Experienced Diplomat Micovcin Becomes Slovakia's New Ambassador to Thailand

Bratislava/Bangkok, 26 August (TASR) - Long-serving diplomat Alexander Micovcin has been appointed as Slovakia's new ambassador to Thailand, with concurrent accreditation for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Tuesday. Micovcin has previously served as ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and as Slovakia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels. Since joining the Foreign Ministry in 1994, he's also represented Slovakia on diplomatic missions in Denmark, Kenya, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Within the ministry, he served as general director of the Economic and Development Cooperation section and the European Affairs section. Micovcin will bring three decades of diplomatic experience to Southeast Asia as a region that Slovakia’s economic diplomacy considers to be a priority. At the same time, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is one of the most successful integration projects worldwide after the EU. "Along with China and India, they play a central role in the Indo-Pacific region whose potential we want to tap more effectively, which is why we're strengthening Slovakia's diplomatic presence in this area," said Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, highlighting Thailand as an attractive partner with significant economic and human potential. According to Blanar, the Slovak embassy in Bangkok will also help Slovak exporters and technology innovators on a bilateral level to enter and expand on the Thai market. The new ambassador noted that the Slovak-Thai trade turnover exceeded €420 million last year, adding that the key goal is to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, while also continuing to provide high-quality consular services to Slovak citizens. In addition to the Vientiane-based honorary consulate in Laos, Slovakia plans to set up new consulates for the southern provinces of Thailand in Phuket and for Cambodia in Phnom Penh. jrg/df