Towns

With total population of 113,000 Maribor is the regional centre and the second largest city in Slovenia. The fact that it has its university attracts many young people. The University of Maribor has 16 faculties, 1 academy and 1 high educational school and has over 20,000 students. The University provides a wide range of courses in engineering, computers science, chemistry, European languages and business. In addition, there are several independent colleges.

Other principle tows include: Slovenska Bistrica (30,100), Ptuj (24,000), and Ormož (17,700).

Economy

The economy of the Podravska Region is dominated by the service industry, which represents about 60% of the overall structure. Only twenty years ago the Podravska Region enjoyed the reputation of a strong industrial region. The break-up of Yugoslavia stripped the local companies of their traditional customers. As investments dried up in the early ‘90s dealt a heavy blow to the region’s economy. The companies engaged in manufacturing and civil engineering suffered most and laid off workers. At present, there is high unemployment (in 2010 it was 14.5%) and it is a heavy burden on the community but the situation is improving. Most companies are in the processing industries such as:

• metal-processing
• chemicals
• food & beverages

The Podravska Region boasts a long industrial tradition and has all the attributes required for production of sophisticated products. There is also wather welth that is used for electricity production (the chain of hydro-electric power platns on the Drava River).

Companies

The most important companies operating in the region include:

• Granit d.d. (construction of residential and non-residential buildings)
• ADK d.o.o. (manufacture of other general purpose machinery)
• Himar d.o.o. (engineering activities and related technical consultancy)
• Henkel Slovenija d.o.o.( manufacture of soap & detergents, cleaning & polishing preparations)
• Terme Maribor d.o.o. (hotels and similar accommodation)
• Prevent-Halog d.o.o. (manufacture of made-up textile articles for automotive ind.)
• Paloma d.d. (manufacture of household and sanitary goods and of toilet requisites)
• Montavar d.o.o. (machining)
• Palfinger d.o.o. (manufacture of lifting and handling equipment)
• Surovina d.d. (recovery of sorted materials)
• Swaty d.d. (production of abrasive products)
• MLM d.d. (manufacture of other taps and valves)
• Dravske elektrarne Maribor d.o.o. (production of electricity in HE generation acilities)
• RM Vuk d.o.o. (construction installation)
• CPM d.d. (maintenance and construction of roads and motorways)
• Elektro Maribor d.d. (distribution of electricity)
• Veolia transport Štajerska d.d. (interurban and other passenger land transport)
• Varnost Maribor d.d. (private security activities)
• MTD d.o.o. (construction of residential and non-residential buildings)
• Talum d.d. (aluminium production)
• Boxmark Leather d.o.o. (manufacture of luggage, handbags and the like, saddlery and harness)
• AJM okna-vrata-senčila d.o.o. (manufacture of builders’ ware of plastic)

Contact:

Maribor Development Agency (MRA)

Glavni trg 17, SI-2000 Maribor

tel: +386 (0) 2 23 45 071

fax: +386 (0) 2 23 45 080

e-mail : mra[@]mra.si