Slovakia buys IAI air defense system in €560m deal

The annual conference of Israel’s travel agencies will take place this year in one of Europe’s most surprising cities.

With a skilled workforce, strategic location in Europe, and strong government incentives, Slovakia offers Israeli companies unique opportunities in innovation, R&D, and production partnerships. Here is a direct English translation of the article you provided, without any changes to the meaning or structure: Slovakia Offers Israeli Tech Companies Collaboration in Development and Production Daniel Zimet, President of the Israel-Slovakia Chamber of Commerce: “Slovakia’s workforce is educated and skilled, and wages are relatively low compared to Europe.” ● Next month an international conference on AI, robotics, and sustainability will be held there. By People & Computers Staff | 21/08/2025 14:17 The Slovak Republic – a member of the European Union and NATO – seeks to increase its economic and technological cooperation with Israel, building on the current relationship. On September 17 this year, an international innovation conference will be held in Slovakia, accompanied by a technology exhibition showcasing areas of innovation for potential cooperation. The conference is expected to attract representatives of technology companies and opinion leaders, including a delegation from Israel. The main topics of the conference will be the future of artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainability, and industry. Among the speakers will be a representative from Israel, Dr. Eyal Brook, Partner and Head of Artificial Intelligence at the law firm S. Horowitz & Co.  The event organizers invite Israeli representatives to participate in the conference and explore opportunities for cooperation with the high-tech sector and other industries. The conference will also present incentives offered by the Slovak government to companies entering these fields, including wage subsidies, support for company establishment, and more. What are the advantages of cooperation with Slovakia? According to Daniel Zimet, President of the Israel-Slovakia Bilateral Chamber of Commerce: “Slovakia is considered today one of the friendliest countries to Israel, against the backdrop of strained international relations with other states. It has a growing economy, enjoys excellent human resources with impressive potential for innovation, advanced R&D centers, and proximity to markets in the heart of Europe. Slovakia is also a leading manufacturer in Europe, producing about one million vehicles per year.” Zimet also noted that the country benefits from a strategic location in Central Europe, serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe. This enables Israeli companies easy access to major markets such as Germany, Austria, and Poland, as well as to Eastern European countries. According to him, this location reduces logistics and shipping costs and allows for efficient supply chain management. He added that Slovakia has an educated and talented workforce, especially in engineering, programming, and technology, while wages remain relatively low compared to other European countries. In 2023, total trade between Israel and Slovakia amounted to approximately $223 million: Slovakia exported $20 million to Israel and imported $203 million from Israel. This year, it was reported that Israel Aerospace Industries sold air defense systems to Slovakia worth €560 million – a mega-deal opening opportunities for Israeli companies to sell services, products, and technologies to the Slovak market. In 2024, Slovak startups raised about €500 million – a 35% increase compared to the previous year. Leading sectors in Slovakia include Green Tech, Fintech, healthcare, and finance. Other prominent markets are the IoT (Internet of Things) and smart cities. Source: https://www.pc.co.il/news/435898/