SLOVENIA invites you!

SLOVENIA www.slo-mag.si

INVITES YOU!

Dr Uroš Merc, Chairman of the Board of the BISOL Group

sunny day means money

“Each

in the bank account.”

12-16

10

YEAR

ADRIA WATER INGRESS

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4.4%

40.26 Republic of Slovenia Capital: Ljubljana

Population: 2 million Land area: 20,273 km2

– GDP growth in 2018*

billion pounds – gross domestic product in Slovenia in 2018*

8.2%

19,517

– exports growth in 2018*

pounds – gross domestic product per capita in 2018*

8.0%

Coastline length: 46 kilometres Currency: EURO A member of: EU, NATO, OECD

– imports growth in 2018* * – latest forecast of economic trends by the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development of the Republic of Slovenia, September 2018

1,453 pounds – average gross salary in August 2018

943 – average net salary in August 2018

1.8% – average inflation in 2018*

8.2 – registered unemployment rate in 2018*

A billion worth of opportunities

A

t the end of this year or at the beginning of next, construction machines are expected to start rumbling in Gomilsko, only an hour’s drive from the Slovenian capital. BSW Timber, a Scottish family company with an almost 170-year tradition, chose Slovenia for its large new investment and if everything goes according to plan, the Scottish saw will be heard in Gomilsko in two years.

The arrival of BSW Timber in Slovenia is a positive example that the third most forested country in Europe is open to the internationalisation of its economy even when it comes to the management of such crucial strategic assets as wood or strategic industries such as the forestry and wood industry.

Ten years ago, Slovenia with its two million residents was deemed a country that was rather closed to foreign investments. This, however, has been changing and today, Slovenia attracts companies from countries for which it initially was not the first and obvious choice. Magna Steyr, Yaskawa and Sumitomo Rubber Industries are only a few of the important global players that have recognised the advantages of Slovenia in recent years for their greenfield investments. In addition to the country’s geostrategic position between Western Europe and South-Eastern Europe and its well-developed infrastructure, respectable economists include among such advantages the fact that Slovenia is no longer as expensive for foreign invesSLOVENIA INVITES YOU!

November 2018 On the cover: Dr Uroš Merc, Chairman of the Board of the BISOL Group Photography: Jure Makovec

Editor: Vanja Tekavec Technical Editor: Maja Volk Translation: PSD, d. o. o. (www.psdtranslation.com/en)

Trade in goods between Slovenia and the United Kingdom has been increasing in recent years and is approaching the magic boundary of one billion euros. tors as it was perhaps a decade ago. Therefore, Slovenia has become a more attractive destination for foreign investments than it was a few years ago, particularly in comparison with its traditional competitors, namely the states of the Visegrad Group, asserts the respectable Slovenian economist Mojmir Mrak.

Although the trade in goods between Slovenia and the United Kingdom may not (yet) be described as highly substantial, the realisation that, in the modern world, distance is no longer a strategic category is far more important than actual numbers. Slovenian companies are known for their innovativeness and a well-educated workforce, and the best markets for innovative companies are those that are the most competitive, of which the companies described in our magazine are well aware. Stronger cooperation with Britain is an opportunity not only for a better global recognition of Slovenian companies but also for Slovenia to make a global breakthrough in business and technology. The more Slovenian and British companies nurture their relationships and get to know each other the more opportunities there will be to take advantage of numerous undiscovered economic and commercial opportunities between the two countries.

Vanja Tekavec

www.slo-mag.si

Project Manager: Monika Klinar Telephone: +386 1 30 91 480 E-Mail: monika.klinar@finance.si

Publisher: Časnik Finance, d. o. o., Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia www.finance.si

Advertisement Marketing: Telephone: +386 1 30 91 590 E-Mail: oglasi@finance.si

Director and Editor in Chief: Peter Frankl

Circulation: 45.300

Izv zniki.si www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 3

Partners of this edition of the magazine 2

ADRIA MOBIL, D.O.O. sl.adria-mobil.com M: +386 7 393 71 00 E: info@adria-mobil.si

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OIKOS HOUSING, MONIKA JANKOVIĆ S.P. oikoshousing.com M: +386 40 894 144 E: nebojsa@oikoshousing.com

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SATLER OKNA IN VRATA d.o.o. www.okna-satler.si M: +386 2 29 27 458 E: info@lip-satler.si

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HETA ASSET RESOLUTION d.o.o. www.nepremicnine-har.si M: +386 1 580 45 86 E: prodajne.storitve@har.si

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OBČINA AJDOVŠČINA www.ajdovscina.si M: +386 51 601 267 E: igor.zibrik@ajdovscina.si

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KOLDING d.o.o. www.kolding.si M: +386 2 82 34 340 E: kolding@kolding.si

15

WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS DONE BY SLOVENIAN AND BRITISH COMPANIES?

KELE & KELE, d.o.o. www.mlekarna-krepko.si

These are exporters that boost

exports to Britain C

an you guess how many Britons come to Slovenia on holidays with a Slovenian motor home?

Or who made the glass in which a famous British producer of non-alcoholic drinks presented its new cocktail at Wimbledon, or what the odds are that a marker pen from a British producer was made in Slovenia?

These are only a few products used by Slovenian companies to pave their way to the British market. We asked them how their businesses fared this year and what novelties they have in store for their customers in Britain.

How many British come to Slovenia with a Slovenian motor home?

The leisure vehicle producer Adria Mobil has been loyal to the British market since 1969. This loyalty has paid off, as Great Britain is now its fourth-largest market, and the

M: + 386 1 759 01 60 E: info@krepko.siM: + 386 1 759 01 60 E: info@krepko.si

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SPIRIT Slovenija, javna agencija www.spiritslovenia.si M: +386 1 589 18 70 E: info@spiritslovenia.si

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4 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Income, an ice cream producer, among London Stock Exchange winners The London Stock Exchange put Incom, an ice cream and frozen dessert producer, on the list of 1000 Companies to Inspire. The largest Slovenian ice cream producer exports products to 46 countries from Australia to the USA. The company has been growing fast, enabled by its significant investments. It produces over two million ice creams and frozen desserts every day, and strengthens its own brands of ice cream, namely Leone and Leone AL!VE. »We are proud that we are among the fastest-growing European companies and among those with the greatest number of employees. I believe that our development will not stop here, and that together we will create many innovations which will strengthen our position in the global ice cream market. Our sales this year will increase by more than a quarter,« said Boštjan Jerončič, Director of Incom, when receiving the London Stock Exchange award.

The buyers of Adria Mobil’s leisure vehicles in the British market are mostly families and the so-called empty nesters, who gladly take their grandchildren on vacation. company can pride itself on a number of recognitions and awards, including the most prestigious one - the Customer Satisfaction Award, presented by buyers of leisure vehicles in Great Britain. This year, Adria Mobil won this trophy for the fifth year in a row and their brand was also recognized as the Overall Winner with the highest possible score.

