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Slovakia: Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Slovakia
Business practices are generally formal, particularly at an initial meeting. Appointments should be arranged in advance and punctuality is expected. A handshake is the usual greeting, and professional titles and surnames are generally used until invited to use first names.
Business cards are commonly exchanged, although there is no particular ritual attached to them. English is widely used in international business, especially among younger professionals and in larger companies, but an interpreter may be useful for meetings outside internationally oriented organisations.
Slovak business culture tends to place importance on personal relationships and trust, and decisions may take time where several levels of management are involved. Business dress is generally conservative and professional, although practices vary by industry.
Slovakia has a small, open economy closely integrated with the European Union and the manufacturing supply chains of neighbouring Central European countries. Industry is a major contributor to the economy, with automotive manufacturing particularly important; Slovakia is one of the world's largest producers of cars per capita. Electronics, machinery, metals, chemicals and information and communication technology are also significant sectors.
Foreign investment has played an important role in Slovakia's economic development, particularly in manufacturing. The country adopted the euro in 2009, removing exchange-rate risk in trade with other eurozone countries. Economic activity is concentrated around Bratislava and the industrialised west, although important manufacturing and service centres are also found around Žilina, Košice and other regional cities.
Slovakia's economy is strongly dependent on exports and therefore sensitive to economic conditions elsewhere in Europe, particularly Germany and other major EU markets. The automotive industry's transition towards electric vehicles, labour shortages and regional disparities are among the country's longer-term economic challenges.
Motor vehicles and vehicle components, machinery and electrical equipment, and metals and metal products.
Machinery and electrical equipment, motor vehicle components, mineral fuels, and metals.
Keeping in Touch in Slovakia
Slovakia has good mobile coverage across most populated areas, although reception can be weaker in remote mountain regions. The main mobile operators include Orange, O2, Slovak Telekom and 4ka. Prepaid SIM cards are widely available.
EU roaming rules generally allow customers with SIM cards from EU and EEA countries to use calls, texts and mobile data in Slovakia under the same conditions as at home, subject to their provider's fair-use policy. Travellers from elsewhere should check roaming charges with their provider before travelling.
Internet access is widely available, with free Wi-Fi common in hotels, cafés, restaurants, shopping centres and many public spaces. Mobile data coverage is generally good in cities and towns, although connections may be less reliable in remote mountain areas.
Slovakia has a range of public and commercial television and radio services, newspapers and online news outlets. Slovak is the principal language of the media, with some publications and broadcasts also available in minority languages. English-language news about Slovakia is available online.
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