BRATISLAVSKY KRAJ - Economy
High GDP per capita
From the aspect of its social and economic development, the region is placed, not only in Slovak but also in European terms, among the developed regions displaying a diversified structure of economy, good quality of human potential and adequate infrastructure.
The Bratislava region generated 24,2% of the national GDP in 2000. While the per capita GDP for the Slovak Republic (in purchasing power standard) reaches 10 724, that is 48% of the EU average (in 2000), in the Bratislava region the proportion is 22 708 and it is 101% of the EU average. Furthermore, the productivity of the region was 63% higher compared to the national average in 2000.
A strong tertiary sector
The region accounted for 24,2% of the national Gross Value Added in 2000. The economy is clearly dominated by the tertiary sector, which accounts for 70,5% of the GVA of the region, while the national average share was established at 60%.
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, representing 23,6% of the GVA of the sector and real estate, renting and business activities, having a share of 23,4%. The region?s GVA has been increasing strongly between 1995 and 2000, as it has been rising by around 50% over this period while the increases observed for the other regions were around 35%.
The primary sector is represented only with a share of 1,5% in the region, one third of those observed at the national level. The secondary sector accounts for 28%, that it 8,2 percentage points under the share in Slovak Republic.
Diversified economic base
The Bratislavsky region has also 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. The one of the biggest companies, Slovnaft, represents chemical industry and also Istrochem. Also car industry (Volkswagen Bratislava), machinery, electro technical and food industries (Palma-Tumys Bratislava, Kraft Foods Slovakia) dominate the branch structure. High concentration of small- and medium-sized businesses in Bratislava is a peculiar feature of the region.
Building construction of the region is marked by the decline in the domestic building construction output. The output in building construction 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 especially covers needs of the capital city. Cereals, vine, fruit trees and vegetable are mainly grown. The livestock 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?s transport is characterised by the presence of all kinds of transport. The road network is made up of sections 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, via E 75 to Austria and to Poland and via E 571 through other 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 - ?ilina and I/62 Senec - Sládkovicovo - Nitra. Class II regional roads secure functional links between individual settlements inside the region. There were 100.6 kilometres of motorways in the region in 2002 and 2,1 thousand kilometres of other roads. In 2002, there were 274,3 thousand vehicles registered in the region, of which 88,2% were private cars.
International railway arteries cross the region in the direction of the Czech Republic and Hungary and via ?ilina and Ko?ice for Poland and Ukraine. Bratislava is connected by railway with Vienna via Devínska Nová Ves - Marchegg and Petr?alka - Kittsee. For freight transport, the Central Freight Station is of significance, being equipped for container transport, and the railway station Bratislava - East. Rail network comprised 242.4 kilometres of lines in 2002, of which 69,7% was electrified.
In air transport the region has the airport of M. R. ?tefánik in Bratislava, with national and international lines, and because of exceptionally favourable meteorological conditions, and advantageous location in the Central European region, it serves as surrogate airport for Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
Water transport is secured from the Bratislava port eastward to the Black Sea, and westward through 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.
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