Slovenia Business Week no 39 September 20th 2004 Table of Contents HEADLINES 3 Q2 GDP Growth Highest in Four Years 3 CCIS Calls for Intensive Cooperation with the Balkans 3 Mercator Publishes Bid for the Takeover of Serbia s C Market 4 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 6 Slovenia Has New Ambassador to Brazil 6 Slovenian and China to Cooperate in Rural Development of Karst 6 Foreign Minister Meets Slovenian Businessmen in Serbia Montenegro 6 Drnovsek Receives New Ambassadors of Kuwait Bangladesh and Canada 7 Slovenian and Croatian Ministers Discuss Rural Development 7 Slovenian Valentin Inzko New Austrian Ambassador in Ljubljana 8 Fischer and Drnovsek Praise Headway in Minority Protection 8 Slovenian Foreign Minister Vajgl Visits Serbia Montenegro 9 Drnovsek Receives US Ambassador on Farewell Visit 10 Finland Norway and Sweden Open Embassies on Joint Premises 10 Zbogar Submits Credentials to US President 11 EUROPEAN UNION 12 Slovenia Hosts Conference on EU Accession 12 Commissioner Potocnik Pledges to Focus on Lisbon Strategy 13 Cvikl Discusses Slovenia s EU Priorities with Businessmen 14 Potocnik Counts on MEPs Support for Higher Research Budget 15 Potocnik Stresses Importance of His Department 16 LEGISLATION 17 World Bank Report Points to Excess of Red Tape in Slovenia 17 STATISTICS FORECASTS 18 Survey Shows Most New Jobs in Retail Sector 18 Net Wages Up 0 4 percent in July 18 July s Unemployment at 10 3 Percent 18 Over 656 000 Slovenians Booked Package Holidays Last Year 19 FINANCE 20 Italian Bank in Takeover Talks with Brokerage Medvesek Pusnik 20 Ljubljana Stock Exchange 20 Foreign Exchange 21 BRANCH INFORMATION 22 Entrepreneurs Complain Development Strategy Lacks Reforms 22 Slovenian Small Business Should Improve Value Added 22 Shops Will Remain Open Sunday for Now 23 Electricity Producers to Raise Production by 20 in 15 Years 24 Report Finds No Abuse of Monopoly on Electricity Market 24 COMPANIES 26 Droga and Kolinska Getting Ready to Join Forces 26 Terme 3000 Opens Wellness Centre Co funded by the EU 26 Steelworks Enjoying Windfall Profits 27 Government Selects Investor for Ailing Rimske Toplice Spa 27 Fructal Blames Its Q2 Loss on EU Entry 28 FAIRS CONGRESSES 29 Design Festival Getting Underway 29 SLOVENIA IN BRIEF 30 Slovenia Advocates Equality of Official EU Languages at COSAC 30 Slovenia Austria Italy Boost Police Border Cooperation 30 Conference Promotes Regional Approach to Tackle Illegal Migration 30 Pahor Named Member of EU Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee 30 Germany Donates EUR 500 000 to ITF 30 Ljubljana Mayor Discusses Cooperation with the Moscow Region 30 Second Edition of Military Show Set to Begin 30 Austrian and Slovenian Defence Ministers Discuss Security Issues 31 Slovenian Named Head of International Lipizzan Federation 31 New Culture Centre Opened in Lendava 31 2 HEADLINES Q2 GDP Growth Highest in Four Years Slovenia s gross domestic product measured at constant 2000 prices increased by 4 6 percent in the second quarter of this year up from 3 8 percent in Q1 Slovenia s gross domestic product measured at constant 2000 prices increased by 4 6 percent in the second quarter of this year up from 3 8 percent in Q1 This is the fastest pace of growth in the past four years according to preliminary figures released by the Statistics Office In the first half of 2004 GDP volume growth amounted to 4 2 percent According to the statisticians strong growth of exports and imports recorded in Q1 continued in the second quarter of 2004 Exports increased by 13 8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2003 with imports up 15 percent Due to the higher import growth the external trade balance decreased GDP volume growth by 1 2 percentage points The growth of gross fixed capital formation slightly decreased 6 7 percent as compared to 8 1 percent in the first quarter Due to the substantial increase in inventories which contributed 1 9 percentage points to the GDP volume growth gross capital formation increased by 13 6 percent Final consumption growth remained the same as in the previous quarter 2 7 percent Private consumption expenditure increased by 3 2 percent the figure stood at 3 8 percent in the first quarter and government final consumption expenditure was up 1 5 percent as opposed to a 0 1 percent increase in the first quarter Value added in basic industries increased by 5 9 percent which is more than in services 4 1 percent and mainly due to a 7 8 percent increase of value added in manufacturing The GDP at current prices increased by 6 5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2003 Due to the negative terms of trade implicit GDP deflator amounted to 1 8 percent at the annual level On an annual comparison employment was down 0 2 percent in Q2 yet the negative trend recorded in the past year is coming to a halt In the non financial and financial sectors employment was down 0 2 percent while employment in the general government sector increased by 1 8 percent CCIS Calls for Intensive Cooperation with the Balkans According to the CCIS figures 19 percent of Slovenia s exports go to the region of Southeastern Europe The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CCIS wishes to maintain intensive cooperation with the countries of the western Balkans as they are important business partners the CCIS President Jozko Cuk said at a launch of a seminar gathering representatives of chambers of commerce from the region at Catez ob Savi on Friday 17 September The CCIS organised the event to brief counterparts from the former Yugoslav republics about Slovenia s experience in joining the EU The seminar makes part of the CCIS project dubbed European School for Chambers of Commerce of the Western Balkans which the CCIS carries out in cooperation with the Great Britain based Global Opportunity Fund As the CCIS President Cuk highlighted Slovenia would like to see intensive business cooperation with countries of the western Balkans which will be further boosted by their accession to the EU In addition to increasing the volume of trade the CCIS would like to see more joint ventures in the region and more investments of the region s companies in Slovenia 3 Representatives of commerce chambers from Serbia Montenegro Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia meanwhile voiced satisfaction over good cooperation with the CCIS and expressed wish for more trade and investments According to Kemal Grebo president of the Sarajevo chamber of commerce BosniaHerzegovina considers Slovenian companies as important
View Full Document
Unlocking...