Future-ready Slovakia: Competitiveness as a Shared Responsibility

For more than three decades, AmCham Slovakia has been guided by values that matter: gratitude, community, responsibility, and the willingness to share expertise and experience. These principles are not abstract ideas; they are the foundation of our daily work and the reason why AmCham has become a trusted partner for business, government, and society.

Together, we help shape the pillars that matter most for the country’s future: institutional strength, talent and human capital, innovation, and regional development. We do this in a world that is changing faster than ever. Europe and the global economy are navigating geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory pressure, demographic shifts, and rapid technological transformation. These changes create tension and complexity, but they also open space for innovation, creativity, and collaboration. History shows that countries and companies that succeed are not those that avoid change, but those that understand it early and respond with clarity and courage.

While turning competitiveness from a slogan into a national agenda, our activities in 2026 and beyond are naturally shaped by three cross-cutting topics that connect all our pillars and committees:

Trust and a predictable environment

Rule of law, quality governance, and trust in institutions are the foundations of a competitive economy. Investors, employers, and employees alike need confidence that rules are fair, stable, and consistently applied. Strong competitiveness begins with strong dialogue.

Technological progress and innovation

Digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence are no longer future trends; they are practical tools shaping today’s business reality. Our goal is to support smart adoption of these technologies, paired with sensible regulation and the right skills, so they truly move Slovakia forward. Technology should enhance productivity, resilience, and quality of life, not create new barriers or inequalities.

Shaping the next electoral cycle

We are preparing a data-driven competitiveness agenda so that public leaders enter the 2027 elections with clear, concrete recommendations on their tables. This is not about politics; it is about responsibility. Competitiveness must actively shape the programs and decisions that will define Slovakia’s direction in the years ahead.

This is why competitiveness is not just a theme for us; it is a responsibility. A shared one, not a privilege. Competitiveness does not emerge by accident. Like growth itself, it requires resilience, long-term care, and a shared vision. It demands cooperation across sectors, openness to new ideas, and the determination to invest in what truly matters. If nurtured consistently, competitiveness allows Slovakia not only to adapt to global change, but to thrive within it.

As representatives of a broad coalition of domestic and foreign employers in Slovakia – ranging from regional micro companies to the largest employers in the country - we call on representatives of public administration to put the essential needs of the Slovak Republic as a country with a high quality of life and a stable business environment above the particular interests of individuals or interest groups. We urge them to recognize that restoring Slovakia’s position in global competition requires a dramatic change in economic policy and the overall management of the country – responsible governments invest heavily in research and development, the skills of future generations, higher quality jobs, thus defining an ambitious vision of the state supported by social consensus, and apply innovative regulations based on the principles of simplicity, comprehensibility, transparency and flexibility. As representatives of homeland and international businesses committed to the creation of fundamental economic values and resources for the state budget, we are ready to fully contribute to this process possible and thus become partners of public institutions in transforming Slovakia into a modern, efficient and competitive country.

For this reason, AmCham Slovakia, together with its partners, continues to diligently craft sets of recommendations for the public administration. Please find our proposed solutions for an increased competitiveness of the Slovak economy in several key areas, including Health Care, Tax legislation, Education, Labor Market, Digitalization and Innovations, Rule of Law, and Regional Development.