By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Slovakia has officially reopened its embassy in Kuala Lumpur after 13 years, signalling a renewed push to deepen ties with Malaysia and expand cooperation in high-tech, industrial, and strategic sectors.
Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, who is in Malaysia to officiate the reopening, said the move reflects Bratislava’s strategic pivot towards Southeast Asia and its growing focus on engagement with ASEAN.
“The situation has changed rapidly, and we see Southeast Asia as one of the most dynamic regions in the world.
“With our past experience, we want to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia, offering our expertise in areas where we can contribute meaningfully,” he told Bernama.
The reopening of the Slovak embassy was marked by a ceremony at the Pavilion Embassy building on Jalan Ampang here, attended by Slovakia’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Peter Spisiak.
Blanár said Slovakia views Malaysia as a leading economy with a business-friendly environment and is keen to share its expertise in strategic sectors, including water management, nuclear energy, information technology, cybersecurity, and defence.
He said Slovakia has strong expertise in nuclear power generation, with 62 per cent of its electricity produced from nuclear energy, and is preparing to build a new reactor with an output of 1.2 gigawatts.
This could complement Malaysia’s development priorities, he said.
He added that Slovak capabilities are already in use in the country, namely in flood prevention systems and biometric technologies.
Citing examples, he said a Slovak biometric company already provides services at Malaysian airports, while another firm is involved in hydrometric monitoring systems aimed at mitigating floods.
Blanár also identified semiconductors as a key area for future collaboration, building on Malaysia’s established role in the global supply chain.
“Semiconductor technologies are increasingly important with the rise of artificial intelligence and the digital economy. Malaysia is well positioned in this area,” he said.
He added that that Slovakia is also keen to expand cooperation with Malaysia in automotive-related industries, particularly electric vehicle batteries and other high-value technologies, while highlighting the country’s position as a leading passenger car producer per capita globally.
On trade, the foreign minister voiced strong support for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and Malaysia, saying it would create more opportunities for businesses from both sides.
He noted that Slovakia and Malaysia already have agreements on avoiding double taxation and investment protection, which provide a stronger framework for bilateral economic ties.
Beyond commerce, he said both countries shared similar views on key global issues, especially adherence to international law and multilateral cooperation.
Blanár expressed hope that Malaysia would see Slovakia as a gateway to the EU, citing its role as a manufacturing base for Asian companies targeting the wider European market.
He added that people-to-people links, academic exchanges and parliamentary diplomacy would also be key to strengthening bilateral ties.
Blanár is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Malaysia's Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Johari Abdul, and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in Putrajaya on Wednesday.
-- BERNAMA
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