Slovak business environment far from ideal

Improvement in education, integrity in public life, as well as cuts in taxes, deductions and red tape are among key demands of the business sector for the new government to be formed after the general election held last Saturday. "The emerging Slovak government will have a difficult task to consolidate Slovakia in many spheres. The most urgent tasks include those involving the business environment, which is far from ideal," said Maria Berithova, president of the Slovak-Austrian Chamber of Commerce. She added that key challenges include weak law enforcement, a rigid labour market and the extreme tax and deduction burden. Executive director of Slovakia's Business Alliance (PAS) Peter Serina is putting the accent on education, the need to reduce taxes and deductions, and bureaucracy.