22.08.2011
Key figures 2010
Number of companies: 568
Number of employees: 29,500
Revenues (in €): 3.8 billion
Exports (in €): 2.7 billion
Key export markets: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Russian Federation, UK
Source: AJPES, 2011
Key products:
- Electro motors and machines
- Household appliances
- Telecommunication equipment
- Electronic measuring systems
- Medical and optical equipment
- Power distribution facilities
- Electrical components
- Electronic manufacturing services
Quality workforce
By ensuring a continuum of education and training opportunities that support a skilled workforce in the electrical and electronics sector, Slovenia's workforce combines successfully the country's long industrial tradition with ingenuity and skills to produce clever technical solutions.
Efficiency-seeking foreign investors find in Slovenia a pool of highly qualified and committed workers and researchers always ready to help modernise production and increase productivity. In 2009, 1.86 % of Slovenia’s GDP or € 656.9mn was allocated to research and development and investors motivated by international cost differentials are relocating stages of production processes such as product development to Slovenia where technology parks and scientific institutions are cost effective.
Estimated gross annual labour costs in electrical industry for 2012
(Total cost per employee in €)
- Source: The Association of Employers of Slovenia & JAPTI calculations, 2011
The electrical and electronics sector employs nearly 30,000 employees in more than 550 companies. Some 4,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate courses for electrical and electronics engineers. The number of students in secondary schools for electrical engineering and computers is around 7,900.
Another competitive advantage of Slovenian workforce is the fact that some 91% of population can communicate in at least one world language with the English and German being most widespread (71% of population is able to communicate in at least two world languages). Government-sponsored training and re-training programmes help upgrade job seekers’ employability by providing adult education and other in-demand skills to meet employers’ entry-level job requirements. Co-financing is available to manufacturers to provide training in skills specific to their jobs for new employees within the framework of Slovenia’s active employment policy measures.
Detailed information on human resources...
Productivity/value added per employee, 2010
- Source: Bisnode, 2011
Quality link to regional markets
Market-seeking foreign investors wishing to take full advantage of expansion in Slovenia and the Western Balkans recognise its geostrategic position in the region and its leadership in business and technology that underline Slovenia’s performance driven by export, a sound financial standing and excellent infrastructure.
A strong export performance of the Slovenian electrical and electronics industry with nearly 73% of revenues earned in foreign markets dented by volatility in economic performance of its trade partners. Home-grown companies such as Gorenje, Kolektor, Iskra, Hidria and many others displayed great resilience of their brands through the crisis and the companies in foreign or mixed ownership followed suit as illustrated by value-added per employee.
Electrical and electronic equipment for the automotive industry, commutators for electric motors, electric motors, electronic components for household appliances, vehicle lighting, thermal management, explosion-protected electrical devices and wireless designs are among the products developed and manufactured in Slovenia.
The Slovenian electrical and electronics companies have been pro-active in expanding in the surrounding SEE region as one of the most important foreign investors. At the same time, the number of international companies with regional head offices in Slovenia is rising attracted by the expertise of local managers, sales force and field engineers and their in-depth knowledge of the regional markets. They speak the language, they are familiar with legislation, they know their way around, and what’s most important there are no cross-cultural barriers for them.
More about Slovenia's trade...
More about Slovenia and the EU...
Productivity in industry, 2010
Related GDP (PPP) per person employed (in €)
- Source: IMD - World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2011
Quality infrastructure
Slovenia’s international airports serve destinations across the globe with scheduled and chartered flights and thanks to excellent transport road and rail links to the EU and Western Balkans, Slovenia has the attributes of a prime business location. The Adriatic Port of Koper 
is the shortest maritime connection for cargo arriving through the Suez Canal from Asia to the landlocked countries of central Europe and the well-branched ICT infrastructure is a result of an early commitment to making ICT one of the national development priorities.
Slovenia’s electrical and electronics industry successfully competes in the global market offering a wide range of cutting-edge products developed and manufactured in conformity with the leading international standards and EU directives. Operating efficiency is backed by close cooperation with the universities, research institutions, and professional associations. Slovenian suppliers are well known both on the business-to-business and on the business-to-customer markets.
