Location of choice for investors ready to tap into fast-growing emerging markets on the Balkans and in East Europe

The queue for joining the European family of nations is getting longer and Croatia is likely to be the first SEE country to accede to the EU. The news that visas are no longer required for the citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia will not expand the Schengen area but will make life and work in the region easier. Slovenia’s links with companies and individuals in the Western Balkans are valuable, particularly when orders from the EU dealt a sore blow to Slovenian exporters in 2009. A reason more to bank on knowledge of corporate culture, economic and judicial system, and command of Croatian and Serbian and boost trade and institutional links.

Slovenia’s regional commercial ties are enhanced by its role in assisting the countries in administrative and institutional capacity building to absorb EU funds and qualify for European integrations. Through its participation in international organisations such as NATO, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), Slovenia plays a high-profile role in maintaining the stability in the region, facilitate business deals and promote investment in and from the Western Balkans.

Slovenia boasts the attributes of a hub for business services, customer support centres, and logistics and distribution HQs thanks to high penetration of information and communication technology: the number of PCs, Internet users, web sites, call centres, and access to e-Government. Excellent transport and communication connections with the regional administrative, trade and industrial centres mean that every corner of Slovenia makes a great site for locating a business.

Slovenia’s companies and their potential business partners can benefit from the network of representative offices set up with the aim to enhance Slovenia’s presence and build public awareness of its trade and investment potential in the host countries. They facilitate partnership and media relations building by combining in-depth knowledge of the source and target countries.

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