News roundup - Wednesday, 15 May

Slovenia's GDP up 2.1% in Q1

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's GDP grew by 2.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Seasonably adjusted data shows an increase of 1.8% year-on-year, while compared to the previous quarter, GDP remained level, the Statistics Office said. Domestic consumption increased by 1.7% in the first three months of the year, the most significant growth over the past year and a half. Slovenia's economic activity has remained relatively positive, the central bank said, while the IMAD think tank warned about the possible negative effects of wars in Ukraine and Palestine.

EU Commission upgrades Slovenia growth forecast for this year

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission upgraded Slovenia's growth forecast for this year by 0.4 percentage points to 2.3%, but downgraded it by 0.1 points to 2.6% for next year. Inflation is now projected to slow to 2.8% by the end of this year, and to 2.4% in 2025, the latter being an upgrade from 2% forecast in February. Slovenia's general government deficit is projected to increase from 2.5% of GDP last year to 2.8% of GDP this year.

EBRD keeps GDP forecast for Slovenia at 2.3%

YEREVAN, Armenia - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) kept its projection of Slovenia's GDP growth for 2024 at 2.3% as it released its latest outlook for the vast region where it is present. Next year, the country's growth is forecast to accelerate to 2.6%. In 2025, Slovenia's growth is forecast to benefit from recovery in its most important foreign trade partners.

Slovenian officials condemn shooting attack on Slovakian PM

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob, President Nataša Pirc Musar, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič condemned an attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was seriously wounded in a shooting in Handlova near Bratislava. "I am shocked by what happened in Slovakia. I strongly condemn the attack on my Slovakian colleague Fico and wish him a full and speedy recovery," Golob said on X.

Fajon talks cooperation in Riyadh, calls for two-state solution

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met her Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan and Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Ibrahim. Discussing the Middle East crisis, she called for a two-state solution leading to the recognition of Palestine. She also expressed Slovenia's wish to strengthen economic ties with Saudi Arabia.

Žbogar stresses rule of law as Security Council discusses Libya

NEW YORK, US - Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar stressed the role of the respect for the rule of law as the UN Security Council discussed the situation in Libya on Tuesday and was briefed on a report by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan. He also welcomed the progress made in the investigations in Libya, in particular in relation to crimes in detention facilities and crimes during the civil war 2014-2020, and in the prosecutor's engagement with civil society through a victim-centred approach.

Slovenia says Austrian State Treaty yet to be fully implemented

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry noted on the 69th anniversary of the signing of the Austrian State Treaty that the obligations from the treaty regarding the Slovenian minority are yet to be fulfilled in their entirety, and expressed the expectation that Austria will make additional effort to this end. Signed by representatives of the US, the Soviet Union, the UK, France and Austria on 15 May 1955, the treaty re-established Austria as an independent and democratic state ten years after the end of WWII.

Arčon wraps up visit in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia - Ending his three-day visit to the Slovenian community in Serbia, Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon held a couple of meetings there on Tuesday. He met Saša Verbič, the chair of the National Council of the Slovenian Ethnic Minority, the highest representative body of the community in Serbia, and Slovenia's honorary consul in Novi Sad, Rajko Marić. He also attended a meeting of Slovenian business executives active in Serbia.

Changes in pipeline to limit doctors' after-hours work for private providers

MURSKA SOBOTA - The Health Ministry has prepared draft changes to the Health Services Act, bringing "clear and definitive" delineation between public and private healthcare, PM Robert Golob told the press during a visit to Murska Sobota. After-hours work for private providers will be significantly harder if not even prohibited, he said.

President calls for action against violence

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar is hosting her third forum, this time focusing on violence prevention. In addition to wars and natural disasters, society is most marked by tragic instances of violence, she said, adding "it is high time that we act". It is essential to find the right responses, listen to experts and implement the right measures to prevent violence and protect the victims, she said. The event focuses on three forms of violence: domestic violence, peer violence and elder abuse. After the event the participants concluded that an interdepartmental task force should be established, a body with relevant powers, funding and staff to fight violence.

Over half of administrative units start all-out strike

LJUBLJANA - Employees at 34 out of the total of 58 administrative units started an all-out strike after staging one-day strikes for two months, while Wednesday strikes will continue to be held at another 15 administrative units. The stepped up action will be in force until the government meets the demands, including the hiring of more staff.

