Slovak insurance market saw a slightly positive trend in Q1, with GWP increasing overall by 1.42%, to EUR 577.6 million, an increase fully driven by the non-life insurance segment. The total volume of paid claims didn't change much y-o-y, increasing by less than 1%.

The Slovak Parliament adopted on 20 June the new legislation replacing the current 8% insurance levy with a new tax of the same amount applied to non-life insurance premiums, except for MTPL for which the current levy will be maintained.

The introduction of the new 8% tax on non-life insurance premiums in Slovakia was postponed from October 2018, to January 2019, to allow insurance companies prepare for the change, the country's parliament decided on 7 June.

Last year, the growth rate of the local insurance market (+8.56%) was almost double that of the advance of the economy (+4.69%), thus the calculated indicators as the insurance penetration degree (2.51%) and the insurance density (EUR 393 per capita) significantly evolved as compared to FY2016.

A new indirect taxation system for the insurance premium is in preparation in Slovakia, replacing the current special insurance 8% levy with a rate which will vary from 2 to 18% depending on the type of the policy, local press reads.

In the first three quarters of 2017, the Slovak insurance market totaled EUR 1.61 billion, representing an increase of 7.62% y-o-y, according to the quarterly financial figures published by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS).

In 1H2017, the Slovak insurance market totaled EUR 1.06 billion (11.8% more y-o-y), while the value of paid claims was of EUR 575 million, according to the preliminary financial figures provided by the National Bank of Slovakia.

In 1Q2017 the Slovak insurance market totaled EUR 569.5 million, 4.6% up y-o-y, the statistics published by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) indicated.

The Slovak insurance market was down by 1.78% y-o-y in 2016 in terms of GWP - to EUR 1.98 billion, according to data published by the Central Bank.

According to the Slovak Insurance Association data, the Slovak insurers ended 2016 with GWP of EUR 1,987 million, a result which is more or less in line with the previous year's premium production.

Dr. Andy Kuper, founder and CEO of LeapFrog Investments, has received the 2018 Founder's Award and Gold Medal from the International Insurance Society for his pioneering work. He was honoured for LeapFrog companies reaching 130 million people in a decade.

The works of the Global Insurance Forum continued today in Berlin, Germany. Providing security for ageing populations in health care and pensions terms, as well as innovation and InsurTech or innovative strategies for the future development of the industry are on the today's agenda.

International Insurance Society (IIS) will open two regional offices till the end of this year -in London and Singapore, to expand its global footprint, has announced President & CEO of the IIS, Mike MORRISEY at this year's Global Insurance Forum in Berlin.