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www.slo-mag.si INVITES
YOU!
“Eachsunny day
means money
in the bank account.”
12-16
10
YEAR ADRIA
WATER INGRESS
warranty
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
A billion worth
of opportunities
A
t the end of this year or at the beginning of next,
construction machines are expected to start Trade in goods between Slovenia and the United
rumbling in Gomilsko, only an hour’s drive from Kingdom has been increasing in recent years and is
the Slovenian capital. BSW Timber, a Scottish family approaching the magic boundary of one billion euros.
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. tors as it was perhaps a decade ago. Therefore, Slovenia has become a more
The arrival of BSW Timber in Slovenia is a positive example attractive destination for foreign investments than it was a few years ago,
that the third most forested country in Europe is open to the particularly in comparison with its traditional competitors, namely the states
internationalisation of its economy even when it comes to of the Visegrad Group, asserts the respectable Slovenian economist Mojmir
the management of such crucial strategic assets as wood or Mrak.
strategic industries such as the forestry and wood industry. Although the trade in goods between Slovenia and the United Kingdom
Ten years ago, Slovenia with its two million residents was may not (yet) be described as highly substantial, the realisation that, in the
deemed a country that was rather closed to foreign invest- modern world, distance is no longer a strategic category is far more important
ments. This, however, has been changing and today, Slovenia than actual numbers. Slovenian companies are known for their innovative-
attracts companies from countries for which it initially was not ness and a well-educated workforce, and the best markets for innovative
the first and obvious choice. Magna Steyr, Yaskawa and Sumi- companies are those that are the most competitive, of which the companies
tomo Rubber Industries are only a few of the important global described in our magazine are well aware. Stronger cooperation with Britain is
players that have recognised the advantages of Slovenia in an opportunity not only for a better global recognition of Slovenian com-
recent years for their greenfield investments. In addition to the panies but also for Slovenia to make a global breakthrough in business and
country’s geostrategic position between Western Europe and technology. The more Slovenian and British companies nurture their relation-
South-Eastern Europe and its well-developed infrastructure, ships and get to know each other the more opportunities there will be to take
respectable economists include among such advantages the advantage of numerous undiscovered economic and commercial opportuni-
fact that Slovenia is no longer as expensive for foreign inves- ties between the two countries. Vanja Tekavec
SLOVENIA
www.slo-mag.si
Editor: Project Manager: Publisher:
INVITES
YOU!
Vanja Tekavec Monika Klinar Časnik Finance, d. o. o.,
Telephone: +386 1 30 91 480 Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
November 2018 Technical Editor: E-Mail: monika.klinar@finance.si www.finance.si
On the cover: Maja Volk Advertisement Marketing: Director and Editor in Chief:
Telephone: +386 1 30 91 590 Peter Frankl
Dr Uroš Merc,
Translation: E-Mail: oglasi@finance.si
Chairman of the Board of the BISOL Group
PSD, d. o. o.
Photography:
Jure Makovec
(www.psdtranslation.com/en)
Circulation: 45.300 Izv zniki.si
www.slo-mag.si Slovenia invites you! 3
Partners of this edition WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS DONE BY
of the magazine SLOVENIAN AND BRITISH COMPANIES?
2 ADRIA MOBIL, D.O.O.
sl.adria-mobil.com
These are
M: +386 7 393 71 00
E: info@adria-mobil.si
exporters
5 OIKOS HOUSING, MONIKA JANKOVIĆ S.P.
oikoshousing.com
M: +386 40 894 144
that boost
E: nebojsa@oikoshousing.com
exports
7 SATLER OKNA IN VRATA d.o.o.
www.okna-satler.si
M: +386 2 29 27 458
to Britain
E: info@lip-satler.si
C
E: prodajne.storitve@har.si
an you guess how many Britons come to Slove-
nia on holidays with a Slovenian motor home?
21 OBČINA AJDOVŠČINA Or who made the glass in which a famous Brit-
www.ajdovscina.si ish producer of non-alcoholic drinks presented
its new cocktail at Wimbledon, or what the odds are
M: +386 51 601 267
that a marker pen from a British producer was made in
E: igor.zibrik@ajdovscina.si
Slovenia?
These are only a few products used by Slovenian com-
15 panies to pave their way to the British market. We asked
KOLDING d.o.o.
them how their businesses fared this year and what
www.kolding.si novelties they have in store for their customers in Britain.
