NEWS
Prime Minister attends FSI Summit 2013: "Slovenian Government supports new foreign direct investments as an excellent tool for stimulating economic growth"
The Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek attended this year's Foreign Direct Investments Conference – FDI Summit Slovenia 2013 entitled Clear Vision for the Future. In her address to the conference participants, she outlined key measures adopted by the Government in the last six months in the light of improving the economic and social atmosphere in Slovenia. Ms Bratušek highlighted Slovenia's advantages and the efforts made by the Government to improve the conditions for attracting quality investments and, in turn, for creating new jobs.
Among the key indicators demonstrating an improvement in the economic environment, Prime Minister Bratušek, alongside the EU's trust regained and reflected in a positive evaluation of the national reform programme, highlighted this year's unemployment reduction, a 2.3% increase in exports, the provision of supplementary funds primarily earmarked for small and medium-sized enterprises, and a surplus shown by the national budget in August. Ms Bratušek went on to assure that in the coming years, the Government will increasingly make use of Slovenia's advantages, especially in terms of its geostrategic position, natural resources and other potentials facilitating the transition to a green and export-oriented economy, including tax reliefs in the fields of R&D and investments.
An improvement in the business environment, both for domestic and foreign investors, is one of the main objectives of the Government who has already prepared the reform programme, the aim of which is to establish conditions for boosting the economic growth, while undertaking necessary fiscal consolidation. The first transfers of non-performing bank assets to the Bank Assets Management Company are expected to take place before the end of the year, the Prime Minister said, adding that in the coming months, additional measures to restructure companies will be adopted. In addition, a detailed time table for the first 15 companies earmarked for privatisation will be completed by the end of September.
Prime Minister Bratušek firmly believes that Slovenia is an attractive country in terms of foreign direct investments, as it has a healthy industrial base, a well-developed infrastructure and educated, hardworking and talented people. Concluding her address, Ms Bratušek stressed that the "Slovenian Government supports new foreign direct investments as an excellent tool for stimulating economic growth, economic stability, a reduction in unemployment and improved well-being of the population and Slovenia's better integration in international trade.
