Economic and political position in 2004
+ Slovakia joins to the EU and the NATO
+ Exemplary reformist policy improves investment climate
+ Attractive and transparent fiscal policy
+ Economic situation hums
± Revaluation of the currency as a result of foreign capital flow prepares issuing bank worry
± Second highest unemployment rate in the EU, but declining
– High inflation by adaptation of adjusted prices
– Unequal regional distribution of the prosperity

Prognosis in 2005
+ Furthermore dynamic economic growth; economic catching process makes headway
+ Flow of foreign direct investment does not die down
+ Inflation goes back again clearly
– Unemployment furthermore declining, but with big regional differences

Economic relations to Germany
+ Germany of the most important trading partners of Slovakia
+ Extreme high growth of the bilateral goods exchange
+ Attractive investment conditions lure many German enterprises in Slovakia

State: January, 2004
Source: IKB Deutsche Industriebank