NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor fairly optimistic after a working visit of the Government to the Podravje region
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, accompanied by ministers and state secretaries, is today paying a working visit to the Podravje region. Following an introductory working meeting in which they were acquainted with special features of the region and presented today’s programmes, the Prime Minister and the ministers held separate working meetings across the region. The visit of the Government of the RS delegation to Podravje will conclude with a plenary meeting of the Government with the mayors, business representatives, deputies and national councillors from the Podravje region. As part of his visit, Prime Minister Pahor also visited a poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj d.d., power company Dravske elektrarne Maribor and the seat of public institute – European Capital of Culture in Maribor. The purpose of today’s Government visit to the region is to become acquainted with the current situation and prepare various measures or forms of assistance needed in the Podravje region.
Prime Minister Pahor today, together with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Židan, visited a poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj, d.d., where he met with the company's management and was acquainted with the company's operation in the last ten years, its integration in the region, business goals and concern for the safety of food. Prime Minister Pahor also visited Dravske elektarne Maribor where its management presented operation of the company to date and its future plans, highlighting, in particular, the importance of the region’s self-sufficiency in energy ensured by Dravske elektrarne.
Following the visit to Perutnina Ptuj d.d., Prime Minister Pahor had a brief interview for Radio Ptuj, regional radio station. He stressed that from the strategic point of view the Podravje region offers all possibilities for accelerated development: “A growing number of young people come back to the region after finishing the university, bringing knowledge, and if they manage to obtain appropriate jobs, they will be the ones to push the regional development further. The Government will make continuous efforts that the quality of life in the countryside would not lag behind the life quality in urban areas.”
While in Podravje, Prime Minister Pahor and Minister of Culture Širca visited at the seat of the European Capital of Culture (ECC) in Maribor. Mayor Kangler, together with the team leading the ECC, presented to them the preparations for this project of all-Slovene importance. Prime Minister Pahor agreed that the project was of all-Slovene importance and underlined that, in this context, the project is also discussed by the Government that will meet its share of commitments; he pointed out, however, that the organisers will have to comply with all deadlines and obligations that are essential for successful implementation of the project.
The visit to Podravje was concluded with a final meeting between Prime Minister Pahor and ministers and mayors, businessmen, deputies and national councillors from the visited region. The participants gave their assessment of the situation resulting from the concluded meetings and touched upon possible aspects and perspectives of further development of this part of Slovenia as well as efforts of the Slovenian Government in this area. During the visit, the Government focused on economic and social status of the region. According to Prime Minister Pahor, the visit to Podravje was in principle fruitful. Slovenian economy is recovering slowly, but steadily. The economic growth rate has been increasing, but further attention will be required with respect to inflation and some sectoral issues. At the close of his visit to Podravje, Prime Minister Pahor expressed the hope that the Government would visit Podravje again before the end of its term of office for an overview of the visit.