M: +386 2 82 34 340
E: kolding@kolding.si How many British come to Slovenia with a
Slovenian motor home?
The leisure vehicle producer Adria Mobil has been loyal
15 KELE & KELE, d.o.o. to the British market since 1969. This loyalty has paid off,
www.mlekarna-krepko.si 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
Income, an ice cream producer, among London
Stock Exchange winners
The London Stock Exchange put Incom, an ice cream and frozen
27 SPIRIT Slovenija, javna agencija dessert producer, on the list of 1000 Companies to Inspire. The largest
Slovenian ice cream producer exports products to 46 countries from
www.spiritslovenia.si Australia to the USA. The company has been growing fast, enabled by
M: +386 1 589 18 70 its significant investments. It produces over two million ice creams and
E: info@spiritslovenia.si
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
Follow us on 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.
company can pride itself on a number of recognitions to British customers. “Compared to the continental
and awards, including the most prestigious one - the countries, the weather in Great Britain permits the buy-
Customer Satisfaction Award, presented by buyers of lei- ers of leisure vehicles to enjoy their leisure time outside
sure vehicles in Great Britain. This year, Adria Mobil won their motor home or caravan less frequently and thus
this trophy for the fifth year in a row and their brand was they spend much more time inside their vehicles. This is
also recognized as the Overall Winner with the highest why the comfort, homeliness, warmth and spaciousness
possible score. of the interior are much more important to them than to
Great Britain has always been at the forefront in terms the customers in the continental countries,” the company
of the number of newly registered motor homes, right has noticed. In Great Britain, customers increasingly pre-
after Germany and France; however, success does not fer buying camper vans – leisure vehicles similar to vans.
come by itself. When asked what is important to succeed Following this trend, Adria Mobil has presented a new
on the British market, Adria Mobil replied that it is neces- series of products with a large panoramic sunroof for
sary to recognize which are the special features relevant the 2019 season. “This season, we also presented a new
NEW INNOVAT IV E P R EF A B R IC A T ED NE
MODULA R TEC HNOLOG Y W
TI NY HOUSES, EC O S T R U C T U R ES & G LA M P ING
S EA RCHIN G FOR A ST RA T EGIC PAR TNER IN THE U K MARKET
Lovro Rozina
which enables a specific and necessary input to the de-
velopment 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
Steklarna the leisure industry. Last year, the company generated
Hrastnik wishes 8 percent of its total sales in Britain, and it is also doing
Adria Mobil: »British to find its way
to the owners
well this year.
customers of spirits
Steklarna Hrastnik place their bets on
do not compromise« brands who
have distilleries producers of gin and whisky
That many steps need to be taken for a company in Great The British market is also a strategic market for Steklarna
to win the Gold Customer Satisfaction Award in Britain. In the Hrastnik, one of the largest glass manufacturers of the
such a demanding market as that of Britain is photo: A new
former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nowadays, this compa-
pointed out by Adria Mobil, which received this bottle called
Alaska from ny with over 150 years of tradition is present in the British
award given by British customers for the fifth year
in a row. Adria Mobil’s answer to the question of the HighGlass market with two brands - the HighGlass spirits collec-
whether they adapted their sales strategy to the spirits tion in the spirits segment and the HighGlass perfumes
British market was that first they had to recognise collection. collection in the perfume segment. With its tableware
the needs of British customers and adapt their programme, the company made it to the shelves of five
products to them. “Development costs were retail chains, and its glassware is also used by owners of
high, but we have learned in time that we will
not conquer the British market by compromising. prestigious brands for presentations of their products. “A
British customers do not compromise and want well-known brand used glasses from our new Freya col-
products tailored to their needs,” stresses the lection for a presentation of its new cocktail in Wimble-
Slovenian company whose brand Adria marked don,” said the glass maker from Hrastnik.