Great Britain has always been at the forefront in terms of the number of newly registered motor homes, right after Germany and France; however, success does not come by itself. When asked what is important to succeed on the British market, Adria Mobil replied that it is necessary to recognize which are the special features relevant

to British customers. “Compared to the continental countries, the weather in Great Britain permits the buyers of leisure vehicles to enjoy their leisure time outside their motor home or caravan less frequently and thus they spend much more time inside their vehicles. This is why the comfort, homeliness, warmth and spaciousness of the interior are much more important to them than to the customers in the continental countries,” the company has noticed. In Great Britain, customers increasingly prefer buying camper vans – leisure vehicles similar to vans.

Following this trend, Adria Mobil has presented a new series of products with a large panoramic sunroof for the 2019 season. “This season, we also presented a new

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NEW INNOVAT IV E P R EF A B R IC A T ED MODULA R TEC HNOLOG Y TI NY HOUSES, EC O S T R U C T U R ES & G LA M P ING

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Adria Mobil: »British customers do not compromise« That many steps need to be taken for a company to win the Gold Customer Satisfaction Award in such a demanding market as that of Britain is pointed out by Adria Mobil, which received this award given by British customers for the fifth year in a row. Adria Mobil’s answer to the question of whether they adapted their sales strategy to the British market was that first they had to recognise the needs of British customers and adapt their products to them. “Development costs were high, but we have learned in time that we will not conquer the British market by compromising.

British customers do not compromise and want products tailored to their needs,” stresses the Slovenian company whose brand Adria marked its 50th anniversary of existence and operation in the market in 2015. An important step in expansion to the British market, which is the largest European market for caravans and one of the larger markets for mobile homes, was also the establishment of the independent company Adria Concessionaires Ltd., which encompasses over 30 points of sale in Britain and is in regular contact with British traders and customers. “With market growth, we increased the number of products developed specifically for the British market, and our sales and service network has grown, too.

The United Kingdom is a large country to which we adapted by setting up points of sales across all regions to be closer to customers. The sales of Adria Concessionaires are currently most boosted by our points of sales in the central British region (the Midlands),” adds Adria Mobil, which is known in the British market as a premium leisure vehicle brand. Adria Mobil has increased its market share in the British market in recent years, and for the past five years, the company has been growing by more than the average level of growth in the British market.

6 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Steklarna Hrastnik wishes to find its way to the owners of spirits brands who have distilleries in Great Britain. In the photo: A new bottle called Alaska from the HighGlass spirits collection.

product to our British customers – a motor home with a spacious seating unit, which is ideal for their needs. In the segment of caravans for families, we have launched a new caravan, Adora Sava, which is named after a river in Slovenia, because such names of individual products also ensure Slovenia’s visibility.”

Adria Mobil’s customers on the British market are mostly families and the so-called empty nesters, who gladly take their grandchildren on vacation. “Unlike the buyers of caravans, the buyers of motor homes do not stay only in Great Britain; they also travel a lot to the continent, and in recent years, they have also been discovering Slovenia. Organized in various caravanning clubs, they also visit the seat of Adria Mobil in Novo Mesto,” the company representatives add proudly.

Adria Mobil’s subsidiary in Great Britain, Adria Concessionaires Ltd, is in face-to-face contact with customers, which enables a specific and necessary input to the development department of the parent company. This is also the reason why the Adria brand is now recognized in the British market as a leading non-British provider in the leisure industry. Last year, the company generated 8 percent of its total sales in Britain, and it is also doing well this year.

Steklarna Hrastnik place their bets on producers of gin and whisky

The British market is also a strategic market for Steklarna Hrastnik, one of the largest glass manufacturers of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nowadays, this company with over 150 years of tradition is present in the British market with two brands - the HighGlass spirits collection in the spirits segment and the HighGlass perfumes collection in the perfume segment. With its tableware programme, the company made it to the shelves of five retail chains, and its glassware is also used by owners of prestigious brands for presentations of their products. “A well-known brand used glasses from our new Freya collection for a presentation of its new cocktail in Wimbledon,” said the glass maker from Hrastnik.

It sees new opportunities in the British market, particularly in the spirits segment, where it wants to find its way to the owners of brands with distilleries in Great Britain. With this in mind, the company presented itself last year to producers of spirits in Glasgow and this year they repeated the presentation in Edinburgh. “This is how we gradually, but carefully, build on our visibility in the British market, in particular in the craft distillery segment. Namely, Scotland and Ireland are becoming major producers in this segment, in particular of gin and whiskey. Based on our experience, we can say that the bottles from our own HighGlass spirits collection are the most interesting for this segment,” underlined the representatives of the glass manufacturer, which is also traditionally featured at the World Drinks Award conference in London.

A majority of the glass manufacturer’s projects is carried out through their own distributors in accordance with their clients’ designs, which is precisely what enables them to be flexible in terms of produced quanti-

ties. “We can produce both large and small quantities of products for our clients, including orders for very small, boutique series,” they added.

Andraz Purgandraz.purg@gmail.co

Vivapen: our British customers love to visit Slovenia

According to Vivapen, a family business that has pursued the development and production of pens for two generations already, British customers love to visit Slovenia, both for business and private affairs. In the photograph: Petra Melanšek with her father Jože and her son Luka.

If you buy a marker pen or an ink cartridge from a British producer, there is a possibility that they were made in Slovenia. More precisely, they were likely produced at Vivapen, a family business which is present in the niche market for the dynamic producers of limited-edition pens, enriched with decorative print. In Britain, it has been present since 1992. At first, the company only sold inks, ink cartridges and a small share of ink erasers there, but in recent years it has also sold various marker pens, creative sets and its latest product - the MOON art pen, a pen with ink cartridges for which it received a golden award for innovation in Slovenia.

In recent years, Vivapen has been growing on the British market both in terms of revenue and the share of exports. While the company generated 1.85 percent of its total exports on that market in 2016, this increased to 3.89 percent last year and by the end of this September it had increased to 4.85 percent, emphasized Petra Melanšek, who has taken over the management of Vivapen from her father, Jože. “When my father engaged in the sales of our products, we were mostly present on the German-speaking market and this changed after

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1992. I have always been very fond of Great Britain and I also like their culture, which is why it was quite ‘easy to launch’ sales there. We met our customers at a fair and made friendly contacts. We have never traded in British pounds, but always in the current currency: first the German mark, and later the Euro. They love to visit Slovenia, both for business affairs and with their families,” says Mrs. Melanšek.

