OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2013. Sberbank of Russia has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and the Cooperation Agreement has been signed with the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO).

The Memorandum of Understanding with Slovakia is focused on the strengthening of economic relations between businesses in Slovakia and Russia, and identification of appropriate business and investment areas.

The agreement with SARIO aims to identify business and participation opportunities for Slovak companies in Russia and to support mutual trade of goods, services and investments.

“The Russian Federation has been a strategic partner for Slovakia and the European Union, with whom we would like to have very good and mutually convenient relations. We are an open economy and common projects with Russia would be beneficial for development of our economy mainly at the time when Europe is in recession. Countries of the Community of Independent States represent a huge area with a great potential for Slovak companies as well.  Therefore I welcome the agreement, which creates a bridge to such markets for our entrepreneurs,“ Robert Fico, Prime Minister, said following the meeting with Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Sberbank of Russia.

The agreements on cooperation with the Slovak Eximbank have been also signed by representatives of Sberbank Kazakhstan, Sberbank Ukraine and Sberbank Serbia. They are also aimed to support Slovak exporters and their promotion in foreign markets through insurance, guarantee and credit products.

Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Sberbank of Russia, said: “The agreements demonstrate how Sberbank is successfully transforming into a global financial institution. Currently Sberbank’s international network is spread over 20 countries. The experience and qualities that Sberbank has across its international operations will help it create synergies and growth opportunities and look to the future with confidence.