its 50th anniversary of existence and operation It sees new opportunities in the British market, par-
in the market in 2015. An important step in ticularly in the spirits segment, where it wants to find
expansion to the British market, which is the
largest European market for caravans and one of its way to the owners of brands with distilleries in Great
the larger markets for mobile homes, was also the Britain. With this in mind, the company presented itself
establishment of the independent company Adria last year to producers of spirits in Glasgow and this year
Concessionaires Ltd., which encompasses over 30 they repeated the presentation in Edinburgh. “This is
points of sale in Britain and is in regular contact how we gradually, but carefully, build on our visibility
with British traders and customers. “With market
in the British market, in particular in the craft distillery
growth, we increased the number of products
developed specifically for the British market, and segment. Namely, Scotland and Ireland are becoming
our sales and service network has grown, too. major producers in this segment, in particular of gin and
The United Kingdom is a large country to which whiskey. Based on our experience, we can say that the
we adapted by setting up points of sales across bottles from our own HighGlass spirits collection are
all regions to be closer to customers. The sales of the most interesting for this segment,” underlined the
Adria Concessionaires are currently most boosted
by our points of sales in the central British region representatives of the glass manufacturer, which is also
(the Midlands),” adds Adria Mobil, which is known traditionally featured at the World Drinks Award confer-
in the British market as a premium leisure vehicle ence in London.
brand. Adria Mobil has increased its market share A majority of the glass manufacturer’s projects is
in the British market in recent years, and for the carried out through their own distributors in accord-
past five years, the company has been growing
ance with their clients’ designs, which is precisely what
by more than the average level of growth in the
British market. enables them to be flexible in terms of produced quanti-
Andraz Purgandraz.purg@gmail.co
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 Septem-
According to Vivapen, a family business that has ber it had increased to 4.85 percent, emphasized Petra
pursued the development and production of pens for Melanšek, who has taken over the management of
two generations already, British customers love to visit Vivapen from her father, Jože. “When my father engaged
Slovenia, both for business and private affairs. In the in the sales of our products, we were mostly present on
photograph: Petra Melanšek with her father Jože and the German-speaking market and this changed after
her son Luka.
CHILDREN ROOM
HARMONY
FA I RY TA L E C O L O U R S …
Gentle and traditional collection of furniture combined with a wide range Th e f i n e s t B e au t y.
of fabulous colours will fill your room with vital energy — this necessary
and wonderful ingredient of life. Choosing the right shade of colour has a
favorable effect on the well-being of the child.
s at l e r o k na i n v r ata , d. o. o.
1 S B i s t r i š k a c e s t a 2 | 2 3 1 9 Po l j č a n e | S l o v e n i a
t : + 3 8 6 ( 0 ) 2 2 2 9 2 7 4 5 1 | e : i n f o @ l i p - s a t l e r. s i
1 Year Easy Slovenian
Warranty Assembly Wood WWW.LIP-SATLER.SI
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 dis-
tribute 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 be-
cause of its size, the inhabitants’ attitude to sustainable
1992. I have always been very fond of Great Britain and development and its purchasing power, as well as for be-
I also like their culture, which is why it was quite ‘easy to ing a reference for entry to other international markets.
launch’ sales there. We met our customers at a fair and The company Despite the uncertain circumstances as a consequence
made friendly contacts. We have never traded in British Plastika Skaza of Brexit, the company wants to maintain a continuous
has been
pounds, but always in the current currency: first the Ger- and steady growth in Great Britain and they will focus
working for
man mark, and later the Euro. They love to visit Slovenia, decades with their efforts on further promotion of their own-brand
both for business affairs and with their families,” says Mrs. partners in the products. In particular, they will focus on two sustainable
Melanšek. furniture and solutions – the Bokashi Organko 2 kitchen composter
The main customer of Vivapen in the British market is electronics and the Pick&Go picnic set.
Manuscript, the company which specializes in callig- industries on the
British market
raphy and products and pens for creative writing and and they are Arctur: “Brexit will not change our plans
drawing. “Most of Manuscript’s exports go to North also present in the British market”
America. In order to obtain certificates to sell products with their own With mathematical models and numeric simulations,
in the American market, the right materials must be Skaza brand small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can sig-
chosen, and as a producer, we enable this,” underlined products. In the nificantly improve the features of their products and
photo: Skaza
Mrs. Melanšek. Vivapen’s own brand is not present in the develop new ones. This is the niche market of the Arctur
also produces
British market, but they produce for recognised custom- plastic chairs for company, a leading provider of high-performance com-
ers and they enjoy the advantage of largely automated Ikea. puting services, which is already generating one-fifth of
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 market-
ing, so that we can focus on where we are needed the
most– the development of processes, products and ma-
terials,” 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.