Russian owners deny selling SIJ steel group

LJUBLJANA - A news portal reported on Tuesday that Russian oligarch Andrey Zubitskiy is selling SIJ, one of the biggest Slovenian groups, which employs over 3,800 workers and in which the Slovenian state holds 25%. Dilon, the company through which the Russian owners control SIJ, meanwhile denied the news of planning to sell the group. It said the activities were being carried out by SIJ for the purpose of possible financing of the group's expansion, which was in line with the company's plans.

Bulgarian fund announces EUR 30 million investments in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The Bulgarian private equity fund Black Peak Capital announced on Tuesday additional investment in Slovenian SMEs, worth in total EUR 30 million, after it helmed a group of international investors that provided a EUR 20 million financial injection to the Ljubljana-based biotech company Geneplanet last year. "We have had very positive experiences when it comes to investments in Slovenia and relations with stakeholders in the local ecosystem," said Niklas Pichler, managing partner at Black Peak Capital.

Salus's net profit up by a third in Q1

LJUBLJANA - The group Salus, a Ljubljana-based pharmaceutical wholesaler, generated EUR 164.9 million in net sales revenue in the first quarter of the year, which is 17% more than in the same quarter last year, while its net profit increased by 34.5% to EUR 3.9 million. The growth is largely a result of the group's expansion in 2023, the company said. The group's plan for entire 2024 is around EUR 672 million in net sales revenue and EUR 9 million in net profit.

Austria Trend Hotel in Ljubljana changes hands

LJUBLJANA - Austria Trend Hotel, one of the largest hotels in Ljubljana, has been sold to the Serbian group Agromarket, the news portal Property Forum reported. It is unclear how much the group, which also owns Semenarna Ljubljana, a company specialising in seed production, paid for the hotel. The business news portal Finance said that Agromarket reported the takeover of the vehicle company AVF Hotel to the competition regulator at the end of last year.

Advance Capital Partner takes over Croatian solar power maker Solvis

LJUBLJANA/VARAŽDIN, Croatia - Ljubljana-based private equity fund manager Advance Capital Partners and a Croatian entrepreneur Stjepan Talan have agreed on a strategic partnership in Solvis, the largest Croatian manufacturer of solar panels. Advance Capital Partners, whose main investor is the parent company of the Adventura Investments group, or its special investment fund will become a 60% owner of the Varaždin-based company, which has over 350 solar power plants under its belt.

New national museum strategy unveiled

LJUBLJANA - Ahead of International Museum Day, which is observed on 18 May, the Culture Ministry published and presented a national strategy for museums and galleries for 2024-2028, the first such document for museums, which aims to adjust them to contemporary realities and trends. Minister Asta Vrečko said it aimed to encourage museums in their mission of being a centre in local communities, key state institutions and public infrastructure.

Eritrean gets four years in prison and expulsion for attempted murder

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court sentenced on Tuesday an Eritrean citizen living in Slovenia since 2010 on asylum legislation to four years in prison for an attempted murder of a homeless woman whom he stabbed in the centre of Ljubljana in November 2022. The man was also sentenced to expulsion from Slovenia after having served the time. However, the expulsion may not take place; when the man was to be expelled before, the Foreign Ministry advised against it due to human rights violations in his home country.

Increasingly many people in Slovenia live comfortably, poll shows

LJUBLJANA - The share of people in Slovenia who do not have financial problems has increased by 10 percentage points to 37% compared to 2023, shows a survey conducted by the Mediana Institute. Some 48% of respondents said they are neither comfortable nor struggling, which puts Slovenia above the EU and global average, shows results of the survey conducted among 33,866 people from 39 countries between December 2023 and January 2024.

Slovenia Incoming Workshop attracts 154 foreign tourism companies

BLED - The Slovenian lakeside resort of Bled is hosting the 26th Slovenia Incoming Workshop (SIW), organised by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) for foreign tour organisers between Tuesday and Thursday. The largest business event of Slovenian tourism features 154 companies from 33 countries this year, with almost 60% of the participating agents visiting for the first time. The scheduled meetings and informal gatherings expected to attract more than 4,000 participants throughout the day.