Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Sept 24

...   
    PARLIAMENT SESSION 
    The parliament will continue debating changes to the pension 
system, 0700 GMT. 
     
    ENERGY STRATEGY 
    Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek will present the 
government's energy strategy. 
     
    CROWN AT 3 MONTH LOWS, DEFICIT WORRIES LINGER 
    The Slovak crown was at three month lows against the euro on 
Friday as investors shunned it on worries about an EU demand for 
revisions to the country's budget deficit data and its impact on 
its euro adoption plan. 
    [ID:nL21826607] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-SK] 
     
    CBANK FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $18.2 BLN 
    The Slovak central bank's (NBS) foreign currency reserves 
edged up to $18.161 billion as of Sept. 19 from $18.080 billion 
a week ago, the bank said on Friday. 
    [ID:nL21792801] [RTRS-MMT-FRX-CEN-SK] 
     
    PRESS DIGEST 
    ------------ 
    PENSION SYSTEM CHANGES 
    Prime Minister Robert Fico has reached no agreement with his 
coalition partner, the HZDS party of Vladimir Meciar, on changes 
to the pension system. The parliament is expected to vote on the 
draft law amending parametres of the pension system on Monday. 
    Sme, page 1 
     
    KIA OUTPUT PLANS 
    South Korea's Kia Motors  plans to produce 
150,000 cars this year at its Slovak plant, and increase 
production to 225,000 units in 2008. The assembly plant expects 
to reach full production capacity of 300,000 cars a year in 2009 
or 2010. 
    Hospodarske Noviny, page 13 
     
    CAR INDUSTRY FUTURE 
    Alain Baldeyrou, the outgoing CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroen 
 factory in Slovakia, sees bright future for car 
industry in Slovakia. He said PSA would add third working shift 
to make a new model in the Slovak factory. 
    Hospodarske Noviny, page 13 
     
    HIGHWAY DEBT 
    The National Highway Company (NDS) will start repaying its 
16.8 billion crowns ($700.6 million) loan next year, with annual 
payments totalling 1.3 billion crowns. Eurostat has asked 
Slovakia to include the NDS's loan in the overall fiscal 
deficit. 
    Pravda, page 17 
     
    GAS STORAGE SPACE 
    Slovakia should invest 995 million euro ($1.40 billion) by 
2030 to expand gas storage capacities, the economy ministry's 
energy strategy showed. 
    Pravda, page 19 
 
    AIRPORT BRATISLAVA 
    Bratislava airport growth is slowing as Slovakia's largest 
airport lacks funds for investments into infrastructure. Some 
flights operated from Bratislava have been scrapped or reduced 
already. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    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 
 
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 ($1=23.98 Slovak Crown) 
 ($1=.7087 Euro)