Parliamentary commission meets with govt, minority reps to discuss business ties
Ljubljana, 11 June - Every euro the country spends on Slovenians abroad comes back and is invested very well, Economy Minister Matjaž Han said on Tuesday as the parliamentary Commission for Slovenian Abroad met with Slovenians from around the globe to discuss the role of economic cooperation with Slovenian ethnic communities abroad.
The session brought together commission members, government officials and ethnic Slovenians from all four neighbouring countries and others parts of the world.
Once opinions were exchanged, the commission recommended to the government to further deepen economic ties with Slovenians abroad.
Economic cooperation achievements were outlined by Minister Han and Vesna Humar, a state secretary at the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad.
Han said that Slovenians in neighbouring countries - Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia - can contribute to Slovenia's economic development, which is why the government wants to support their business organisations.
Slovenia is an industrial and export-oriented country, which is where Slovenian communities abroad can play an important role, he said.
Han announced that the first business conference of the Economic Coordinating Body of Slovenians in Neighbouring Countries will will be held in Croatia in the autumn.
The body's work was presented by Felix Weieser from Austria.
Han also announced that the first open call for co-financing labour costs in minority business organisations will be published later this week.
"I think that every euro we spend on Slovenian in neighbouring countries comes back to us and we invest it very well," he said.
A similar coordinating body will be established to bring together major minority sport organisations, he said.
Taking part in the discussion were also Slovenian representatives from the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and from the neighbours, some of whom via video call.
Štefan Bogdan Barenboim Šalej from Brazil presented economic cooperation ventures on behalf of the Slovenian Global Business Network.