The main customer of Vivapen in the British market is Manuscript, the company which specializes in calligraphy and products and pens for creative writing and drawing. “Most of Manuscript’s exports go to North America. In order to obtain certificates to sell products in the American market, the right materials must be chosen, and as a producer, we enable this,” underlined Mrs. Melanšek. Vivapen’s own brand is not present in the British market, but they produce for recognised customers and they enjoy the advantage of largely automated and robotized production. “Automation and robotization allow us to optimize costs, which is a win-win situation for us and for our customers. They take over the marketing, so that we can focus on where we are needed the most– the development of processes, products and materials,” further observed Mrs. Melanšek. Vivapen, which generates more than 98 percent of its sales abroad, is projected to make EUR 7.5 million in sales revenues this year.

The company Plastika Skaza has been working for decades with partners in the furniture and electronics industries on the British market and they are also present with their own Skaza brand products. In the photo: Skaza also produces plastic chairs for Ikea.

34 million. The data on this year’s operation imply that the company will reach the set goals, which means that the annual revenue is projected to increase by 5 percent and thus exceed EUR 40 million for the first time in the company’s history.

Plastika Skaza has been working for decades on the British market with partners in the furniture and electronics industries, which supply the British market with finished products containing Skaza products. It was through international corporations that the company managed to enter the British market, which brings seven million euros per year, i.e. 18 percent of the total revenue.

They also have a distributor in Great Britain to distribute their own brand Skaza (specialized shops for camping and caravanning) and for active online sales. In Great Britain, end customers mostly opt to buy coloured reusable cups.

The British market is important to the company because of its size, the inhabitants’ attitude to sustainable development and its purchasing power, as well as for being a reference for entry to other international markets.

Despite the uncertain circumstances as a consequence of Brexit, the company wants to maintain a continuous and steady growth in Great Britain and they will focus their efforts on further promotion of their own-brand products. In particular, they will focus on two sustainable solutions – the Bokashi Organko 2 kitchen composter and the Pick&Go picnic set.

Arctur: “Brexit will not change our plans in the British market”

With mathematical models and numeric simulations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can significantly improve the features of their products and develop new ones. This is the niche market of the Arctur company, a leading provider of high-performance computing services, which is already generating one-fifth of

The British market brings Plastika Skaza a fifth of its revenue

It was cooperation with the EPCC supercomputing centre at the University of Edinburgh which paved the way for the Arctur company, a leading provider of services in high performance computing, to enter the British market. Professor Mark Parsons (left), the director of the EPCC and Tomi Ilijaš, the director of Arctur.

8 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Valentin Casarsa

The company Plastika Skaza is predominantly an exporter. Last years, its sales on foreign markets represented 89 percent of its total revenue, amounting to EUR

Irena Herak

Since last year, the abrasives producer Weiler Abrasives has been conquering the British market with the Metalynx brand.

Matjaž Merkan, CEO of Weiler Abrasives d. o. o. its exports in the British market. Buyers of Arctur’s services in Britain include high-tech companies operating in niche markets, such as Zyba Ltd, which develops wave energy power plants; Icon Ltd, which produces software for aerodynamics simulations for the automotive industry; and PowerKut Ltd, which is active in Industry 4.0, to name just a few.

According to Tomi Ilijaš, the director of Arctur, the company paved its way to the British market in 2011, when they met Professor Mark Parsons, the director of the EPCC supercomputing centre at the University of Edinburgh, which resulted in a very fruitful cooperation.

“We operate in two fields: research and development, where we are working together with the EPCC on three large European projects, and we have also been co-marketing high-performance computing services to various British hi-tech companies. We also cooperate with some other universities in Great Britain and these were the references that opened the door to other international markets for us,” he underlined. This year, the company broke new ground in Slovenia, namely, in tourism, where they started developing the platform Tourism 4.0 to connect tourism providers and tourists. This is currently the largest research and development project in tourism in the history of Slovenia and Mr. Ilijaš added that it is interesting that a similar project is now being conducted by the partner EPCC in Scotland. “Although investments in the development of the tourism platform will pay off only in the coming years, we have already significantly expanded our team this year and employed top experts from various fields, not only computing,” he said. And what’s next? Mr. Ilijaš answered that they do not intend to change their strategy in the British market because 10 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

of Brexit. “Perhaps there will be fewer joint research and development projects after Brexit, but economic cooperation, which is at least equally if not even more important for us, will probably even expand,” he further emphasised.

Weiler Abrasives penetrating the British market, collecting awards at home

Entering new markets is also the main strategy of the company Weiler Abrasives d. o. o., one of the leading manufactures of artificial abrasives and technical fabrics in Europe, which is a member of the global Weiler Abrasives Group. They have been present on the British market for 35 years, and last year, they launched their new brand there, the Metalynx, and the company is very ambitious regarding it. “The Metalynx product line is available in two quality levels - PRO and MAX - and it enables customers to reduce operational costs by increasing productivity,” emphasised the Slovenian company, which annually generates more than EUR 3 million of revenue on the British market.

For the purpose of expanding into the British market, Weiler Abrasives d. o. o. has joined forces with a local partner, International Abrasives of Leicester, a fast-growing company which specializes in abrasives and has excellent knowledge of the British market. The company is committed to constant innovation, and it is their innovative products that open doors to the most important customers on global markets. Some of their innovations received awards; among others, the company received a golden award of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce for the development of new production technology for UltraCut thin cutting wheels, the key part of their new Metalynx brand.

AJDOVŠČINA, SLOVENIA RIFE WITH OPPORTUNITY NEW RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS The Municipality of Ajdovščina is set to undertake the construction of a new residential neighbourhood with market rent apartments and sheltered housing.

The municipal detailed management plan (OPPN) of the Municipality of Ajdovščina - Ribnik SB II from 2017 envisages the construction of nine multi-dwelling buildings. The green setting with the appurtenant infrastructure and facilities is supposed to house a total of 273 dwellings accommodating 811 people.

Investors and developers can submit their expressions of interest and contact details to igor.zibrik@ajdovscina.si. Detailed information will be sent subsequently by the staff of the Municipality of Ajdovščina.

CONTACT AND INFORMATION: → M: +386 (0)51 601 267 → E: igor.zibrik@ajdovscina.si

NEW CITY HOTEL The construction of a hotel with at least 100 beds is among the top priority projects outlined in the essential strategic document for the development of the Municipality of Ajdovščina. In this context it sees the derelict facility of the first industrial flour mill in Slovenia, which is located on the outskirts of the old town centre of Ajdovščina, as a unique opportunity for building an exclusive commercial and tourist hotel complex.

UNIQUE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

DR UROŠ MERC, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE BISOL GROUP

“Each sunny day means money in the bank account.”

