'Slovakia' Blasts Government Over Samsung Plant Closure

Galanta/Bratislava, 2 March (TASR) - The government is passive with respect to the planned closure of the television production plant in Galanta (Trnava region) by Samsung, opposition's 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic declared on Monday. Matovic claimed that the cabinet had information for months that the South Korean company was considering closing its plant in the town. "More than two weeks ago, Samsung had a meeting with its suppliers and told them that the decision looks final because the government is not responding,” Matovic underlined. He criticised the quality of the business environment in Slovakia. "They will not invest and employ people in a country that does not value them and that supports tyrants who threaten them as well," he said in reference to Samsung's departure from Galanta and Slovakia's foreign policy. Samsung Electronics Slovakia announced on Friday, 27 February, that it had decided to end operations at its television manufacturing plant in Galanta. Production will be gradually phased out in several stages by May 2026. According to Samsung, the decision reflects broader structural changes in the global television manufacturing market as well as the company's current global production strategy. It also cited high energy prices as one of the reasons. The logistics centre in the village of Gan near Galanta will continue to operate. mf