InvestSlovenia

PODRAVSKA REGION / Podravje

Facts and figures:

Source: SORS, 2008

1. Location and transport

Lying at the north-east of Slovenia bordering on Austria and Croatia, the Podravska Region enjoys an excellent geographical position and boasts well-developed transport infrastructure (motorway connection with Graz and Ljubljana, railway, airport of Maribor).

2. Population

With 319,500 inhabitants, the Podravska Region is the second largest in Slovenia.

Education structure of population aged 15 - 64 in the Podravska Region

Source: Statistical Yearbook, 2007

3. 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 10 faculties and 1 high educational school and has approximately 28,000 students. The University provides a wide range of courses in engineering, computers science, chemistry, European languages and business. In 2002, over 1,900 students were studying electrical engineering and computer science and 1,600 were studying mechanical engineering. In addition, there are several independent colleges.

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

4. 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 the first half 2002 it was 18%)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.

5. Companies

The most important companies operating in the region include:
Henkel Slovenija, Impol, Carrera Optyl, Perutnina, Talum, Impol, Paloma, Mariborska livarna, Swaty, Tovarna sladkorja Ormož, Tovarna vozil Maribor, TDR Metalurgija, Elektrokovina Motorji, Messer Slovenija

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

Lenart Industrial Zone

Bistrica Industrial Zone