S

lovenian export companies that bravely ventured into the British market include the manufacturer of solar panels, BISOL. This company has been present in the British market since 2011, when they established BISOL Solar Limited. After some beginner’s ups and downs, BISOL managed to establish solid partnerships and a wide distribution network, particularly in the central and northern parts of Britain.

BISOL is embodied by its director Uroš Merc, a doctor of electrical engineering, who wholeheartedly believes in the future of renewable energy sources and highlights that “one does not have to live in the South of France to be able to use the sun to produce energy.” We spoke to Merc, who is rather difficult to track down between numerous trips around the world, about how they built business in the British market, what is the future of photovoltaics in the world markets after state subsidies were cut back, and also about how the company will grow in the future and where he sees the main challenges of the photovoltaic industry.

Great Britain is more famous for its gloomy and often rainy weather than for being sunny, but you use the sun to do business. Why are you interesting for the British? How much do the British use the sun to produce energy?

There might be slightly less sun in Britain than in Slovenia, but to calculate the economics of the erection of a solar power plant, the price of electricity and the potential of a market are more important than how many hours a day the sun shines. The photovoltaic market in Britain awoke a little later than in Germany, Italy and France, but it soon became a very strong market. It has even been the strongest market in Europe in the last few 12 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

consecutive years. At the beginning, support schemes were employed by Britain to promote particularly the construction of large solar power plants and projects.

Today, Britain, like most other markets, is focused on the segment of small solar power plants on residential structures, increasingly emphasising the private use of energy produced in such a manner.

What is the correlation between the number of sunny days and the efficiency of a solar panel?

Clearly, we do not need to make a strong argument in favour of sunny days; the more sunny days there are the more solar energy is produced by solar power plants, and of course, each sunny day means more money in consumers’ bank accounts. The differences in the number of sunny days in Europe are not dramatic, but we need to know that solar power plants are not powered merely by the sun but also by the light, and Britain has a lot of diffused light just like Slovenia does today. The number of sunny days is also not the key to the calculation of economics if we intend to erect a solar power plant. The fact is that Spain has more sunny days than other European countries and, in principle, this should mean that electricity is Spain is cheaper than in, for example, Britain. On the other hand, the price of electricity in Spain is much more government regulated than in Britain, which means that it might be more profitable to erect a solar power plant in Britain than in Spain.

An important business strategy of the group is also local presence in the most important export markets. You have been present in the British market since 2011 and we could say that your entry more or less

Jure Makovec

coincided with the introduction of subsidies for the exploitation of solar energy, which were introduced by the British government in April 2011. How have you been growing in the British market?

BISOL has three pillars. The first and the most important is our manufacture of photovoltaic modules in Slovenia, in a town called Prebold, where over 200 employees work. The second pillar is turnkey construction of power plants, and the third pillar comprises solar power plants, where we produce electricity and sell it to earn money.

The first few years in Britain went very well, then there were a few downs, but I can say that our results have always been positive, and our long-term presence in the British market has also been paying off. Our employees say that our market share in Britain is approximately 1.5 per cent, which is relatively high. However, it is even more important that we have established stable partnerships in Britain, which is a demanding market for all actors. In the British market, we are currently most involved with residential and commercial projects, but we also run large projects. The largest individual supply in the history of our group was a 58 MW solar power plant we built for the Belarusian state oil company.

BISOL has never had any interest in being the largest and the cheapest in the world, nor do we want to compete with huge Asian countries, which generously stimulate their manufacturers of solar panels with subsidies and support schemes. Our strategy is to be as close

to end clients as possible in order to understand what is happening in a market and to closely collaborate with local partners, particularly with distributors or installers.

We have also been collaborating in Britain with a large company that builds approximately 10,000 houses annually and endeavours to equip them all with solar panels.

On the basis of our British partner’s solution called SolFiT, we have been manufacturing integrated solar panels, which may replace roofing. Together, we have also developed an innovative way to install these panels. This segment, which is called BIPV (Building Integrated PV), in which solar panels take over the role of primary roofing, is expected to experience the highest growth and the British market is one of the leading markets in this field.

In this context, we also see a broader picture of a market for testing and development, which can then be used for our operation elsewhere across the world. The solution of integrated installation of panels has won many awards in Britain and is very important for us, as it has opened the door to certain other important clients. All panels look alike at first sight, but this is not the case. Only in Prebold are over 800 different products manufactured.

“To be able to use the sun to produce energy, one does not really have to live in the South of France,” emphasises Dr Uroš Merc.

In 2016, the British government drastically cut financial aid for the use of solar energy.

How have you been adapting your operation to this fact?

With constantly decreasing prices of solar power plants and relatively high electricity prices in Britain, there is

www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 13

Jure Makovec

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increasingly less need for subsidising of the production of solar energy, which makes the British market especially interesting and promises future growth. As far as support scheme cuts go, Britain is not the only one.

At the beginning, all states generously subsidised the erection of solar power plants but have now dropped this. Nevertheless, the erection of solar power plants has been continuing worldwide. There have been no support schemes in Italy for years, but still, the market functions perfectly. The same is true for the Benelux countries, where we have been present for a number of years. Ten years ago, the prices of photovoltaic models were higher, while today, the photovoltaic industry can perfectly compete with conventional energy sources.

Many people who purchase electricity coming from the grid pay more than if they had produced the energy themselves. It suffices to say that the French energy giant EDF makes the construction of new nuclear power plants in Britain conditional on the guarantee of the British government to purchase electricity produced by nuclear power plants at a fixed price for the next 40 years.

You say that the photovoltaic industry is currently running more or less without government support. How have manufacturers been adapting to this fact?

We have been working in four shifts for the past two and a half years, and each year, we produce more. It is also 14 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

million of income The BISOL Group, a manufacturer of photovoltaic modules, is expected to generate EUR 40 million of income, of which appropriately a quarter will be in the Benelux countries, which are deemed the strongest market. BISOL has three pillars, with the most important being the manufacture of photovoltaic modules in Prebold, which is only an hour’s drive from the capital Ljubljana and where over 200 employees work.

very important for us that we are financially very stable, and we finance everything with our own funds. Our production is increasingly automated, which enables us to optimise our costs.

How have you set up your distribution network in Britain? Where are you present?

Our distribution network is spread across Britain, but most supplies are made to the central and northern part, also thanks to our partnership with the company SolFit, for which we have been manufacturing the namesake solution. We have also had a warehouse in Britain from the outset, which enables us to swiftly respond to our clients’ needs.

How do you see the dynamics of the British market in the next five or ten years? Will the solar energy market continue to grow, and if yes, why?

The answer is simple. The market will continue to grow, since the prices of electricity from solar panels are lower than the prices of electricity coming from the grid. I firmly believe that the main development for the manufacturers of photovoltaic modules has yet to come.

In your peak period, your market share in Belgium reached almost 40 per cent. How did you manage that and how is your business there today?

