NEWS

Minister Radovan Žerjav, MSc at the Slovenian-Brazilian business forum in São Paulo in the framework of the Slovenian Government-Economic visit to Brazil

Ljubljana, 19 June 2012 – On 18 and 19 June 2012 the Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Radovan Žerjav, MSc together with the Government and Economic delegation visited the Federal state of São Paulo in the Federative Republic of Brazil. The members of the Slovenian economic delegation are the representatives of 26 organisations and enterprises in the field of information-communication technologies, electronics, energy, green technologies, logistics, food processing industry, automobile and chemical industry and biomedicine.

Together with the Government and Economic Delegation the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Radovan Žerjav, MSc is today attending the Slovenian-Brazilian business forum which is organised by the Federation of Industries of the Federal State of São Paulo. In his address, the Minister Radovan Žerjav, MSc underlined that “today’s event proves that physical distance does not play such an important role in searching for new opportunities to strengthen the economy. Despite being a small country, Slovenia offers numerous new high-tech products and technologies which are adapted to the demands of the modern societies. Even more, in most cases these are the solutions and technologies which are unique worldwide.” The Minister also said that the countries are most alike in their endeavours to develop modern technologies with a special feeling for the environment-friendly technologies.           
 
On Monday, 18 June 2012, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Radovan Žerjav, MSc in São Paulo visited the Butantan Institute; he met with the Mayor of São Paulo – a 40 million city – Mr Gilberto Kassab. The Minister also visited the production premises of the enterprise Drava Metais LTDA and attended the reception for the members of the Slovenian delegation and the Slovenes in São Paulo where he gave an address. Minister Radovan Žerjav, MSc in his conversation with the Mayor of São Paulo Mr Gilberto Kassab said that Slovenia is an entry point to the European Union internal market, which is the largest Brazilian trade partner. The Minister also mentioned the opportunities which Slovenia can – due to its historical background and geographical position – offer in accessing the markets of the Western Balkan region. The visit was concluded with the invitation to the mayor Kassab to visit Slovenia and Ljubljana. Minister Radovan Žerjav, MSc underlined that “Slovenia is – in comparison to Brazil as well as the Federal state of São Paulo and even the capital city São Paulo – small; it, however, can offer a lot, especially in the field of science, technology and innovations and knowledge. In the Slovenian delegation at least a third of the enterprises have special projects which can be implemented in Brazil. I believe that at least some will be realised in the form of a concrete cooperation.”                

 

Acting Director General of the Directorate for Tourism and Internationalisation at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Marjan Hribar, MSc, is presenting the Slovenian investment and tourist environment to the participants of the business forum. His emphasis is on the quality of Slovenian skilled workers, infrastructure and great links to the markets in the region and in the former Yugoslavia. “Indeed, Slovenia’s labour force is not cheap, but Slovenia is cost efficient – technologically oriented, innovative and educated. Also, Slovenia is a politically stable country with a favourable geo-strategic position and modern information and transport connections – let me underline the Port of Koper”, said Hribar, MSc.

 

Marjan Hribar, MSc presented to the Brazilian enterprises also the investment opportunities offered by the Slovenian economy, namely in the field of tourism, logistics and distribution, automobile industry, electricity industry and renewable energy sources.      

  

The members of the Slovenian economic delegation, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were the representatives of 26 organisations and enterprises in the field of information-communication technologies, electronics, energy, green technologies, logistics, food processing industry, automobile and chemical industry and biomedicine.

 

There are also numerous opportunities to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in the field of science and technology, energy, renewable energy sources, green technologies, chemistry and biomedicine, information-telecommunication technologies, automobile industry and engineering, satellite technologies and logistics.   

 

Brazil is the first trading partner of Slovenia in South America. The volume of trade in 2011 amounted to 151.4 million Euros, which is 55% higher if compared to 2010. Last year, Slovenia exported to Brazil 37.1 million worth of goods, which is 7.2% higher if compared to 2010, and imported from Brazil 114.2 million worth of goods, which is 80% higher if compared to 2010. In 2010, Slovenian enterprises invested 6.6 million Euros in Brazil. However, the volume of foreign direct investment between the two countries remains modest.