A Czech-Slovenian business forum highlighted in Ljubljana on Monday the food industry, information and communication technology and car production as some the most promising fields for closer cooperation in the future.
PM Miro Cerar, who is hosting Czech counterpart Bohuslav Sobotka, was happy to report trade exceeding EUR 1.1bn for the fourth consecutive year in 2014, but noted additional opportunities in services, capital flows and investment.
Privatisation is underway in Slovenia, he pointed out, while arguing Slovenia also offered a lot of opportunities for greenfield investment.
Sobotka said that Czech companies saw Slovenia as a link to other European markets and former Yugoslav markets, as well as a partner for joint ventures on third markets.
He singled out at the conference, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) in cooperation with the SPIRIT promotion agency, transport and transport infrastructure as areas of interest.
GZS head Samo Hribar Milič pointed to the restored growth in Slovenia, which he attributes to the excellent performance of Slovenian companies on foreign markets, including the Czech Republic. He hopes the good cooperation will be upgraded with investments on both sides.
Slovenian and Czech entrepreneurs already focused on strengthening ties at a business forum in April last year, when Czech President Miloš Zeman paid a visit.
Czech companies had bought a few Slovenian firms before that and the trend has continued, with soft drinks maker Kofola buying mineral water producer Radenska and Energo-pro hydro turbine manufacturer acquiring Litostroj Power.
Trade between Slovenia and the Czech Republic has been rising steadily since 2002, when it stood at just under EUR 0.5bn. Last year saw a small decline, as Slovenian exports declined by 9.9% to EUR 553.8m and imports by 2.7% to EUR 564m.
Source: The Slovenia Times