We managed particularly well thanks to our main salesman, who is from Belgium and put together a very strong team. Our presence in Belgium is still significant and the Belgian market is the most mature for us. BISOL’s products are present in 80 markets and it is interesting to compare the stages of development of the photovoltaic market in individual countries. For example, if I want to come up with an answer for workers in Britain, I think about the solutions we employed in Belgium. Today, we only do business with three distributors in Belgium, who are very well located, and two installers who facilitate our contacts with end clients. We remain faithful to the distributors with whom we do good business.

How important is Belgium today in BISOL’s operation?

Belgium and the Netherlands remain our most important markets, and a quarter of our sales are expected to be generated in these two countries this year. Italy and France are also among our more important markets, and we have been gaining momentum in Switzerland.

The Baltic States and Hungary have been opening up in recent years. We make our living in these markets, all other markets are just cherries on top. These include, for example, Ukraine and Vietnam. Every now and then we have projects in Kazakhstan, and we are relying on doing business in Saudi Arabia and Oman, which are still opening up. We also have a multi-million project coming up in Mexico.

Rollers for cold-rolling Cast iron rollers Coated rollers Components manufactured in line with client specifications and our specifications Special hydro-cylinders Metallurgical equipment Compound equipment Engineering / Planning Forgings / Castings Mechanical processing Thermal handling Quality control Rollers for cold-rolling Cast iron rollers Coated rollers Components manufactured in line with client specifications and our specifications Special hydro-cylinders Metallurgical equipment Compound equipment Engineering / Planning Forgings / Castings Mechanical processing Thermal handling Quality control Rollers for cold-rolling Cast iron rollers Coated rollers Components manufactured in line with client specifications and our specifications

(K).

KCLDINl:ii Equipment for Rolling Mills Metallurgical Equipment Forged Rollers Special Rollers Hydro-cylinders Cast Iron Rollers Kolding d.o.o.

Nicina 12c, SI-2391 Prevalje T: +386 2 82 34 340, F: +386 2 82 34 350 E: kolding@kolding.si

www.kolding.si

The EU has not prolonged the trade barrier it imposed on the imports of Chinese solar panels in 2013. How will this affect the photovoltaic market in the EU if we know that China has defined photovoltaics as one of its key industries?

There had been no import duty on Chinese modules until 2013, and the European Commission is wrong if it believes it protected us. The Chinese swiftly moved their production to Vietnam and have been sending modules to Europe from there. Today, Chinese manufacturers not only receive production facilities from the state but have an important advantage in terms of costs. They only pay a 6.5-per cent value added tax on raw material input and get a 17.5-per cent tax refund on everything they export. If we purchase glass for solar panels in China, where the price is half of that in Europe, we must pay a 60-per cent customs duty, which puts us in a very subordinate position. Let me put it this way: this is as if two people ran a hundred metres, the first one had their arm and leg tied, and the other one takes performance-enhancing drugs. Even after the elimination of the import duty on Chinese products, I do not expect many changes, since today the Chinese are strongly present in the photovoltaic market. However, this will not stop us. We know that a certain share of clients will always want to purchase European highquality products and products in relation to which they may rely on warranty. We have been collaborating with

Coiler

Hydraulic Shears 600T

some distributors for over ten years, and we believe that we will continue to do so.

How turbulent will Brexit be for the photovoltaic market?

I believe that Brexit will not negatively impact our industry. We do not feel any major consequences, and the demand for solar panels has not decreased. The only change for us is that today all prices in Britain are pegged to the euro exchange rate. However, we will be delighted when the conditions stabilise, since this is always important for business.

In addition to photovoltaic modules, the BISOL Group is increasingly gaining ground as a manufacturer of load-bearing constructions for solar power plants, hybrid and off-grid solar systems. How important can this section of business become?

The sub-constructions to which modules are mounted still have a lot of room for improvement, and the margins of these products may also be higher. At BISOL, we have our fair share of experience with the development of products and the optimisation of solutions, which probably stems from our past. We used to have 70 employees who worked on the design and installation of power plants.

Solar power plants today are much better than they used to be. Do the modules that are used today differ much from the modules used ten years ago?

Jure Makovec

The competition in the market and progressively lower prices of modules force manufacturers to keep monitoring new developments in the market and introduce new materials. At the same time, we are very conservative when it comes to the choice of raw materials, as we give our clients 25-year warranties. I would like to point out that the modules we manufactured twenty years ago still function perfectly well. At BISOL, we have an environmental chamber, in which products undergo accelerated ageing. In this way, we test how individual materials work out in the long term. Tests of more advanced materials show that they continue to function for up to 100 years.

Brexit will not negatively impact photovoltaics.

“We do not feel any major consequences, and the demand for solar panels has not decreased due to Brexit. However, we will be delighted when the conditions stabilise,” emphasises Dr Uroš Merc, Chairman of the Board of BISOL. 16 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Can you say how successful your business will be this year and how much revenue you expect?

Business is excellent, the only problem is that the prices of solar panels dropped this year by 25 per cent and we have to put all our efforts into maintaining our turnover.

After an exceptional 2016, when we generated a turnover of EUR 80 million at the group level, we expect a EUR 40 million turnover this year. The difference, of course, is due to large projects, which happen one year but not the other or they are delayed. This year or at the beginning of next year, we will install a new production line in Prebold, which will be fully automated and will enable us to be even more flexible in our operation.

A family dairy.

SI-EKO-001 Slovensko kmetijstvo

THE O NLY IN EU DAIRY S P E C RO P E IN TH IALISIN G E P RO DUC T OF ION by th KEFIR e trad meth itional od.

The Krepko Dairy is the only dairy in the EU that specialises in the mass production of traditional kefir from real kefir grains. For more than 20 years, Mlekarna Krepko has been taking care of kefir grains originating from Caucasus, the homeland of kefir. The grains had been protected like a sacred thing for centuries by the locals, who passed the legend about the healing effects of the traditional drink from one generation to another - as an elixir of health, youth and long life.

The second generation of the family-run Dairy Krepko is successfully entering the global market and developing numerous innovative projects based on kefir and the rich microflora of kefir grains. Scientists have found that a single kefir grain can contain more than 100 species of various beneficial microorganisms, which live in symbiosis with kefiran, the probiotic specific to kefir. These characteristics of kefir grains turn ordinary milk into a “symbiotic” – traditional kefir.

Various products commercially named kefir are actually made from instant milk cultures; they are only imitations and have nothing to do with the traditional kefir described above! This has been also confirmed by a BBC survey and testing in the Series 6 Episode 1 of the Trust me I am a Doctor TV series, which underlined that the real kefir has by far the best influence on digestion among all compared foods.

BBC research and testing in Trust Me I’m a Doctor series 6, episode 1 underlined that this grain has by far the best influence on digestion of all comparable foodstuff.

