Slovakia - Factors To Watch on July 19

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CANADA MINISTER

Canada's foreign minister Peter Mackay will visit Slovakia.

PM ASKS PRODI TO PUSH ENEL ON POWER COSTS

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico asked his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi on Wednesday to press utility ENEL for "constructive" talks on power prices, extending his drive to curb rising electricity bills.

[ID:nL184367] [RTRS-ELG-UTIL-SK]

JAPAN'S YAZAKI TO UP SLOVAK INVESTMENT BY $73 MLN

Japan's car parts maker Yazaki plans to invest 1.75 billion crowns ($72.58 million) by 2009 in its Slovak factory to boost production of wiring harnesses, the Slovak economy ministry said on Wednesday.

[ID:nL18851686] [RTRS-AUTO-CARM-SK]

PRESS DIGEST

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WORKERS SHORTAGE

South Korea's car maker Kia Motors Corp. lacks skilled workers for its Slovak assembly plant.

Sme, page 9

LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT

Long-term unemployment remains one of Slovakia's main economic challenges despite falling unemployment to record lows in May and June.

Sme, page 9

NEW KIA MODEL

South Korean car maker Kia Motors launched production of new Cee'd Sporty Wagon in July.

Pravda, page 17

RECORD HEAT WAVE

Slovakia expects a peak of the current heat wave and possibly record high temperatures on Friday. No electricity shortages have been reported so far as Slovakia's power consumption in summer is smaller than in winter.

Pravda, page 3

For news on upcoming events in the United States and other Group of Seven countries, see . For a diary of forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY].

News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax: +421 2 5341 8403

E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk

Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net

For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets:

Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX50 Other related news: Slovak equities [SK-E] E.Europe equities [.CEE] Slovak money [SK-M] Czech debt [CZ-D] Slovak Indicators [SK-ECI] Emerging forex [EMRG/FRX] Eastern European [EEU] All emerging markets [EMRG] Hot stocks [HOT] Stock markets [STX] Market debt news [DBT] Forex news [FRX] TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets [TOP/EMRG] TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch [TOP/EAST]

($1=24.03 Slovak Crown)