’s most significant achievements in the last 25 years?

Slovakia is a picturesque country located in the very heart of Europe. She is not rich in terms of raw materials, but blessed with an unbelievable uniqueness and diversity of nature and even more important, endowed with talented people.

As I have already mentioned, thanks to essential reforms we succeeded in the transformation process from socialism to a democratic society based on universal values, pluralism and free market economy and became firmly anchored in the family of the most advanced European nations as a deeply integrated member state of the European Union (EU), thus being an integral part of a peaceful, democratic, prosperous and stable community of nations. This was a historical milestone for my country. We are part of the Schengen area and European Monetary Union. Membership in the EU helped us to raise the standard of living based on the increase in labor productivity, to strengthen the competitiveness of our economy in the Union’s single market and beyond. This has a direct positive impact on the Slovak people.

Slovakia has secured her citizens’ safety, conducive conditions for economic and social development, freedom of movement and a sense of belonging to the most advanced countries in the world. At the same time, my country has also taken on co-responsibility for maintaining peace, security, stability and development in Europe and the world. We offer our expertise in foreign policy with the focus on the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership and we are listened to when shaping the EU´s policies. The first ever Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2016 has made a fair contribution to the deliberation about the future direction of the EU. Slovakia became a well-established, respected and responsible member of the international community that has a lot to offer in foreign policy issues. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák is the President of the current 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly and quite a few Slovak diplomats hold top positions within the UN system and in the EU as well.

Twenty-five years is a rather short time in global history, but it can mean a lot for a new country. It shows whether a country is a failing state or a success story. Slovakia followed the latter path, proving that the past 25 years have not been spent in vain.

You are a rising economy in the European Union. How do you see the potential of Indonesia as a rising economy?

The economy of Slovakia is really doing well. Our GDP growth rate exceeded 3% during the last few years, which is a solid figure for our region. Slovakia is a global superpower in car manufacturing and an absolute leader in the number of cars produced per inhabitant. Manufacturing 180 cars per 1000 inhabitants (and more than a million in total), it has occupied the top spot since 2013. A highly skilled labor force, substantial infrastructure, a good location and her status as one of the most industrial countries in Europe all make Slovakia attractive to the car industry. The flagship cars of renowned makes, such as Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne are constructed entirely in Slovakia.

However, the economy of Slovakia is not just about the car industry. The Slovak government pays great attention to knowledge-based-economy. The IT sector and innovations are advancing fast and start-ups are booming. ESET, one of the world´s biggest IT security companies was founded by Slovaks and it is based in Bratislava. ESET has evolved into a full IT security solutions provider, whose products, from consumer antivirus software to corporate endpoint and data security solutions are used in 180 countries. One of ESET´s regional offices is located in Singapore. Slovak AeroMobil, an autonomous hybrid vehicle capable of flying, is just one step away from commercial production.

Indonesia is a vast country with great potential and many opportunities. Enormous natural resources hand in hand with big human potential with increased level of education and inclusion of all relevant stakeholders predestine you to be one of the economic leaders in the wider region.

Michal Slivovic (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
Michal Slivovic (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

The relationship between Indonesia and Slovakia is already 25 years old. Both countries have the mechanism of the Bilateral Consultation Forum. How do you describe Slovakia’s relations with Indonesia?


Southeast Asia is a region with growing importance and dynamic economic and political developments. Indonesia is an important participant in this process.

Indonesia was one of 93 states that recognized Slovakia from the very first day of her independence. Both countries immediately started to establish bilateral relations, which even had an older history during the time of former Czecho-Slovakia. Soon in 1994 Slovakia hosted then Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas. Quite a number of high level visits followed, including reciprocal official presidential visits in 2002 and 2010. Our foreign ministers meet frequently on the sidelines of international fora in order to exchange views about issues of mutual interest.

I have spent already four years here in Jakarta. It fills me with joy to note that our bilateral ties have long been friendly and have successfully developed into a genuine partnership. At first glance it seems that our two countries have little in common, as the geographical distance between Bratislava and Jakarta is more than 10,000 km. However in today´s world, geographical distance doesn´t matter if there is a will to engage and cooperate. We have very similar positions on many international issues, a common interest in building peace, security and stability in the world, and face comparable security challenges. I believe that exchange of views and cooperation on the most pressing issues is useful for both countries.

As for last year, regular bilateral political consultations between foreign ministries, which took place in February in Bratislava, confirmed positive trends in mutual relations and outlined the areas for further enhancement. A visit of the Indonesian Parliamentarians, the members of the Bilateral Group of Friendship within the House of Representatives, to Bratislava in September was another important contribution to the bilateral relationship as a second track diplomacy.

Trade, based on Indonesian statistics, is growing but is still below US$100 million. What are the challenges for Slovakia in enhancing bilateral trade with Indonesia?

Our bilateral trade performs quite well. Trade figures are improving. According to data from Eurostat, the trade turnover between Slovakia and Indonesia in 2016 reached 152 million euros, though strongly in favor of Indonesia. So my country has to do more to strike a better balance. Major exports from Slovakia to Indonesia are turbines and machines, electric equipment, optical articles, shoes, cars. The exports from Indonesia to Slovakia are mainly rubber, electrical devices, shoes, textiles, food.

Actually, Slovak businessmen face the same challenges as other foreigners. Foreign capital is very flexible and quickly sounds out which country has the most conducive business environment. The Government of Indonesia has enacted 16 economic reform packages aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the country, what is encouraging. As a representative of one of the European Union´s member states, I would also like to express my strong belief that a speedy conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the EU and Indonesia will open new areas also for enhancement of economic cooperation between Slovakia and Indonesia.

What about Slovak investments in Indonesia?


Slovak investors are still discovering Indonesia. Tourism is one of the areas. Several thousand Slovakian tourists visit Indonesia every year. Slovak company FPD owns 4 resorts in Bali/Seminyak thus providing jobs for about 150 Indonesian people.

There are some worthwhile projects in the pipeline. I can´t but mention a joint project of the cultivation of “tropical wheat” which was launched in co-operation between Slovak company Osivo Zvolen, Agricultural University of Nitra and University of Andalas from Padang.

Significant economic growth in Indonesia leads to huge demand for power generation across industrial and consumer sectors. Slovakia is able and ready to help with addressing this challenge.

How do you see the future of Slovakia’s relations with Indonesia?

Traditionally friendly links between Slovakia and Indonesia and the absence of open issues in bilateral relations create conducive conditions for even further enhancement of our partnership. Naturally, there is always room for improvement and things can be done better.

I am convinced that reciprocal high level visits from Indonesia to Slovakia would bring new impetus to bilateral relations.

The existing potential has not been fully tapped, especially in trade and economy which is one of the foreign policy priorities of my country. We need more deliverables, more flesh on the bones in areas like power generation, agriculture, defense industry, water management, which are fully compatible with the priorities of President Jokowi´s administration. I believe that the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Co-operation in Bratislava will yield more concrete outcomes.

Last but not least, we look forward to promoting people-to-people contacts as an inseparable part of the broader picture of relations between countries, as a tool to increase mutual awareness.

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