CEO of Weiler
Abrasives d. o. o.
its exports in the British market. Buyers of Arctur’s ser- of Brexit. “Perhaps there will be fewer joint research
vices in Britain include high-tech companies operating and development projects after Brexit, but economic
in niche markets, such as Zyba Ltd, which develops wave cooperation, which is at least equally if not even more
energy power plants; Icon Ltd, which produces software important for us, will probably even expand,” he further
for aerodynamics simulations for the automotive indus- emphasised.
try; and PowerKut Ltd, which is active in Industry 4.0, to
name just a few. Weiler Abrasives penetrating the British
According to Tomi Ilijaš, the director of Arctur, the market, collecting awards at home
company paved its way to the British market in 2011, Entering new markets is also the main strategy of the
when they met Professor Mark Parsons, the director of company Weiler Abrasives d. o. o., one of the leading
the EPCC supercomputing centre at the University of manufactures of artificial abrasives and technical fabrics
Edinburgh, which resulted in a very fruitful cooperation. in Europe, which is a member of the global Weiler
“We operate in two fields: research and development, Abrasives Group. They have been present on the British
where we are working together with the EPCC on three market for 35 years, and last year, they launched their
large European projects, and we have also been co-mar- new brand there, the Metalynx, and the company is very
keting high-performance computing services to various ambitious regarding it. “The Metalynx product line is
British hi-tech companies. We also cooperate with some available in two quality levels - PRO and MAX - and it ena-
other universities in Great Britain and these were the bles customers to reduce operational costs by increasing
references that opened the door to other international productivity,” emphasised the Slovenian company, which
markets for us,” he underlined. This year, the company annually generates more than EUR 3 million of revenue
broke new ground in Slovenia, namely, in tourism, where on the British market.
they started developing the platform Tourism 4.0 to For the purpose of expanding into the British market,
connect tourism providers and tourists. This is currently Weiler Abrasives d. o. o. has joined forces with a local
the largest research and development project in tourism partner, International Abrasives of Leicester, a fast-growing
in the history of Slovenia and Mr. Ilijaš added that it is company which specializes in abrasives and has excellent
interesting that a similar project is now being conducted knowledge of the British market. The company is commit-
by the partner EPCC in Scotland. “Although investments ted to constant innovation, and it is their innovative prod-
in the development of the tourism platform will pay off ucts that open doors to the most important customers on
only in the coming years, we have already significantly global markets. Some of their innovations received awards;
expanded our team this year and employed top experts among others, the company received a golden award of
from various fields, not only computing,” he said. And the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce for the development
what’s next? Mr. Ilijaš answered that they do not intend of new production technology for UltraCut thin cutting
to change their strategy in the British market because wheels, the key part of their new Metalynx brand.
million of
increasingly less need for subsidising of the produc- income very important for us that we are financially very stable,
tion of solar energy, which makes the British market and we finance everything with our own funds. Our
especially interesting and promises future growth. As far production is increasingly automated, which enables us
as support scheme cuts go, Britain is not the only one. to optimise our costs.
At the beginning, all states generously subsidised the The BISOL
Group, a
erection of solar power plants but have now dropped manufacturer How have you set up your distribution
this. Nevertheless, the erection of solar power plants of photovoltaic network in Britain? Where are you present?
has been continuing worldwide. There have been no modules, is Our distribution network is spread across Britain, but
support schemes in Italy for years, but still, the market expected to most supplies are made to the central and northern part,
functions perfectly. The same is true for the Benelux generate EUR also thanks to our partnership with the company SolFit,
40 million
countries, where we have been present for a number of of income, for which we have been manufacturing the namesake
years. Ten years ago, the prices of photovoltaic models of which solution. We have also had a warehouse in Britain from
were higher, while today, the photovoltaic industry can appropriately a the outset, which enables us to swiftly respond to our
perfectly compete with conventional energy sources. quarter will be clients’ needs.
Many people who purchase electricity coming from the in the Benelux
grid pay more than if they had produced the energy countries, which How do you see the dynamics of the British
are deemed
themselves. It suffices to say that the French energy the strongest market in the next five or ten years? Will the
giant EDF makes the construction of new nuclear power market. BISOL solar energy market continue to grow, and if
plants in Britain conditional on the guarantee of the has three pillars, yes, why?