With us, you can make a strategic partnership, start franchise production, or offer your consumers an excellent fermented milk product, designed and bottled especially for you - the original “Krepko Kefir”, in the UK or anywhere else in the world...

Our kefir is the only kefir produced in the EU to be awarded the Three Star Superior Taste Award in Brussels.

www.mlekarna-krepko.si

A kefir grain Sister and brother: Sandra Turnšek, managing director and Daniel Kelečević, technical director

WHAT HAS BEEN ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTORS TO SLOVENIA?

Scottish saw

about to be heard in Slovenia

A

t the end of this year or at the beginning of next year, construction machines are expected to start rumbling in Gomilsko, only an hour’s drive from the Slovenian capital. BSW Timber, a Scottish family company with an almost 170year tradition, chose Slovenia for its large new investment. If everything goes according to plan, the Scottish saw will be heard in Gomilsko in two years.

The arrival of BSW Timber in Slovenia is a positive example that the third most forested country in Europe is open to the internationalisation of its economy even when it comes to the management of such crucial strategic assets as wood or strategic industries such as the forestry and wood industry. The Scottish company is, no doubt, aware of Slovenia’s extraordinary potential. In search of growth outside the United Kingdom, the company first resorted to Latvia a few years ago. As much as 60 per cent of Slovenia is covered in forests, making it the ideal location due to the accessibility of this raw material.

In Slovenia, BSW Timber does not only intend to build a high-tech wood processing centre with the largest sawmill in the country, but three production centres which are expected to employ 170 people. In addition to the sawmill with the capacity to cut 300,000 cubic metres of wood annually, the Scots’ plans include a pellet production plant and wood biomass cogeneration, the production of palettes and wood packaging. They will also produce wood products for various industries, from shops to construction and the wood industry, for example structures, fences, terraces, etc.

a new paint shop in Hoče near the Slovenian–Austrian border, which is expected to employ 400 people. But this is not the end of its ambitions, as it has been preparing the ground for the second stage of its investment, after which car production would be established in Slovenia.

The Japanese Yaskawa, one of the leading multinational companies in the field of propulsion technology, robots, systemic engineering and industrial automation in the world, also picked Slovenia for its new factory in Europe.

The Japanese corporation will not only produce robots in

A small market is no barrier to foreign investments

Ten years ago, Slovenia with its two million residents was deemed a country that was rather closed to foreign investments. In recent years, this has changed. Slovenia has become more open to foreign capital, and foreign investors have been showing more interest in investments in this Central European country nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean. Next spring, the Canadian–Austrian automotive giant Magna Steyr will open 18 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

“Slovenia has a lot of hidden potential in the wood processing industry, and together, we can utilise this potential for the benefit of Slovenia and BSW Timber,” points out Alex Brownlie, Commercial Director of the BSW Timber Group, which intends to invest EUR 40 million in its new sawmill in Slovenia.

Slovenia, but it will also have its distribution centre here.

By planting a Japanese cherry and a Slovenian linden tree, the Swiss company Lonstroff, which is owned by the Japanese concern Sumitomo Rubbers Industries, marked the beginning of the construction of its new facility for the production of elastomers for medical applications in Slovenia. If everything goes according to plan, the fifth largest producer of rubber in the world, which also produces rubber products for medical applications, will open its new facility, which is expected to employ 180 people, in April next year.

Slovenians are full of enthusiasm and will to work

“There are many reasons why Slovenia is a good country for investments,” stresses Alex Brownlie, Commercial Director of BSW Timber. In addition to high-quality natural resources (of wood) and its eurozone membership, the Scottish investor particularly points out, as important advantages, Slovenia’s geostrategic position between Western Europe and South-Eastern Europe, its strong in-country logistics and well-developed infrastructure.

An important role is assumed also by the Port of Koper near the Slovenian–Italian border as a logistics and distribution centre for Central and South-Eastern Europe.

“Slovenia’s geographic location facilitates good access to Central European markets, North Africa, Middle East as well as global markets,” stresses Brownlie. Slovenia is also at the intersection of two important transport corridors, namely of the fifth transport corridor that connects Lisbon to Kiev and the tenth transport corridor that con-

nects Munich to the Greek port of Thessaloniki.

According to Brownlie, the advantages that attract foreign capital to Slovenia also include the country’s positive business climate, Slovenians’ good technical and commercial knowledge as well as their enthusiasm and will to work and achieve strong positive results. “This can be further enhanced and directed with the higher technological level that BSW brings with our investment and our presence on the global market. We also expect that our presence in the Slovenian market will result in an increasing number of companies being involved within the wood processing chain and increasing the amount of timber processing at higher levels of difficulty with stateof-the-art technology and innovation ensuring that the value stays in Slovenia rather than exporting raw logs out of the country,” he stressed.

The long tradition, knowledge and rich experience of the Slovenian wood processing industry are also important for the Scottish investor. “Slovenia has a lot of hidden potential in the wood processing industry, and together, we can utilise this potential for the benefit of

Aleš Zdešar/sto

Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe.

How good is the cooperation between Slovenia and Great Britain Trade in goods between Slovenia and the United Kingdom has been increasing in recent years. In 2017, it amounted to slightly over EUR 921 million.

Slovenia imported slightly more than half a billion worth of goods to Britain and exported EUR 382 million worth of goods. www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 19

Data for Slovenia ECONOMIC GROWTH

EXTERNAL TRADE

5.1%

Exports to the EU

77% of exports

Share of exports in GDP

77%

4.4%

16.20%

40.70%

3.7%

3.1% 10.10%

Structure of Slovenian Exports

9.90% 5.20%

2.70% 3.20% Road vehicles Electrical machines and apparatus Medical and pharmaceutical products

4.70% 3.40%

3.90%

Industrial machines for general use

Iron and steel

Metal products

Petroleum and petroleum derivatives

Various finished products

Coloured metals

Life expectancy

81.2 years

Other

2016

2017

2018

2019 forecast

Tourist arrivals:

1.4 million tourists in 1991

4.3 million tourists in 2017

Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development

20 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

“Brexit will significantly affect the strategy of British businesspeople regarding their business with Continental Europe, as it remains by far the most important trading partner for Britain. It would be extremely important for Slovenia, as a very small and open economy, to be actively present in the preparation process of this strategy as a niche player,” emphasises respected Slovenian economist Mojmir Mrak.

Slovenia and BSW Timber,” emphasises Brownlie. His answer to the question of whether Slovenia can become a hub for British companies after Brexit was that this can happen independently of Brexit.

