ROME (ITALPRESS) – Between Italy and Slovakia, “a very active political dialogue exists, which has grown significantly” in recent years. This is the opinion of the Slovak ambassador to Rome, Karla Wursterova, interviewed by Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitical column of the Italpress Agency.
“2023 was a very important year for our relations, because we celebrated 30 years of friendship and diplomatic cooperation. During this last period, political dialogue has been very active and grew significantly. There were many official visits here to Italy, demonstrating the strength of our ties,” the diplomat stated, citing the visits to Rome not only of numerous ministers but also, in January, the one of “our president”, then in June the visit of the prime minister, and finally, in September, the visit of the vice president of the Slovak Parliament.
“Our goal, of the embassy and the government, is to strengthen and cultivate dialogue between the executive, parliamentary, regional, municipal, and institutional levels,” the ambassador noted. From an economic standpoint, trade, which has reached €8.5 billion, confirms the intensity of these relations.
“Italy is one of Slovakia’s main economic partners, among the top in terms of exports and imports,” noted the head of the diplomatic mission in Italy. “There are very important sectors such as automotive, mechanical engineering, food, and energy, but others are also growing, such as the circular economy and innovation, new technologies, and nuclear power”, she added.
Italian companies are also deeply rooted in Slovakia, with approximately 400 companies employing 20,000 people. “As I’ve already said, Italy is a strategic partner for Slovakia, and there are several Italian companies in the country. This is very important for job creation, but also for economic development. I must add that the Slovak presence in Italy is smaller, nevertheless it’s growing”, Wursterova noted, emphasizing that “there is a growing interest among Slovak companies in the Italian market”.
The high-level political visits also served to sign agreements on the economic front. “We have signed interesting and very important agreements, for example regarding fourth-generation nuclear energy. We also have the involvement of a very important Italian company, a new investor in Slovakia,” the head of mission in Rome stated.
Investors are attracted by Slovakia’s numerous qualities, starting with its strategic location, “in the heart of Europe”, as Wursterova emphasized, “also in terms of interconnectivity”. But there are other factors in its favor, such as “a qualified workforce and an economy open to investment, innovation, and sustainability”.
Among Italy’s major investors, the ambassador mentioned Intesa Sanpaolo. “This bank has made a truly significant investment, but there are also other companies, other investments like Nucleo or Tecnogym,” she continued. These intense relations are based first and foremost on human connections and therefore on cultural exchange. “Culture is the soul of international relations; it helps us better understand the specificities of peoples, but also brings states, nations, and individuals closer together”, the ambassador observed.
“Culture is a huge priority for me. Italian culture and art are very rich, among the richest and most inspiring. For this reason, too, I am pleased and honored to be Slovakia’s ambassador to Italy,” she observed. “For example, I have a personal goal: to visit all the great opera houses in Italy, and I can say I’m doing quite well”, she continued.
The embassy, for its part, is constantly committed in organizing cultural events. “We regularly hold presentations of literature, cinema, and even classical music,” Wursterova added. “Next year, the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Italy, and this will be an excellent opportunity to showcase Slovakia. Not only our athletes, but also our country and our culture, which is absolutely unique and very rich,” she noted.
The ambassador finally emphasized the importance of being present, as a diplomatic force, not only in Rome, but throughout Italy, including “honorary consulates in Trieste, Turin, and Genoa. Now we also want to open in Naples and Bari, and we have very active consulates in Milan and Emilia-Romagna,” she specified. “To conclude, I would like to express my appreciation for the dialogue with everyone, with the institutions here in Rome but also with the authorities and business leaders throughout Italy”, the diplomat stated. “Being an ambassador here in Italy is already a dream come true. It’s always a dream for all ambassadors,” she concluded.
– Photo Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
