THE ROLE OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMY OF SLOVAKIA

In the paper, we point out the role of FDI in the Slovak economy, analyze their status in the period from 2010 to 2015, suggest their regional and branch aspect. FDI is an effective form of international business that complements lack of internal resources and contributes to economic growth. As competition of FDI is very strong, it is important to create appropriate economic, political and legislative conditions that the economy is capable of creating for foreign investors. The state of FDI in the Slovak economy has been gradually increasing since 2010, but its large sectoral and regional imbalances appear to be unfavorable. The impact of FDI on GDP development indicates that each FDI unit contributes to economic growth, respectively GDP growth; it affects employment and contributes to the solution of unemployment. The problems of FDI in the Slovak economy are one-sided positioning in the automotive industry and at the same time their location in the developed regions, i.e. in the area of Western Slovakia.