• GDP: US$27.7 billion.
• Main exports: Manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and food.
• Main imports: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants and food.
• Main trade partners: Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Before the disintegration of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) that began in 1991, Slovenia was its richest and most industrialised republic. With few natural resources, Slovenia was initially seriously affected by the civil war and the collapse of the Yugoslav federal market. However, careful economic management enabled a solid recovery. GDP per capita is substantially higher than that of other transitional economies of central Europe. The agricultural sector is fairly small, growing cereals, sugar beet and potatoes, but the large areas of forest, covering about half the country, are an important natural resource. The mining industry is mostly concentrated on coal, but zinc and lead are also extracted along with small quantities of oil, gas and uranium. The manufacturing industry, which accounts for about 30 per cent of GDP, produces electrical equipment, textiles, wood-based products (including paper), chemicals and processed foods. The service sector is dominated by tourism and financial services. The tourism industry was almost annihilated during the early stages of the Yugoslav civil war when Slovenia was most heavily involved; it has since re-emerged.
Financial services are well developed, especially banking and insurance. Successive governments have moved cautiously to reform the economy, introducing market-oriented reforms gradually and -for the most part - successfully. Inflation continued to decelerate, falling to 3.7 per cent in 2004, while the economy was growing moderately at 4 per cent in 2004. Unemployment is estimated to be at around 6 per cent (2004). Slovenia has joined the IMF, World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and became a full member of the World Trade Organization in July 1995. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transitional country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic to have been accepted for membership of the EU, which it joined in May 2004. Slovenia has agreed to adopt the Euro by 2007 and therefore must keep debt levels, budget deficits, interest rates and inflation levels within the EU's Maastrict criteria.

Smart dress is advised. Appointments are usual and visitors should be punctual. Visiting cards are essential. Slovenia is the most efficient and reliable of the ex-Yugoslav republics, being in many respects comparable to Austria and Germany. Executives will generally have a good knowledge of German, English and sometimes Italian. There is a well-developed network of local agents, advisers, consultants and lawyers willing to act for foreign companies. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.

Slovenia’s tradition as a meeting place goes back to 1821, when it played host to the Congress of the Holy Alliance. The main conference locations are Bled, Ljubljana, Portoroz, Radenci and Rogaska Slatina, where there are meeting facilities for up to 2000 participants.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Dimiceva 13, SI-1504 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel: (1) 589 8000.
Website: www.gzs.si

Culture and Congress Centre (Information on Conferences/Conventions)
Cankarjev dom, Presernova 10, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel: (1) 241 7100.
Website: www.cd-cc.si

Conferences and Conventions Department of the Slovenian Tourist Board (see Top Things To Do).