Capabilities of Slovenia’s leading manufacturers to design, verify, test and produce sophisticated electrical and electronic components, sub-assemblies and equipment continue to inspire investor confidence in an environment fine-tuned to delivering products, services and information supported by innovation and research. Slovenian innovators return from international trade fairs for ideas, inventions and new products with medals and as long as the Slovenian science-based companies grow, they will drive the country’s economy.
Expertise in development and production of lighting equipment for motor vehicles explains the fact that over 90% of output of Hella Saturnus Slovenija goes abroad and the company has hired new employees and increased revenue despite a slump in the automotive industry. It was sufficient to win it the 2010 FDI Award to foreign-owned companies in Slovenia.
The 2009 FDI Award went to Ydria Motors (solutions for air technology and drive engineering tasks) for the ability of the foreign-owned company not only to weather the recent crisis but to expand its production.
Leading domestic and foreign-owned companies
- Bartec Varnost / Bartec (Explosion protected electrical devices)
- Bisol (Photovoltaic modules)
- BSH Hisni aparati / BSH Home appliances (Domestic appliances)
- Cablex-M (Conduits, contacts and connections for home appliances)
- Domel (Electrical motors, fume exhaust units)
- Elektroncek / Elektroncek Group (Electromechanic gaming machines)
- Elrad International / Rudolf Faudeconsulting (Electronic devices)
- Eta Cerkno / E.G.O. Elektro-Geräte (Electronic domestic appliances)
- Eti (Fuses, circuit-breakers, surge switches)
- Gorenje (Domestic appliances)
- Hella Saturnus Slovenija / Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. (Vehicle lighting electronics)
- Hidria AET (Electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles)
- Hidria Rotomatika (Electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles)
- Indramat Elektromotorji / Bosch Rexroth (Electrical motors, generators)
- Iskra (Advanced equipment for telecommunication systems, electronic and electrical components and devices)
- Iskra Avtoelektrika (Automotive electrical devices)
- Iskra Sistemi (Components, devices and program systems)
- Iskra Mehanizmi (Electric domestic appliances)
- Iskraemeco / El Sewedy Cables (Devices and systems for electric energy measuring, registration and billing)
- Iskratel electronics (Telecommunication equipment)
- ITW Metalflex / ITW Participations & SG Invest Holding (Components for household appliances)
- Kolektor ETRA (Manufacture of power (generator) transformers)
- Kolektor Sikom (Commutators for electrical motors)
- Resistec UPR / M. Krah Elektrotechnische Fabrik (Electronic components)
- Ydria Motors / EBM-Papst Group (Small electrical motors and fans)
Faculties, research institutions and associations
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
- Jožef Stefan (Scientific) Institute
- TECES – Research and Development Centre of Electrical Machines
Deatiled information on Transport Infrastructure...
Deatiled information on ICT Infrastructure...
Deatiled information on Universities & National Research Institutes...
Research laboratory of electronics
Testimonials
»It’s worth stressing among other strong points that Slovenia boasts a good education system and professional training schemes. Many years of working with Slovene people have confirmed my first impression that the local people are well-trained on the one hand, and flexible and open-minded on the other.«
Mr. Kurt Reinwald, Director
BSH Hišni aparati
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte
»Tradition, experience and knowledge, combined with that little extra, that each individual is giving in creating new products and offering the best service, are making us a competent partner to our global customers. It is nothing but profitable investment.«
Troels H. Petersen, President
Danfoss District Heating Controls
Danfoss
»Encouraged by a decade of ongoing business relations with a Slovenian company, VOGT Electronic AG decided to invest in Slovenia in 1997. Confidence in Slovenia as suitable investment location was based on its qualified personnel, management flexibility and a drive to enter new markets.«
Janez Ločniškar, Director
Vogt Electronic Slovenija (now Sumida Slovenija)
Vogtronics GmbH
