Slovak prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda has paid an official visit to Kia’s headquarters in Korea. The carmaker has begun construction of an assembly plant in the Slovak Republic.

The leader and 40 Slovak businessmen were shown round Kia’s Namyang research and development centre and proving ground.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group chairman Mong-Koo Chung said: ‘Our plant in the Slovak Republic will be an integral factor in supporting our global expansion, especially in Europe.’

The facility in Zilina will have a production capacity of 300,000 units a year. Once complete – early next year – it will produce new compact cars and SUVs for the European market.