Ljubljana, 21 November (STA) - The Novo Mesto-based pharmaceutical group, Krka, generated EUR 1.09 billion in sales revenue in the first nine months of the year, which is 12% more than in the same period last year. Net profit increased by 42% to EUR 171.9 million. Sales were up in all regions and most markets.

Madrid, 20 November (STA) - The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated Slovenian's master chef Ana Roš an official UNWTO ambassador for gastronomy tourism. The organisation's Zurab Pololikashvili said Roš's commitment to the use of local ingredients served as an example that contributed to sustainable entrepreneurship.

Ljubljana, 20 November (STA) - The general meeting of Russian-owned steel maker SIJ decided on Wednesday to earmark EUR 10 million out of EUR 44 million in distributable profit for dividends, which amounts to 10.34 euro per share. The rest of the distributable profit will remain undistributed, the company said.

According to an annual survey among German investors in central and Eastern Europe, Slovenia is the most attractive location for research and development investments in the region. Overall, German investors place Slovenia as the fifth most attractive country in Central and Eastern Europe.

Yusen Logistics has opened a branch in Slovenia, anticipating an increase of traffic from the Far East. With the free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union, as well as the growing number of investments by Japanese companies in production capacities in Slovenia and nearby countries, the signs are there that investments will, indeed, intensify.

This year's factory of the year award, given out by the Slovenian daily Finance, was won by Ljubljanske Mlekarne (Ljubljana Dairy company).