Financial analysts in Slovakia have insisted that the economy will continue to grow this year, despite the global financial crisis.

The TASR news agency spoke to various industry experts on the prospects for the country's economy in 2009.

Michal Musak, an analyst from Slovenska Sporitelna, told the media outlet that the rate of growth is expected to fall, partly as a result of external economic problems.

In particular, he said the recession in parts of Europe and the US would lead to reduced demand for exported Slovakian goods.

However, Mr Musak stated that while the overall growth rate would fall as a result of these factors, the country's economy should still expand by about four per cent in 2009.

This has prompted Eva Sazarova to insist that Slovakia is likely to remain attractive to foreign investors this year.

She told TASR that this is because the country offers lower costs, good geographical location and has recently become part of the eurozone.

Slovakia adopted the single European currency on the New Year's Day, although the koruna is still in the process of being phased out.