Slovakia’s most prominent strength lies in its manufacturing sector, particularly the automotive industry, which accounts for more than 10% of GDP and around 40% of the country’s export value. With a strong focus on logistics and cross-border trade, Slovakia is an attractive destination for businesses targeting the European Union (EU) market of over 450 million people.
Major investors in Slovakia include Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, and the Republic of Korea, primarily in automobile manufacturing. Many of the world’s leading carmakers have established production projects in the country.
As a member of the EU, NATO, and the Eurozone, Slovakia prioritises close alignment with Euro-Atlantic partners. Within the EU, it promotes comprehensive integration and cohesion, playing an active role in the bloc’s enlargement process, particularly with Western Balkan countries. Slovakia also places importance on strengthening cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region and potential ASEAN partners, including Viet Nam.
In 1993, following its separation from the former Czechoslovakia, Viet Nam and Slovakia agreed to inherit the bilateral relations previously established between Viet Nam and Czechoslovakia, with February 2, 1950, recognised as the date diplomatic relations commenced between the two countries.
Since 1993, the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Slovakia has continued to develop positively. Slovakia consistently regards Viet Nam as one of its most important partners in Southeast Asia and seeks to further deepen cooperation across all fields. Viet Nam, in turn, considers Slovakia a trusted and important partner in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as within the EU more broadly.
As of December 2025, Slovakia had 16 valid direct investment projects in Viet Nam, with total registered capital of 140.87 million USD, ranking 47th out of 153 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam.
Viet Nam has one investment project in Slovakia, with total capital of 447,000 USD, ranking 74th out of 85 countries and territories receiving Vietnamese investment. FPT Group acquired RWE IT, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of FPT Software on July 1, 2014. FPT Slovakia serves as a global production centre outside Viet Nam, employing around 400 Slovak and Czech staff.
Cooperation in education, science, and technology between Viet Nam and Slovakia has been nurtured and inherited from their traditional partnership during the 1950–1990 period. Each year, Slovakia continues to provide scholarships to support Viet Nam in training human resources. As a country operating nuclear power plants, Slovakia has expressed its readiness to train personnel for nuclear power plant operations in Viet Nam.
In 2016, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and support for VNPT Group in promoting trade and investment in Slovakia, as well as providing information technology software solutions for VNPT. Cooperation in science, technology, and innovation continues to be strengthened through expert exchanges and scientific seminars organised by universities and research institutes of both countries.
The Vietnamese community in Slovakia has become deeply integrated into the host society, making meaningful contributions to socio-economic development. It has been recognised and highly valued by the Slovak Government and officially acknowledged as one of the country’s ethnic minorities, enjoying rights enshrined in the Slovak Constitution. Over the years, the community has continued to serve as a bridge of friendship, contributing to the promotion of cooperation between the two nations.
