Rastislav Podhorec, CEO of the Export-Import Bank of the Slovak Republic (Eximbanka), and Matúš Šársky, Director of the International Relations Department, are taking part in a working trip to Southeast Asia as part of a delegation of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanár, and a group of about 20 Slovak businessmen.
During this visit, representatives of Eximbank have already held several meetings with representatives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry of Indonesia, as well as with Slovak honorary consuls. Rastislav Podhorec also spoke during one of the panel discussions at the Indonesia-Slovakia Business Forum.
Indonesia, with a population of around 280 million, is one of Southeast Asia’s top-performing economies and is a member of ASEAN, the G20 and BRICS. In 2024, bilateral trade between Slovakia and Indonesia reached a volume of approximately EUR 180 million.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Indonesia (CEPA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) have provided an important impetus for the further development of trade relations.
Indonesia is also one of the priority countries according to the Strategic Concept of Slovakia’s Engagement in the Indo-Pacific Region of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.
Most Slovak capital investment in Indonesia is currently directed to the island of Bali, especially in the construction sector. However, the Indonesian market also offers opportunities for Slovak exporters in sectors for which there is a growing demand in the country – mainly defence industry, energy, water and sustainable waste management solutions.
“Indonesia is a dynamic growth market with increasing demand for technology and higher value-added solutions. Eximbanka is ready to support Slovakia’s strategic foreign trade interests also in this remote and challenging market. By entering into specific projects through financing and insurance instruments, we can help Slovak exporters to reduce risks and facilitate the implementation of individual business cases,” said Rastislav Podhorec, Eximbanka’s CEO.