At AmCham Slovakia, we have always advocated for the business sector’s interests at the national level, amplifying the voices of our members on critical issues that shape the business environment. With a significant quarter of our members based in or having offices in the region, our role in supporting their needs and fostering regional development is crucial. We have humbly embraced this role for 20 years. Since then, fostering collaboration, trust, and effective communication among stakeholders has been paramount as we strive to drive innovation and growth across Eastern Slovakia.
This is particularly important as Slovakia continues to grapple with stark regional disparities, maintaining the leading position among the EU-27 even two decades after joining the European Union. The EU’s recovery plan emphasizes the urgency of addressing these disparities with substantial resources, necessitating a comprehensive regional development strategy that also considers business perspectives.
Traditional indicators like GDP and employment rates often fall short in assessing the true competitiveness of our regions, proving inadequate for investors. We advocate for nuanced data that accurately reflects and responds to regional development needs.
To provide clarity, especially as a significant new investor enters the region, we have engaged our network of members, partners, and experts in Eastern Slovakia to collaboratively assess the region’s current state in infrastructure, manufacturing, innovation, human capital, attractiveness, and healthcare. Following rigorous analysis and facilitated expert discussions, in January we unveiled 18 recommendations aimed at optimizing Eastern Slovakia’s potential.
At AmCham, our added value lies in representing the business sector’s interests nationally and fostering effective networking and clustering regionally. Our topical working groups, focusing on 18 strategic recommendations spanning talent, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, innovation, and regional branding, remain pivotal for future progress. Implementing these recommendations demands a united approach, enthusiasm, commitment, and shared ownership from all stakeholders embarking on this transformative journey together.
Furthermore, with Ukraine embarking on its reconstruction journey, Eastern Slovakia is uniquely positioned to serve as a crucial hub. Our geographic proximity offers significant potential to support reconstruction efforts. However, harnessing this opportunity requires systematic planning, prepared infrastructure, and a skilled workforce.
In this issue of Connection, we explore these topics, delving into the challenges and opportunities ahead. We invite you to join us in this dialogue as we collaboratively pave the way towards a balanced and prosperous future for Eastern Slovakia.
Katarína Miňová, Regional Manager, AmCham Slovakia
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