SLOVAK REPUBLIK

Bilateral relations between Switzerland and Slovakia

Relations between Switzerland and Slovakia are close and unproblematic, especially at the civil society level. Around 13’000 Czechoslovak refugees came to Switzerland following the Prague Spring of 1968.

Economic cooperation

Trade between Switzerland and Slovakia is developing satisfactorily overall. In 2014 imports from Slovakia were CHF 876 million. Meanwhile, Swiss exports to Slovakia stood at CHF 564 million – an increase of 9% over the previous year. The capital stock of Swiss direct investments in Slovenia amounted to approx. CHF 434 million at the end of 2014, up from CHF 945 million in 2013.

Business language

Slovak, German, English, French

Dimensions and weights

Metric system.

Currency

National currency: €

ISO code: EUR

Customs tariff

Harmonised system, customs clearance based on the transaction value.

Import control

EU goods are freely available. Properly signed and stamped invoices (two copies) with all standard information and a signature on the original are required for the customs clearance of non-EU goods.

There is a list of goods for which licences are required held by the Ministry of Economics.

Standard VAT rate: 20% (reduced rate: 10%). Reimbursement of VAT paid is possible.

Terms of payment and tenders

Irrevocable letter of credit on confirmation of the order, also documents against payment. In Slovakia, reservation of title as a means of security is regulated by law. State export guarantees for exports are possible without restrictions (max. credit term 360 days).

Designations of origin

Standard. Various goods must be labelled to indicate their foreign origin (information on this can be provided by the CICs). Prohibition on misleading customers.

Packaging

Many goods are subject to obligations for labelling in Slovak. The EU Directive sets out that packaging materials made of wood must be manufactured from round logs. This EU regulation goes beyond the necessary treatment set out in the ISPM 15 standard.

Product samples

Duty free where there is no retail value.