As part of his visit to Japan this week, President Peter Pellegrini held talks with Premier Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday with preparation of a declaration on strategic cooperation between Slovakia and Japan, economic issues, and the future of U.S. Steel Košice being high on the agenda of their talks.
Pellegrini said that the preparation of a declaration on strategic cooperation between the two countries is currently being finalised and could be signed in 2026. According to Pellegrini, this document will further highlight good bilateral relations.
The two leaders also discussed economic issues. "More than 70 Japanese companies operate in Slovakia, employing thousands of people. Therefore, it is important that we continue and that Slovakia remains an attractive place for Japanese companies to do business, as they can choose it as a gateway to the European Union markets," stated the president.
Pellegrini and Ishiba also spoke about the future of the U.S. Steel plant in Košice. Nippon Steel, Japan's largest steel producer, concluded the purchase of the American company of U.S. Steel for 14.9 billion USD (€13.02 billion) in June.
“The Prime Minister confirmed that the decision on the fate and future of the Košice plant will be made at the managerial level within Nippon Steel itself. Anyway, if the factory is to continue operating, it will have to undergo extensive reconstruction and modernisation as part of decarbonisation, which will require huge investments exceeding €1 billion,” said Pellegrini.
The President is also scheduled to meet representatives of the Japanese Business Federation Keidanren on Tuesday. He would like to invite representatives of Japanese companies to Slovakia and organise a mission for big Japanese companies, as missions like this mean a great chance for new investment opportunities.
Pellegrini is paying a visit to Japan on the occasion of the celebration of Slovakia's National Day at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, which will take place on Wednesday.
Source: TASR
