Rastislav Podhorec, CEO of Eximbanka and Matúš Šársky, Director of International Relations of Eximbanka, took part in a business mission to Croatia on 1 July 2025, organised by SARIO, the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Zagreb.
The aim of the mission, which focused on the energy, engineering, agriculture, ICT and transport sectors and was attended by nearly 30 Slovak exporters, was to connect business entities, establish open cooperation and introduce Slovak entrepreneurs in the territory.
On the occasion of the business forum between Croatia and Slovakia with the participation of the presidents of both countries, Eximbanka’s CEO Rastislav Podhorec presented the opportunities offered by Eximbanka to Slovak exporters.
Prospects can be seen in the development of cooperation in the energy infrastructure, engineering industry, or in joint projects in the pharmaceutical industry. Eximbanka has experience in supporting these types of projects and is ready to replicate them in the case of cooperation between Slovak exporters and Croatian partners.
Representatives of Eximbanka also held bilateral talks with partners from the Croatian export credit agency Hrvatska Banka za Obnovu i Razvitak (HBOR), which, like Eximbanka, also carries out development activities in Croatia and significantly contributes to the diversification of the Croatian economy and the internationalization of Croatian companies. Among other things, the partners agreed on the continued exchange of experience in the implementation of EU instruments and support schemes.
Eximbanka was also part of a special reception with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic. Both the Croatian and Slovak sides agreed that the potential of mutual trade exchange is far from being fulfilled, and Eximbanka is an instrument thanks to which Slovak exporters can contribute to its more effective fulfilment.
“I had a brief discussion with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic about Eximbank’s export support, our good bilateral relations and the meeting with the Croatian development bank HBOR. The President appreciated our indispensable role in supporting Slovak exports and encouraged us to finance cooperation between Slovak and Croatian companies. I briefly summarised our support for trade and projects in Croatia to Slovak President Peter Pellegrini. I also briefed him on the current activities we are working on and provided an overview of trade developments. I invited the President to visit Eximbanka in order to present its activities and contribution to Slovak exports in more detail. The President was pleased to accept the invitation ,” said Rastislav Podhorec, CEO of Eximbanka.
Eximbanka has so far supported exports to Croatia in the amount of almost € 215 million.
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About Eximbanka
As the only direct instrument of the state for export promotion, the Eximbanka is an important part of the chain responsible for promoting the country’s economic policy in the field of external economic relations. It offers a wide range of export-related financial products, especially credit insurance, financing and guarantees. As a state export credit agency, it enables Slovak exporters to enter into trade and investment relations where the commercial financial sector is less interested in taking on risk and therefore performs a complementary function.