With today's tour of the Nieros Metal company in Slovenj Gradec, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, began his second visit to Koroška since November 2005. The Government team will assess whether the promises and agreements of two years ago have been kept, and seek new development opportunities that have arisen since.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

In discussions with the management of the Slovenj Gradec-based stainless steel production company, which employs over 160 people, the PM touched on the problems of the shortage of qualified labour. The company has to employ workers from abroad and deals with the procedures for acquiring working permits on a daily basis. Mr Janša explained that the Government had approved measures to eliminate red tape and considerably shorten and simplify such procedures. Meanwhile, the PM's hosts agreed that Slovenian diplomacy has been supportive of the national economy. Assistance to Slovenian companies in internationalising their operations, and attracting foreign investment has been provided through a network of economic advisors at Slovenia's embassies, and through representatives of the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) abroad. The objective of JAPTI's network of foreign representative offices is to help Slovenia's small and medium-sized companies to enter and successfully perform in foreign markets. The PM and the company's management also exchanged views on tax benefits relating to investment in R&D, and the education of prospective mechanical engineers and other professionals in the field, who are now in great demand.

 

The Prime Minister and his cabinet team will continue their visit to Koroška tomorrow. In the morning, the Government will convene at a working meeting and then visit municipalities to be included in the future Koroška Region.