NEWS

Prime Minister attends opening of Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewery of Slovenia and benefit concert "Call for Generosity 2009"

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, attended the opening of the Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewery of Slovenia this evening and addressed the participants assembled for the ceremony. In his introductory address, Prime Minister Pahor stressed that "the Slovenian hop-growing industry is an important player in the world hop market, since the surface area of hop gardens in Slovenia represents as much as 3% of the world’s hop gardens, and more than 85% of the hops produced is exported, mostly to the EU market.
 

(Photo: Lili Pušnik/STA)

 
The Slovenian Prime Minister continued by saying that the establishment of the new Eco-Museum is proof that the state is well aware of the current role of hop-growing and its long tradition.  "I am glad that the museum is, as part of a tourism project, the result of cooperation among the municipalities of the Lower Savinja Valley, and that it offers visitors a walk through the story of hops in the Valley of Green Gold in an advanced and interactive way," emphasised the Prime Minister, adding that the manner of collecting museum material contributed by inhabitants of the Valley from their own collections of tools and memories makes the whole story even more precious.  "The museum really lives hand in hand with its environment, because it takes under its wing all those who are in one way or another involved in the story of green gold," said the Prime Minister at the close of his address. 
 
As part of his visit to the Savinja region, Prime Minister Pahor also attended the traditional benefit concert "Klic dobrote (Call for Generosity)" organised by Slovenska Karitas (Caritas Slovenia) and RTV Slovenija at Golovec Hall in Celje in the context of Caritas Week; the funds raised are intended for families in distress.