MFA Appoints New Director of Slovak Institute in Budapest

Bratislava/Budapest, 28 June (TASR) - As part of the regular rotation of diplomats, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has appointed Eva Ivancova to head the Slovak Institute in Budapest, the ministry's communication department has informed TASR, adding that strengthening ties between cultural and economic diplomacy will be her priority. "We are working to bring Slovakia closer to Hungarians through the institute, to present not only what it has to offer in terms of culture... but also to make Slovakia known as a good place to do business and invest. At the same time, my goal is to expand the activities of the institute from Budapest to Hungarian regions," said Ivancova. Ivancova has 12 years of experience in the field of international cooperation - she worked at the Foreign Affairs Ministry's headquarters, at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, and at the Embassy in Oslo, where she served as a deputy ambassador. Slovakia has nine active Slovak institutes: in Berlin, Budapest, Jerusalem, London, Paris, Prague, Rome, Warsaw and Vienna, said Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar. "Slovak institutes in these metropolises present Slovak art and history to the foreign public, spread the good name of our homeland, are a point of support for Slovak compatriots and also create suitable conditions for promoting Slovakia from the viewpoint of investment and innovative potential, as well as an attractive tourist destination," explained Blanar. He announced that the Slovak government intends to open the tenth Slovak institute in Beijing in 2025. ko/mcs/mf