Bratislava  - Slovakia's central bank kept its key interest rate steady Tuesday, leaving it just above eurozone levels as the ex- communist nation prepares to adopt the euro on January 1.

The benchmark two-week repo rate stayed at 4.25 per cent, its level since April 2007. The European Central Bank's key lending rate is 4 per cent.

Slovakia is awaiting formal approval by EU governments to become the eurozone's 16th member and the first from the former Soviet bloc.

The ECB this month cleared Slovakia to use the euro but expressed concern that authorities keep inflation under control, making it difficult to trim interest rates for now.

Slovakian National Bank chief Ivan Sramko has indicated that he intends to keep rates one quarter of a percentage point above the ECB's level until shortly before the euro switch.

Sramko has also rebuffed calls by Slovak exporters - notably car and electronics companies - to cut interest rates to combat the strength of the Slovak koruna, which has risen against other currencies over the past two years. (dpa)