Area: 20,273 km2 (7,906 sq miles)
Population: 2 millions
Capital: Ljubljana (330,000 inhabitants)

Major towns:

• Maribor (113,000)
• Celje (49,000)
• Kranj (53,000)
• Velenje (34,000)
• Koper (50,000)
• Novo mesto (42,000)

 

Political system: parliamentary democracy

Language: Slovene; Italian, Austrian and Hungarian (minorities)

Different landscapes:

• The coastline (46.6 km long – Adriatic Sea)
• Forests (63.3% of the territory of Slovenia – 3rd most forested country in Europe)
• Grassland, fields and gardens (agricultural areas represent 30.5% of the territory of Slovenia)
• Urban and built-up areas (2.8%)

 

Density of population per km2: 96.9
 

Macroeconomic indicators

INDICATOR \ YEAR	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008 (forec.)	2009 (forec.)
GDP real growth rate	4.4	4.1	5.7	6.1	4.4	4.1
GDP in million EUR	26,677	28,243	30,448	33,542	36,308	39,234
GDP per capita in EUR	13,400	14,116	15,167	16,615	17,939	19,350
Trade balance as a % of GDP	-1.2	-0.6	-0.9	-1.8	-2.1	-0.4
External debt in million EUR	15,343	20,508	24,034	34,358	36,462	n.a.
Rate of unemployment by ILO in %	6.3	6.5	6.0	4.9	4.8	4.8
Gross wage per employee real growth rate	2.0	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.4	3.1
Labour productivity (GDP per employee)	4.1	4.0	4.5	3.3	3.3	3.5
General gov. surplus/deficit (% of GDP)	-1.3	-1.1	-0.8	0.3	n.a.	n.a.
Average exchange rate EUR/USD	1.242	1.244	1.254	1.371	1.526	1.537
Inflation (end of the year)	3.6	2.5	2.5	3.6	5.2	3.2

Source: Eurostat, IMAD, 2008.

• GDP per capita PPS* (2007): € 20,700 (91.6% of EU-27 average)
• Average annual GDP growth 1995-2006: 4.0%

* Purchasing Power Standard

Slovenia has a highly diversified economy

• Comparable to EU member states
• Growth is driven by manufacturing and services
• Successful and growing tourism industry
• Small agricultural sector

 

Industry, agriculture and services value added, 2007

Source: Institute of macroeconomic analysis and development

SLOVENIA - Outlook

• Member of the EU and NATO since 2004
• Entering into EMU: 1st January 2007 Currency: Euro (€)
• Well integrated with euro area
• Dynamic economy, modern infrastructure and with strategic location
• Friendly business and working environment
• Strong credit fundamentals, as confirmed by the credit rating agencies
• Proven track record of political and macroeconomic stability
• Government fostering structural reform and liberalization
• Strong export orientation
• Well established links with neighbouring countries and countries of former Yugoslavia
• Hub for foreign companies to serve the EU and Central European markets
• Advantages:
  • Economic and political stability
  • Knowledge of circumstances, language, culture, people
  • Geographical location with a strategic edge
• Slovenia is an important investor in the SE Europe

 

A crossroads of trans-European routes

Between the Alps, the Adriatic and the Pannonian Plain

• Austria in the north
• Italy in the west
• Hungary in the east
• Croatia in the south

 

Great potential for development

• historical tradition
• strong economic ties with Europe and the world
• geographical location

 

Slovenia - The right mix of qualities 4Qs4U (Four Qs For You)

• Quality workforce. Well-educated, flexible staff with language and IT skills and innovative spirit.
• Quality link to regional markets. Excellent geostrategical position of Slovenia makes it a natural hub for companies that serve markets of EU and South-Eastern Europe where Slovenia has a traditionally good business contacts and reputation.
• Quality infrastructure. Excellent transport connections and high ICT penetration.
• Quality of life. A quality business environment and a quality lifestyle add to individual companies results.

 

Overall productivity, 2006

Related GDP per person employed (in US$)

Source: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007

Labour productivity and compensation level (total hourly compensation for manufacturing workers; wages & supplementary benefits), 2006

Source: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007

Export driven economy

• EXPORTS of goods and services = EUR 23,958 million
  • million real growth rate = 13%
  • share of GDP = 71.4%
• IMPORTS of goods and services = EUR 24,546 million  
  • real growth rate = 14.1%
  • share of GDP = 73.2%

 

• High value-added exports
• Over 70% of exports destined for EU

 

Sectors, 2007

 

Geographic distribution, 2007

Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

Foreign Direct Investments in Slovenia € 9,573 million (year-end 2007; stock)

Foreign direct investment by investing countries

Source: Bank of Slovenia, 2007

Inward FDI by sectors

 

Major foreign investors in Slovenia

• Manufacturing: Brigl & Bergmeister, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte, Danfoss, EGO, GKN Driveline, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe, Grammer Automotive, Gruppo Bonazzi, Hella, Henkel, Johnson Controls, Lafarge Perlmooser, Mayr Melnhof, Palfinger, Pfleiderer, Renault, Safilo Group, Sandoz (Novartis Pharma), Securidev, Siemens, Sogefi, Styria, Sun Roller, Titus International, Vogtronics …
• Financial services: Bank Austria CA, Hypo-Alpe-Adria-Bank, KBC, Reiffeisen Bank, SanPaolo IMI, Societe Generale …
• Retail: Aldi Süd, E.Leclerc, Eurospin Italia, Lidl Internacional, MOL, ÖMV, Rutar, Spar ...
• Other services: AC Nielsen, Debitel, Deloitte&Touche, DHL, Ernst&Young, Gfk, KPMG, IBM, ISS Servisystem, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Mobilkom, Oracle, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, SAP, Schenker, Sodexho Alliance, S&T ...

 

FDI of Slovenia abroad

Outward FDI stock as of year-end 2002007 EUR 4,591 million

Source: Bank of Slovenia, 2007