Ljubljana, 18 September (STA) - The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will allocate EUR 65 million via Slovenia's state-run export and development SID Bank for financial instruments to mitigate ramifications of the Covid-19 epidemic. The funds will promote small and mid-sized businesses, said the Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy on Friday.

Ljubljana, 18 September (STA) - Igor Mervič, the long-serving director general of the retailer Spar Slovenija, will end his tenure at the end of the year. He will be succeeded by David Kovačič, who will take up the top post on 1 January 2021, Spar Slovenija said on Friday.

Krško, 18 September (STA) - A concession contract for the construction of a series of hydropower plants on the central Sava river is expected to be signed with the state-owned power utility HSE on 2 October, Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak has announced. The first to be built in the next 15 years are the Suhadol, Trbovlje and Renke plants.

Slovenian producer of LED lightning Sloluks from Hoče in Eastern Slovenia has developed an innovative device for disinfecting public spaces and homes without using costly and environmentally harmful chemicals.

Slovenia was ranked 15th among the world's safest places to visit after the pandemic.

The pharmaceutical industry in Slovenia is dominated by groups Krka and Lek. The precondition for their success: behind the two groups there is an ecosystem of research institutions, excellence centers and small innovative biotech companies.