According to the number of employees, Titus Dekani ranks first among companies with British capital. Titus Dekani deals with the development, production and sales of various parts of furniture fittings and employs 512 people in Dekani near the Slovenian–Italian border. Since 2005, the company from Dekani has been part of the British group Titus International Ltd., the largest producer and the leading brand in cabinet hardware for home assembly. The British multinational company GKN Driveline, which produces automotive components, has found its new home on the other side of Slovenia in Zreče near the Slovenian–Austrian border. GKN Driveline entered Slovenia in 1998 by purchasing the factory GKN Driveline Slovenija, where prop shafts, homokinetic joints and tripods are produced today for most European and numerous overseas car brands.

Has Slovenia been overtaking the states of the Visegrad Group?

Respected Slovenian economist Mojmir Mrak, who distinguishes three groups of factors, emphasises that Slovenia has been relatively successful in attracting foreign investors in recent years. In addition to relatively favourable economic trends at the global and EU levels, the fact that Slovenia is a more attractive destination for them today than it was a few years ago, particularly in comparison with its traditional competitors, namely the states of the Visegrad Group, contributed to the growth in foreign investments.

“The states of the Visegrad Group are rather saturated with foreign investments, so some of them have problems providing the workforce required for new investments, and salaries in these states have risen in recent years more quickly than in Slovenia. Slovenia is no longer relatively so much more expensive for foreign investors than perhaps a decade ago, making it relatively more interesting for them,” stresses Mrak.

The respected economist points out the better climate for foreign investors among the important factors

for attracting foreign capital to Slovenia. For that, he credits the last government which, unlike its predecessors, was significantly more enthusiastic about, and successful in, attracting foreign investors and providing conditions which are the basis for the investors’ decisions to invest in Slovenia. “Together with a significantly better climate for foreign investors, our traditional characteristics, such as a well-educated workforce, decent infrastructure, and geographical location in combination with EU membership, became more evident than they had been in the past,” points out Mrak.

An almost five-per cent economic growth launched Slovenia among the countries that have grown twice as fast as the EU average, mainly thanks to successful export companies that sold EUR 28 billion worth of goods to other countries (or by 13.1 per cent more than in 2016) and imported EUR 27.5 billion worth of goods (or by 14.2 per cent more than in 2016). According to the latest forecasts, economic growth will exceed four per cent again this year.

Jure Makovec

Bad bank: Interest of foreign investors in bad debts is on the rise

The first contact foreign investors have with Slovenia as an investment destination is frequently the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), which manages a diverse investment portfolio worth EUR 885.8 million. The BAMC has noticed that the interest of domestic and foreign potential investors in assets managed by it has grown, which is also attributed to numerous presentations of Slovenia and its investment opportunities at professional events and meetings at home and worldwide, which are attended by the BAMC. “Abroad, Slovenia is recognised as a country that has successfully resolved the problem of non-performing assets, and the BAMC has become a role model and authority in the establishment, organisation and management of bank assets management companies in other countries,” is a point that has been emphasised by the bad bank. www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 21

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Hidden GemS of Slovenia

Why you will

fall in love with the

country on the sunny side of the Alps

H

ave you Slovenes been hiding this gem from the world intentionally?”, I was asked in the first days of September by a young British couple peacefully enjoying a glass of Furmint in Jeruzalem, one of the most beautiful Slovenian winegrowing districts, just a stone’s throw away from the Slovenian-Croatian border. It was such a beautiful day as ordinary mortals could only desire: the sun was shining lavishly on the terraces of the surrounding vineyards and tall, dark-green poplars, the rattle song was singing in vineyards, announcing the final ripening of the grapes, and apart from the occasional sound of a car winding lazily along the wine roads of the Jeruzalemske Gorice Hills, simply nothing could disturb the peace of mind found under a trellis – the pride of every landowner who, in addition to their vineyard, also takes care of the house vine.

This young British couple, with their pale yellow, slightly worn motor home, also strayed between the endless wine hills in Jeruzalem rather by chance. This dreamy green landscape in the Slovenian far north-east is still looking for a place on the world tourist map, but it seems that it will not be long before the wine roads of the Jeruzalemske Gorice Hills are flooded by tourists from all over the world.

In tourism waters, Slovenia has been sailing at high speed for four years now, and this year, too, this country of two million people, nested between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, received a new and even more important challenge – to justify its nomination as a European Gastronomic Region 2021, an honour which it will share with Coimbra, Portugal.

22 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

What wine did Napoleon’s army sip in Jeruzalem?

If you type Jeruzalem into your web browser, the likelihood of being ‘taken’ to Slovenia is, to be truthful, rather slim. You will have more luck if you browse Furmint, one of the oldest noble varieties of wine and a carefully guarded secret of Slovenia, which boasts nine winegrowing districts. What Chardonnay is to Burgundy or Sangiovese to Tuscany, Šipon (Furmint) is to Slovenia and its wine-growing region of Podravje. This white wine variety is so characteristic of Slovenia that we could say it is indigenous. Its name presumably originates from the Napoleonic period when the officers praised the wine with the words Si bon. As legend has it, the wine is known here only as Šipon, while in neighbouring Hungary, it is called Furmint because of its grain-golden colour.

But let’s get back to Jeruzalem, a small village with only 40 inhabitants, attractive not only because of its wine varieties but also the beauty of its landscape, and to the Jeruzalemske Gorice Hills, where almost every house has its own wine cellar. These hills are also famous for their authentic culinary delights, which are so good

Right next to the border with Austria, there is a place that has often been posted on Instagram in recent years.

These are the Svečinske Gorice Hills, where a heart-shaped road winds among vineyards.

www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 23

A view worth paying for

Lake Planšarsko jezero in Jezersko is another heartshaped pearl, which we may allow ourselves to describe as a pearl hidden-from-the-world by Slovenia. This magical emerald lake in the heart of the Alps, near the Slovenian-Austrian border, is now artificially dammed, but a large glacial lake, after which the place was also named, once flooded there.

The idyllic Jezersko is an incredible combination of wild, untouched nature with a backdrop of Alpine peaks, and it’s a magnet for those who seek solitude, and those who want to spend their leisure time actively. Marjan Batagelj, the Slovenian businessman who recently bought the Planinka Hotel and undertook its thorough renovation, calls Jezersko the Slovenian Davos, while others say Jezersko is a healing place. This is undoubtedly not only because of the ‘healing’ views of the picturesque green valley, immersed in the heart of the mountains, but also because of the fresh mineral water for which Jezersko is known far and wide. You can pour yourself some mineral water. All you need to do so is find a wooden trough along the road or a signpost show24 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Jost Gantar/sto

that this peaceful corner of the world is becoming increasingly popular among gourmets because the hills are famed for not copying European food flavours. And when you enjoy the unique panoramic views of the surrounding vineyard terraces or indulge in culinary delicacies at tourist farms, straw-covered wine cellars and stone vineyard cottages, and enjoy your peace of mind, you will agree with those who say that the Jeruzalemske Gorice Hills rightfully bear the name of a heavenly place.

