Review of the Slovenian Economy from 5 to 11 October

Ljubljana, 13 October - In an attempt to get a good price for Lek, several large shareholders of this drugs maker signed a deal on Wednesday, 9 October, thus reducing the chances of Swiss company Novartis to acquire a 51-percent stake in it. In the week which saw the 11th anniversary of Slovenian currency, the tolar, the government adopted a bill on the implementation of the 2003 and 2004 budgets and sent it to parliament. Meanwhile, the railways trade unions which oppose the government plans to privatise Slovenian Railways managed to collect the signatures required to call a referendum.