After two years, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, ministers, state secretaries and other senior officials paid their second visit to the Koroška region. The main aim of the visit was to establish which of the promises given on the previous occasion have been kept, and how those projects demanding more time are being implemented. At a morning working meeting, the Government focused on identifying progress in and discovering new development opportunities for Koroška.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
In the morning, the PM visited the Abrasiv Muta company which produces high-carbon heat-treated stainless steel abrasives used in blasting machines. The management gave him a tour of the company and outlined their goal to increase production and possibly employ new staff in the following year. Abrasiv Muta is currently finishing a multi-million euro investment aimed at boosting its production capacities. The PM congratulated the management on the good business and discussed Slovenia's mid- and long-term plans in the energy field. PM Janez Janša stressed that Slovenia's energy policy goals are included in the three pillars of sustainable development which comprise the security of energy supply, competitiveness and environmental protection. The PM and his hosts also exchanged views on transport connections between Koroška and Central Slovenia, and the construction of the northern route of the third development axis.
PM Janez Janša talked about the visit at a press conference in Dravograd, stressing that the region has made significant progress in the past two years and reduced its lag vis-à-vis Slovenia's average. When judging several development indicators as a whole, Koroška is some 10 per cent behind Slovenia's average; however, the PM believes that this will be reduced once the data for 2006 and 2007 are considered.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
The PM said that Koroška is exceptionally export-oriented, being in second position among all twelve Slovenian regions, In addition, the region boasts an above-average return on equity and assets and its economic efficiency. "In 2005 and 2006 the number of companies increased by 5 per cent, while unemployment dropped by 32 per cent, which is one of the best results in Slovenia in general," said PM Janez Janša. He did point out, however, the shortage of specific qualified staff. "Given the current investment efforts, future employment growth can surely be expected," said the PM.
The region is also home to two projects laid down in the Resolution on National Development Projects: the Noordung Economic Growth Centre; an investment worth EUR 100 million connecting centres in Slovenj Gradec, Dravograd, Ravne na Koroškem and Radlje ob Dravi, and a network of business incubators, a technology park, a higher education centre in Slovenj Gradec and a technology centre in the Otiški vrh II business zone. According to the PM, implementation of individual phases of the projects will begin towards the end of 2008. "Once the Noordung project is completed, Koroška will be home to some 1,000 new jobs, particularly those with high added value," concluded the PM.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
The second project envisaged in the Resolution on National Development Projects is construction of the northern end of the Third Development Axis. "We are about to begin the key decision-making stage on the route of this road," said the PM, adding that on 23 October the most appropriate variant will be presented to Koroška's local authorities. "Then there will be a time when the local environment will need to step in and harmonise different views on the route," said the PM; adding that the start of the project very much depends on the time spent in this stage. "The Government will not set as a condition for preparation of the national plan that all parts of the route have been agreed on, but will, after a sizeable part has been agreed, probably order a plan for that particular part, thereby reducing the time of construction," said the PM.
The PM said that in the Financial Perspective for 2007-2013 €28 million (well above the Slovenian average in terms of funds per capita) has been earmarked for regional initiatives in Koroška, particularly those aimed at strengthening regional development potential. "I would like to use this press conference to publicly appeal to the municipalities to compile relevant projects, co-ordinate them as much as possible within the region and apply. These are considerable funds, which could greatly step up development. All that needs to be done is to prepare the projects well and prudent investment," said the PM.
One of the most pressing problems two years ago was the financial situation of the municipalities. In the meanwhile the Government has proposed and the National Assembly has passed a new act on financing municipalities. "On the basis of the new Financing of Municipalities Act all twelve municipalities in Koroška are gaining considerable funds – on average 16 per cent – which have essentially strengthened the development potential of the local budget," said the PM.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
PM Janez Janša also mentioned the establishing of a region. A unified Koroška region with 74,000 inhabitants would be attributed with €32.6 million for running costs and an additional €7 million for development tasks. "These are considerable funds with which we believe the region can resolve some of its development issues more effectively and thereby boost its development," said the PM.
In the late afternoon the PM and the ministers met mayors, business representatives and other stakeholders in Koroška to discuss regional development prospects and opportunities. The side from Koroška said that that the Government's visit had been successful and productive. They thought that the Government had almost fully fulfilled the promises made at the first visit two years ago. Koroška is satisfied with the current version of regional legislation and also pleased that the Government has supported the programme to rehabilitate the environment and damage caused by long-term pollution of the Mežica Valley.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
At the end of the two-day visit the Government team took on a team of local business representatives and politicians in a charity football match and won 6:4.
Yesterday the PM visited Nieros Metal company in Slovenj Gradec. (more about the event)
