Towns

The regional administrative, educational, economic and cultural centre is Nova Gorica (36,200 inhabitants). Workforce is well-educated and well-trained. Nova Gorica is home to the University of Nova Gorica where students are educated in the field of environment protection, business and engineering vocations, and applied natural science. A number of students from the region enrol in the University of Ljubljana but also the nearby colleges and university centres on the Italian side of the border.

Other principal towns in the region include Ajdovščina (18,100), Tolmin (12,100) and Idrija (12,000).

Economy

Although the region contributed less than 6% to total national GDP in 2009, in terms of GDP per capita it ranked third in the country. The region’s economic development has not been even and the mountains in the northern part have a lot to do with it. The spurs of the Alps and deep valleys favour tourism, wine- and cheese-making but Nova Gorica and the surrounding municipalities are far better developed when measured by economic and cultural yardsticks. Industry provides most jobs and remains the key to the region’s development with the following branches as the most successful:

• electrical devices & instruments
• foodstuffs & beverages
• furniture i.e. wood-processing

Thanks to its geostrategic position and particularly the proximity to the industrial towns of northern Italy, Goriška has excellent attributes to develop further the service sector that already is generating substantial revenue for the regional treasury. There have been many initiatives for joint development projects to involve small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries but the lack of funding has been the major obstacle so far and only few such ventures have lifted off the ground. 

Companies

The most important companies operating in the region include:

• ITW metalflex d.o.o. (manufacture of electric domestic appliances)
• Hidria AET d.o.o. (systems for cold start of diesel engines, electronics for ignition systems, flywheel magnetos and technical ceramics)
• Iskra avtoelektrika d.d. (manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles)
• Hidria IMP klima d.o.o. (manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment)
• Cestno podjetje Nova Gorica d.d. (construction and maintenance of roads and motorways)
• ETA Cerkno d.o.o. (manufacture of domestic appliances)
• Varnost & intertronics d.o.o. (private security activities)
• Elektro Primorska d.d. (distribution of electricity)
• Hit d.d. (activities of casinos)
• Hidria rotomatika d.o.o. (manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers)
• Fructal d.d. (manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice)
• Primorje d.d. (construction of roads and motorways)
• Mlinotest d.d. (manufacture of grain mill product)
• Kolektor sikom d.o.o. (manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers)
• Afit d.o.o. (manufacture of footwear)