KUALA LUMPUR: The reopening of Embassy of Slovakia in Malaysia after a 13-year hiatus signals an "upgrade” in diplomatic ties between the two countries while underscoring the growing importance of Asean nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
Peter Spisiak (pic), Slovak ambassador to Malaysia, said Malaysia and Slovakia shared similar foreign policy positions, stressing that such alignment was important for strengthening bilateral ties and expanding economic cooperation.
He said despite the embassy's closure 13 years ago due to budgetary constraints, bilateral relations between Malaysia and Slovakia remained grounded in a solid foundation and functional agreements, including the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed in 2015.
"Malaysia was always at the top of the list of countries where we would like to open our embassy. We were just waiting for the right momentum, which was created by the current government's priorities to diversify economic and global cooperation, not only within the European Union (EU),” he told Bernama.
On future collaborations between Kuala Lumpur and Bratislava, Spisiak said both countries were set to sign a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the defence industry while highlighting Malaysia's interest in Slovakia's expertise in the nuclear energy sector.
"Regarding nuclear energy, we are preparing a visit by Malaysian experts in September or October this year, as there will be an international conference in Vienna and Bratislava is 60km away,” he said.
Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said at the reopening of the embassy on April 29 that the country 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 1.2-gigawatt reactor.
Meanwhile, on green technology, Spisiak said Slovakia was ready to offer Malaysia its experience in environmental sustainability through its successful Deposit Return System for plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
"We launched this system three years ago, and after two years, we reached a 92% recycling rate. It is based on the principle that you pay a small amount of money and, when you return the plastic bottle or aluminium can, you get this money back. It could also be useful for Malaysia,” he added.
Commenting on the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement negotiations, Spisiak said Slovak businesses are closely monitoring the upcoming fourth round of negotiations, describing it as a crucial step towards boosting economic ties.
"Trade is an exclusive competence of the EU. We are part of the decision-making process and I hope that, given there is political will on both sides to complete this negotiation as soon as possible, there will be another step forward,” he added.
On bilateral trade, Spisiak stated that there is strong potential for further growth, with Bratislava’s priority to "upgrade” from traditional trade to joint ventures and deeper corporate partnerships.
In 2025, total bilateral trade between Kuala Lumpur and Bratislava amounted to RM1.22 billion, with Malaysia recording a trade surplus of RM575.07mil.
Malaysia’s main exports to Slovakia comprised electrical and electronic (E&E) products, machinery, equipment and parts while major imports from Slovakia included machinery, equipment and parts, E&E products, and transport equipment.
Spisiak also described Malaysia as a critical technological and logistical hub in Asia, stressing that the country’s world-class infrastructure and strategic location along the Straits of Malacca made it a key gateway to the region.
"We have very good cooperation with other ASEAN countries as well, but Malaysia’s role and position are crucial, not only because it is at the centre of Asean, but also because of its level of development,” he added.
He noted that while Slovakia is nominally a high-income nation, Malaysia’s strong purchasing power places both countries at a broadly similar level of development, aside from Kuala Lumpur’s stable political environment and multicultural society. - Bernama
