News roundup - Monday, 4 September

US senators say Slovenia on the right side of history Ukraine-wise

BRNIK - Completing a multi-day visit to Slovenia, US senators Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham said that "the US appreciates what Slovenia has done for Ukraine". Slovenia chose "the right side of history" regarding the war in Ukraine, they said as they addressed the press at Ljubljana airport. A delegation of nine senators and one member of the House of Representatives, the highest-ranking US delegation of its kind to Slovenia in six years, met PM Robert Golob and President Nataša Pirc Musar among other state representatives.

Exports down by 5%, imports by 19% in July y/y

LJUBLJANA - Following record figures in June, Slovenia's trade decreased in July. Exports were down 5% over July 2022 to EUR 4.4 billion in goods, while imports dropped by 19.1% over a year ago, to EUR 3.8 billion, the Statistics Office said. Exports to EU countries were at EUR 2.5 billion, down 7.5% over July 2022, while the drop in exports to non-EU countries was less significant, at 1.6% to EUR 1.9 billion. Meanwhile, imports from non-EU countries were down by 24.6% to EUR 1.4 billion, and imports from EU states decreased by 15.4% to EUR 2.4 billion.

Slovenia issues EUR 100m inflation-indexed bond

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia issued its first inflation-indexed bond. Worth EUR 100 million, the bond has a real coupon of 0.825% and matures in 2034. At the same time, an interest rate swap was concluded for the purpose of balancing the interest rate risk stemming from inflation at a fixed interest rate of 3.5%, the Finance Ministry said. The bond will be listed on the stock exchanges in Ljubljana and Luxembourg.

Solidarity contribution to average EUR 68 for individuals

LJUBLJANA - The average solidarity contribution set in place by the post-flood reconstruction act will amount to EUR 68 annually for an individual, show calculations by the Finance Ministry. Contributions by individuals are projected to total EUR 81 million per year, provided that no one decides to contribute by forfeiting earnings from working two "solidarity Saturdays", however the ministry expects that most individuals will choose to contribute to the fund through Saturday work.

Healthcare reform will not be completed in this term, president says

LJUBLJANA - The healthcare reform will not be completed in this term of the government, said President Nataša Pirc Musar and Health Ministry State Secretary Marjan Pintar as they visited the UKC Ljubljana hospital. Pirc Musar hopes the reform will not be sidelined because of the floods. She said that if the governments change or if the current government wins another term she would "carry it on".

Luka Mesec remains deputy prime minister

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob met the new leader of the coalition Left party, Asta Vrečko, and her predecessor Luka Mesec, who had led the party since its founding nearly ten years ago. Mesec remains a deputy prime minister, Golob's office confirmed for the STA. He also remains labour minister and an active member of the party, Vrečko said after her election last Friday.

EUR 203.8m contract inked for finishing work on Koper-Divača rail

LJUBLJANA - The state-owned company managing the investment in the new railway line between the port of Koper and the Divača hub signed a contract for the third set of works on the project, which covers finishing work to ensure the safe operation of the line. The contract with a consortium of four companies is worth EUR 203.8 million. The company 2TDK announced that the contract had been signed with SŽ-Železniško Gradbeno Podjetje, Kolektor IGIN, GH Holding and YM Construction.

Appliances maker BSH restarts two production lines

NAZARJE - Home appliances maker BSH Hišni Aparati, which was hit hard in the August floods, reopened two production lines. The company based in Nazarje, north-east of the capital, is resuming production of immersion blenders and mini blenders, and the management expects production will return to pre-floods levels in the first quarter of 2024. The company had to halt production on 4 August when production halls were flooded with water levels surpassing 1.8 metres.

Pošta Slovenije profit down markedly in 2022 despite revenue rise

MARIBOR - The state-run postal operator Pošta Slovenije generated a group net profit of EUR 9.7 million in 2022, an almost 50% drop on 2021 despite a 6% rise in revenue to EUR 491 million, shows the company's annual report. The core company saw a 3% increase in revenue to EUR 271.5 million and a profit of EUR 4 million, down by 60% from the EUR 9.4 million in 2021. Mail services accounted for 35% of the revenue.

Court-mandated restructuring for paper mill Vipap Videm completed

KRŠKO - Court-mandated restructuring has been completed at Vipap Videm Krško, Slovenia's largest paper producer, two year after the launch of the process in which Kompas Shop has emerged as the majority owner of what was a Czech-owned company for several years. The proceedings involved creditors with a total of EUR 27.6 million of ordinary claims and EUR 15.5 million of secured claims. Vipap needs to repay the creditors by the end of 2027, said the Krško District Court.

Slovenia signs agreement for faster and cheaper patent protection

OTOČEC - Slovenia signed with the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg) a working agreement on cooperation in inquiries that will enable quality information in patent-awarding procedures to be obtained faster. Entities reporting European and international patents will also have the opportunity to get additional financial benefits. The agreement, signed by the Intellectual Property Office and EPOrg, is based on the recent changes to the Industrial Property Act Law that enable the office to sign agreements in order to be able to provide new information services.

Minister sees floods as opportunity to improve cooperation with Carinthia

GLOBASNITZ, Austria - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon visited the bilingual municipalities in the Austrian state of Carinthia that were recently hit by floods, and the municipalities that helped Slovenia in the flood relief effort. He said the floods were an opportunity to improve cooperation between Slovenia and Carinthia in natural disaster relief.

Slovenian students researching viability of dental treatment in space

LJUBLJANA - A European Space Agency-picked research programme aiming to make dental treatment viable during multi-year missions into space has been keeping students at several faculties in Slovenia busy since the start of this year. Looking to establish if dental instruments can be handled safely in space, the project, known as SpaceDent, will peak in the coming months with testing in simulated microgravity. The project won the European Space Agency's PETRI Student Programme competition in January this year.

Vilenica literary festival examining European identity

HRASTNIK/KOPER - The annual literary festival Vilenica is kicking off with events in Hrastnik and Koper. Under the slogan The Diverse Face of Europe, the 38th edition of the international festival will feature a number of events in the region of Kras in the west and in Ljubljana. Running until Saturday, the festival will bring together 14 authors from 12 countries. The Vilenica prize will go to Otto Tolnai, a Hungarian author from the autonomous province of Vojvodina in Serbia.

Busy season for film buffs at Slovenian Cinematheque

LJUBLJANA - Film buffs will be able to enjoy seven retrospectives at the Slovenian Cinematheque from September to next June, including of one of the most prominent Yugoslav filmmakers Živojin Pavlović, Italian director Francesco Rosi and Austrian Michael Haneke, Cinematheque representatives said as they presented the new season that opens on Tuesday with six digitalised shorts and an exhibition of film posters.

Star chef hosts humanitarian dinner for flood-stricken family

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian star chef Ana Roš Stojan hosted a humanitarian dinner in her pop-up restaurant Ana in Slon for donors who earned their seats at the tables in an auction. One of the seats went for as high as EUR 820 and more than EUR 20,000 has been raised for a flood-stricken family as part of the effort. The support for the family did not end with the dinner, as Hiša Franko, the chef's home restaurant in Kobarid, said it would help them until they manage to ensure decent living.