Not long ago, the extreme north-eastern part of Slovenia along the border with Austria and Hungary, where the Prekmurje and Prlekija landscapes are located, was considered an overlooked tourist destination; however, that is changing, which has a lot to do with the English, who used to buy old houses in Prekmurje a decade ago for their extended weekend getaways, with some even moving there permanently. The Prekmurje plain, which was the bottom of the Pannonian Sea millions of years ago, is also rich in numerous water sources, and the healing waters in this region have enabled the rapid development of spa and wellness tourism. Little Slovenia has as many as 87 natural thermal springs with water temperature between 32 and 73 degrees Celsius.

From Prlekija, it is not far to the town of Ptuj, about which the famous Daily Mail recently wrote that it is the most difficult-to-pronounce place in the world among British tourists, and to the Svečinske Gorice Hills, where a heart-shaped wine road winds among the vineyards.

The survey that found that as many as 92 percent of the British pronounce the name of the oldest town in Slovenia incorrectly, inspired the local tourism institute to film a new promotional video in which Ptuj citizens teach foreign tourists in a congenial way about the correct pronunciation of the name of their city. On the other hand, in the Svečinske Gorice Hills, promotion is not even needed as their heart-shaped road is one of the most photographed Slovenian attractions on Instagram.

The idyllic Jezersko is an incredible combination of wild, untouched nature with a backdrop of Alpine peaks, and it’s a magnet for those who seek solitude, and those who want to spend their leisure time actively.

ing you the way to a mineral water spring. The mineral water tastes similar to bottled mineral water; however, it contains much less ‘added’ carbon dioxide. It is especially recommended to drink mineral water if you have cardiovascular disease, so don’t forget to take a bottle or two away with you.

There are no thermal spas or shopping centres in Jezersko; however, there are numerous walking and hiking trails that allow visitors to spend their leisure time actively in both summer and winter. Climbing tours of various difficulty levels, ski touring, cross-country skiing, as well as sledding, skating or, in the last few years, the increasingly popular snowshoeing – walking over snow with specially adapted footwear with a large surface so that the legs do not sink deep into the snow when walking. There is also something for mountain bikers and amateur cyclists who can try out numerous macadam roads leading through the glacial valleys.

Jezersko offers over 60 km of marked trails of various difficulty, but do not forget to stop at the Gostišče ob Planšarskem jezeru inn, where you will be pampered with a selection of home-made Slovenian dishes. Jezersko is located only half an hour’s drive from the main Slovenian airport at Brnik and, owing to cheap flights from the British capital, Slovenia is now accessible to British guests as a cheap weekend destination.

The Hollywood scenery of the Slovenian Tuscany

Jure Makovec

Bled with its lake and castle on the cliff is deemed one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts in Europe.

‘One would even pay for such scenery,’ emphasized the two young English at their farewell in Jeruzalem before departing for another culinary and wine indulgence – a visit to Goriška Brda near the Slovenian-Italian border.

Probably, the vicinity of the border does not have much to do with the fact that Goriška Brda likes to compete with Italy’s Tuscany; however, they most certainly have excellent wines that do not require special advertising in Goriška Brda. It has already been mentioned that there are as many as nine wine-growing regions in Slovenia and the region of Goriška Brda is definitely in the leading position, since they can boast the largest number of medals and prizes per hectare of vineyards throughout Slovenia. In Slovenia, you will find more than 28,000 wine cellars, where over 90 million litres of various wines are produced each year. Translated into the language of statistics, two-million strong Slovenia has a vineyard per every 70 inhabitants.

It seems quite right to choose a camper to travel across Goriška Brda, where you will soon feel that the entire landscape is one large vineyard. Some people swear that this idyllic landscape with gentle slopes is at its most beautiful in the spring when the landscape becomes covered in white cherry blossoms, while others prefer early fall when the landscape changes colours and the vines turn red and yellow. But one thing is certainly true: the gorgeous landscape of Goriška Brda will put you under its spell with its medieval villages and hills covered with vineyards, fruit trees or centuries-old dark-green cypresses, and before you know it, you’ll be extending your visit to Goriška Brda for a day or two.

And once you feed your soul with the downright Hollywood scenery of this fairy-tale wine-growing land-

www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 25

Aleš Beno

Some people swear that the Goriška Brda is at its most beautiful in the spring when the landscape becomes covered in white cherry blossoms, while others prefer early fall when the landscape changes colours and the vines turn red and yellow.

A natural gem in the Slovenia-AustriaItaly triangle

When you have imbibed the views of the Alpine mountains at fairy-tale Jezersko, tried the Furmint wine in heavenly Jeruzalem and pampered your taste buds with excellent culinary treats and wines in the Slovenian Tuscany, you can round off your trip with a visit to the tourist resorts of Bled and Bohinj or wander around and discover the renowned ski resort of Kranjska Gora in the northwest of Slovenia, at the foot of the Julian Alps and the Karawanks, which is a true paradise for recreation both in 26 Slovenia invites you! www.slo-mag.si

Aleš Beno

scape with castles, mansions and villas, other senses will come into play since Goriška Brda is a place producing exquisite wines as well as superb food. Fresh bread and home-made olive oil. Prosciutto and pancetta. Goat’s cheese, asparagus, corn pudding... these are just some of the delicious dishes in which you can indulge at Goriška Brda while being caressed by the warm Mediterranean air from the sea that is only a stone’s throw away.

And if you are a fan of escaping into the unknown, you may perhaps receive a very special bonus at Goriška Brda – when you drive along the winding local roads, you may well find that you are not completely sure whether you are in Slovenia or in Italy. summer and winter. Kranjska Gora lies in a narrow area of the Triglav National Park, named after Triglav, the symbol of Slovenia and its highest mountain, with an elevation of 2,864 m and only a crow’s flight from the triple border between Slovenia, Italy and Austria. In its immediate vicinity, there is the Planica Nordic Centre, which is best known for world cup competitions in ski jumping.

The Triglav National Park boasts crystal clear waters, wild waters, canyons, the remnants of primeval forests, the largest natural lake in Slovenia (Lake Bohinj), and most of all, an unbelievable view of the Julian Alps scenery that will bring you back to Slovenia time and again.

SLOVENIA. PRIME LOCATION to INVEST. We help you start and grow your business in Slovenia.

Qua

lity

of L

ife

Slovenia’s time-tested qualities make it a prime location for R&D competence centres, logistic centres and green technologies. www.investslovenia.org

Foreign investors are of key importance for Slovenia.

We are here for you. Standing by your side in the Slovene business environment.

We aspire to grow and develop together. To learn from one another.

To make progress together.

Bohinj, Slovenia