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							       David Ponsar
Senior Commercial Officer
      U.S. Commercial Service
     Bratislava, Slovak Republic
       Tel: +421 2 5920 5320
       Fax: +421 2 5920 5333
    David.Ponsar@mail.doc.gov
    www.buyusa.gov/slovakia/en
             U.S. Commercial Service

• An Agency of the U.S. Department of
  Commerce
• Mission is primarily to help small and
  medium size, export-ready companies to
  enter new markets, and to protect U.S.
  business interests abroad
• Network of 107 domestic offices in the U.S.
  and 145 international offices located in U.S.
  Embassies and Consulates
              How Does the U.S.
              Commercial Service
             Help U.S. Companies?
• World Class Market Research
• Trade Events that Promote your Product or
  Service to Qualified Buyers
• Contacts with Qualified Buyers, Distributors and
  Joint Venture Partners
• Business Facilitation Services
• Counseling through Every Step of the Export
  Process
• Advocacy and Trade Compliance
            Market Research
• General Market Research
  •   Country Commercial Guide
  •   Nanotechnology
  •   Sporting Goods
  •   Security and Safety Equipment
  •   Environmental Services
  •   Healthcare Services
  •   Franchising Opportunities
  •   Cosmetics
  •   Renewable Energy
  •   Telecommunications Services
           Market Research

• Customized Market Research
  •   Specific Market Research
  •   Competition
  •   Market Entry
  •   Market Size and Trends
  •   Regulatory Issues and Standards
  •   Product Registration
  •   Sales Channels
                       Trade Events
• International Buyer Program
   • Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week and SEMA
     Automotive Specialty Show, Las Vegas, Nov. 2006
   • Power-Gen International, Orlando, November 2006
• “Showtime” Events at Major Trade Shows
   • Aquatech 2006: Process, Drinking and Wastewater,
     Amsterdam, September 2006
   • electronica 2006, Munich, November 2006
• Catalog Shows
   • Variety of Themes and Venues
• Industry Specific and State Trade Missions
   • Automation Alley Trade Mission, March 2007
                   Contact and Screening
                         Services
 You tell us what you are looking for in an agent, distributor,
joint venture, or any other kind of business partner, and we
will help you find a match!

       •   Screened/Unscreened Contact Lists
       •   BuyUSA Featured Exporters (FUSE)
       •   International Partner Search
       •   Video Gold Key Matching Service
       •   Gold Key Matching Service
       •   International Company Profile
                 Business Facilitation
                      Services
• Single Company Promotion. Launch your
  product or service through seminars, press
  conferences, receptions or other promotional
  activities.
• Public Tender Information. Need more
  information on a particular public tender? We
  will contact the responsible institution, analyze
  all available information, provide you with
  instructions on how to place your bid and
  prepare a brief analysis of the tender for you.
                   Export Counseling

Individual Business Counseling by Telephone,
  E-mail and Meetings, including
  •   Country Information
  •   Tariff Rates
  •   Banking and Export Financing
  •   Logistics
      ... and any other questions about the market
                     Advocacy and Trade
                        Compliance

• Help to ensure that sales of U.S. products and services
  have the best possible chance to succeed abroad.
• Coordinate U.S. Government resources to ensure a
  level playing field for U.S. businesses as they compete
  against foreign firms for specific international contracts
  or other U.S. export opportunities.
• Promote fair competition by providing information
  about regulations and product standards that may
  otherwise impede U.S. exports
            Slovak Republic
               Basic Data
•   Area (km2):              49,035
•   Population:              5,379,000
•   Population /km2:         109.7
•   Capital:                 Bratislava
•   Adjacent countries:      Czech Republic, Poland,
                             Ukraine, Hungary, Austria
• Currency:                  Slovak koruna
• Ethnicity:                 Slovak 85.8%
                             Hungarian 9.7%
                             other 4.5%
• Religious Denominations:   Roman Catholic 69%
                             Lutheran 7%
                             Other 11%
                             No affiliation 13%
Best Prospect Sectors for U.S. Exporters
   •   Aircraft and Aviation Services
   •   Automotive Parts and Components (>1 million/year)
   •   Chemicals and Plastics
   •   Electrical Equipment and Parts
   •   Information and Communication Technologies
   •   Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies
   •   Environmental Services
   •   Medical Products and Services
   •   Pharmaceuticals
   •   Franchising
   •   Infrastructure (highways, bridges, airports)
   •   Consumer Goods
Principal Industries in Slovakia
• Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
• Automobiles and Components
• Information/Communication Technology
• Fuel and Power Industries
• Heavy Industries
• Chemicals
• Agriculture & Food
• Construction
• Textile, Clothing and Footwear
• Forest Products
• Tourism
           Why Slovakia?
• Well educated, skilled, cost competitive workforce
• European Union and NATO Membership
• Geographical Heart of Europe
• Successful Reforms in Employment, Healthcare,
  Pensions and Taxes
• Flat 19% Tax (Corporate and Personal)
• Favorable Economic Conditions
• Developed Infrastructure
                Top U.S. Investors




The U.S. is the 9th largest investor in Slovakia with $3.5 billion
                             invested.
     David Ponsar
Senior Commercial Officer
      U.S. Commercial Service
     Bratislava, Slovak Republic
       Tel: +421 2 5920 5320
       Fax: +421 2 5920 5333
    David.Ponsar@mail.doc.gov
    www.buyusa.gov/slovakia/en