Emphasizing interest in cooperation in the energy industry is the declared interest of the one-day official visit to Russia of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday. He said at a business forum of Russian and Slovak business leaders that "the Slovak government favors nuclear energy" and he invited businessmen of both countries to establish joint ventures. He mentioned some already functioning positive examples, such as plants in Russia set up by tire Slovak maker Matador, packaging company Grafobal, or the planned project of Ecoinvest. He said his government favors foreign investments in production with higher added value and that the Slovak government has a scheme for supporting investors. The prime minister declared that his government does not intend to intervene in the personal income tax currently applied in Slovakia. He said our country would welcome investments in tourism and he appreciated the initiative of some Russian banks to establish their branches in Slovakia in order to finance such projects.
"We consider the Russian Federation a strategic partner, similarly as we consider it a strategic partner of the European Union," he said. Since there are no unresolved political questions between both countries, relations can concentrate on trade. He welcomes the signing of the cooperation protocol between Slovak and Russian businessmen establishing the Slovak-Russian Business Council and a Memorandum on building the wide-gauge railway in Slovakia that were signed during his visit.
Next on the agenda of the Slovak prime minister's visit is a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov are scheduled for the afternoon. The Slovak delegation accompanying Prime Minister Fico to Moscow includes the minister of defense, the minister of foreign affairs, and the minister of economy.
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