BRATISLAVSKY KRAJ
(BRATISLAVA REGION)
- Economy
High GDP per capita
From the aspect of its social and economic development, the region is placed not only from Slovak but also from European point of view among the developed regions with a diversified structure of economy, good quality of human potential and adequate infrastructure.
The Bratislava region generated 26% of the national GDP in 2002. While the per capita GDP for the Slovak Republic (in purchasing power standard) reaches 10 857, that is 51,3% of the EU25 average (in 2002), in the Bratislava region the proportion is 25 351 and it is 119,7% of the EU25 average (data from 7 April 2005).
Strong tertiary sector
The region accounted for 26% of the national Gross Value Added in 2002. The economy is clearly dominated by the tertiary sector, which accounts for 79,8% of the GVA of the region, while the average national share is 65,4%.
Within the tertiary sector, there are two dominant activities which alone count for almost half of its Gross Value Added. These activities are wholesale and retail trade and real estate, renting and business activities. The region's GVA had been increasing strongly between 1996 and 2002 with the growth over 85% during this period.
The primary sector is represented only with a share of 0,9% in the region, i.e. one fifth of the share observed at the national level (4,5%). The secondary sector accounts for 20,3%, that is 11,5 percentage points under the share in the Slovak Republic.
Diversified economic base
The Bratislava region has strongly influenced another regions with its economic significance. The region's industry is characterised by considerable polyfunctional nature of the branches, and a significant (39,3%) share in the Slovak overall volume of industrial production. The branch structure is rather balanced and the chemical industry has primacy. One of the biggest companies of chemical industry is Slovnaft and important role plays also the company Istrochem. Also car industry (Volkswagen Bratislava), machinery, electro technical and food industries (Palma-Tumys Bratislava, Kraft Foods Slovakia) dominate in the branch structure of economy. High concentration of small- and medium-sized businesses in Bratislava is a characteristic feature of the region.
Building construction of the region is marked by the decline in the domestic construction output. The construction output carried out by own workers in 2002 went down 3,5%, compared with that of 2001. The volume of construction output of the region comprises 25,2% of the total construction output in the Slovak Republic.
An intensive agricultural production of the region especially covers needs of the capital. Cereals, vine, fruit trees and vegetable are mainly grown in the region. The animal production is centred on poultry breeding. Agriculture is however shadowed by industrial activities and development of tertiary sector in the region.
Important transport junction
With regards to its position, the region is characterised by the presence of all kinds of transport. The road network is made up of motorways, Class I road routes, initial or terminal sections of Class II and local roads. The region is linked to the motorway network with the motorway E 65 to the Czech Republic and Hungary, with E 75 to Austria and to Poland and with E 571 through the territory of Slovakia to Ukraine. Supra-regional Class I roads comprise the road network I/2 Hungarian border - Bratislava - CR border, I/61 - Austrian border - Bratislava - Zilina and I/62 Senec –Sladkovicovo - Nitra. Class II regional roads ensure functional links between individual settlements inside the region. In 2002, 100,6 kilometres of motorways and 2,1 thousand kilometres of other roads were in the region; 274,3 thousand registered vehicles, of which 88,2% were private cars.
International arterial railways cross the region in the direction to the Czech Republic and Hungary and via the towns Zilina and Kosice to for Poland and Ukraine. Bratislava is connected with Vienna by railway routes Devinska Nová Ves – Marchegg and Petrzalka- Kittsee. For freight transport, the Bratislava Central Freight Station and the railway station Bratislava - East is are of significance, being equipped for container transport. Rail network comprised 242.4 kilometres of lines in 2002, of which 69,7% was electrified.
Regarding air transport the region has the airport of M. R. Sefanik in Bratislava, with national and international lines and because of exceptionally favourable climate conditions and advantageous location in the Central European region, it serves as surrogate airport for Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
Water transport is ensured from the Bratislava port eastward to the Black Sea, and westward through the Danube - Main - Rhine Canal to the North Sea. The port has been built to serve both passenger and freight transport. There are 30 kilometres of navigable rivers in the region. |
