Slovakia sees trade slowdown

Oct. 22 - The National Bank of Slovakia says it is seeing signs of a slowdown in demand for its products that are exported to western Europe and neighboring countires.

Vice Governor Martin Barto, speaking at the 2008 Reuters Central European Investment Summit in Vienna on Wednesday, said Slovakia's biggest economic challenge will be to further adjust to globalisation, to keep competitiveness and for the government to continue with reforms which are necessary.

Slovakia's biggest benefit from joining the eurozone next year will be much higher stability of the currency, said Barto, but the risk is that the liquidity which is now in Slovakia's banks will disappear in eurozone countries. Speaker: Martin Barto, Vice Governor, National Bank of Slovakia

Presenter: Ruben Ramirez, Vienna