Slovak Investment & Trade Development Agency (SARIO)

Slovak Investment & Trade Development Agency (SARIO)

Slovak Investment & Trade Development Agency (SARIO) is a governmental investment and trade promotion agency of the Slovak Republic. The agency was established in 2001 and operates under the Slovak Ministry of Economy.

The mission of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency is to accelerate the investment, export and innovation potential of the Slovak Republic.

All services are provided free of charge.

Investment Services

SARIO Investment projects department offers Slovak and foreign investors a wide range of customized services for new as well as already established investors:

• Provision of information related to Slovak business environment
• Consultancy on regional investment incentives scheme, specialized tax regime for R&D operations (R&D superdeduction) and other financial support mechanisms
• Real estate – selection of available real estate according to investor´s needs and further assistance related to site selection
• Provision of tailor-made analyses on: labour force availability in the commuting area of short-listed sites, overview of secondary schools and universities available for cooperation, list of biggest industrial employers in a region and others.
• Organization and facilitation of the investor´s representatives visits of Slovakia, including site visits and meetings with local authorities and possible partners
• Identification of potential local suppliers and Industry 4.0 related technology solution providers
• Facilitation of meetings with private service providers (HR agencies, legal, construction, consultancy companies and others) in cooperation with Investment Support Association ISA
• Starting a business consultancy
• Elaboration of sectorial analyses and other materials presenting Slovak economy

Foreign Trade Services

The Foreign trade department focuses, besides supporting Slovak companies exporting abroad, also foreign partners interested in:

• Finding a Slovak suppliers or subcontractors
• Forming a  joint venture, co-operation and other forms of partnership with Slovak entrepreneurs
• Information about Slovak trade environment, export and sourcing opportunities

Innovation Sourcing

The main goal of innovation sourcing is to connect local technology companies, operating mainly in the Industry 4.0 sector with the operations of production or logistics companies that plan to implement new innovative solutions in order to streamline and optimize their processes.

SARIO has a database of more than 300 local technology companies that provide innovative solutions in the above-mentioned areas, which is being constantly updated and expanded.

The main tool of innovation sourcing are tailor-made innovation seminars and workshops (including virtual ones), which focus on the presentation of companies and their technological solutions, and also serve as a business and presentation platform for local providers of these solutions.