British government to purchase electricity produced with the most The answer is simple. The market will continue to grow,
by nuclear power plants at a fixed price for the next 40 important being since the prices of electricity from solar panels are lower
the manufacture
years. than the prices of electricity coming from the grid. I firmly
of photovoltaic
modules in believe that the main development for the manufacturers
You say that the photovoltaic industry Prebold, which of photovoltaic modules has yet to come.
is currently running more or less is only an hour’s
without government support. How have drive from the In your peak period, your market share in
manufacturers been adapting to this fact? capital Ljubljana Belgium reached almost 40 per cent. How did
and where over
We have been working in four shifts for the past two and 200 employees you manage that and how is your business
a half years, and each year, we produce more. It is also work. there today?
(K).
Cast iron rollers
Coated rollers
Components manufactured
in line with client
specifications and our
KCLDINl:ii
specifications Coiler
Special hydro-cylinders
Metallurgical equipment
Compound equipment
Hydraulic Shears
Equipment for
Engineering / Planning 600T
Forgings / Castings
Mechanical processing
Rolling Mills
Thermal handling
Quality control
Rollers for cold-rolling
Cast iron rollers
Coated rollers
Components manufactured
in line with client Metallurgical Equipment
specifications and our
specifications Forged Rollers
Special hydro-cylinders
Metallurgical equipment Special Rollers
Compound equipment
Engineering / Planning
Forgings / Castings
Hydro-cylinders
Mechanical processing
Thermal handling
Cast Iron Rollers
Quality control
Rollers for cold-rolling
Cast iron rollers Kolding d.o.o.
Coated rollers Nicina 12c, SI-2391 Prevalje
Components manufactured T: +386 2 82 34 340, F: +386 2 82 34 350
in line with client E: kolding@kolding.si
specifications and our
specifications www.kolding.si
some distributors for over ten years, and we believe
that we will continue to do so.
THE O
NLY
IN EU DAIRY
S P E C RO P E
IN TH IALISIN
E P RO G
DUC T
OF ION
by th KEFIR
e trad
meth itional
od.
Scottish saw
about to be heard in
Slovenia
A
t the end of this year or at the beginning a new paint shop in Hoče near the Slovenian–Austrian
of next year, construction machines are ex- border, which is expected to employ 400 people. But this
pected to start rumbling in Gomilsko, only an is not the end of its ambitions, as it has been preparing
hour’s drive from the Slovenian capital. BSW the ground for the second stage of its investment, after
Timber, a Scottish family company with an almost 170- which car production would be established in Slovenia.
year tradition, chose Slovenia for its large new invest- The Japanese Yaskawa, one of the leading multinational
ment. If everything goes according to plan, the Scottish companies in the field of propulsion technology, robots,
saw will be heard in Gomilsko in two years. systemic engineering and industrial automation in the
The arrival of BSW Timber in Slovenia is a positive world, also picked Slovenia for its new factory in Europe.
example that the third most forested country in Europe The Japanese corporation will not only produce robots in
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 com-
pany 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 exam-
ple structures, fences, terraces, etc.
77%
to the EU
Share of
exports in GDP
77%
of exports
4.4%
16.20%
3.1% 3.7%
40.70%
10.10%
Structure of
Slovenian
Exports
9.90%
2.70% 5.20%
4.70%
3.20%
3.40% 3.90%
Road vehicles Industrial machines for Iron and steel
general use
Electrical machines Petroleum and
and apparatus Metal products petroleum derivatives
Medical and Various finished Coloured metals
pharmaceutical
products
products
Other
2016 2017 2018 2019
forecast
Life expectancy Tourist arrivals:
81.2
years
1.4 4.3
million tourists million tourists
in 1991 in 2017
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development
H
ave you Slovenes been hiding this gem from What wine did Napoleon’s army sip in
the world intentionally?”, I was asked in the Jeruzalem?
first days of September by a young British If you type Jeruzalem into your web browser, the likeli-
couple peacefully enjoying a glass of Furmint hood of being ‘taken’ to Slovenia is, to be truthful, rather
in Jeruzalem, one of the most beautiful Slovenian wine- slim. You will have more luck if you browse Furmint,
growing districts, just a stone’s throw away from the one of the oldest noble varieties of wine and a carefully
Slovenian-Croatian border. It was such a beautiful day as guarded secret of Slovenia, which boasts nine wine-
ordinary mortals could only desire: the sun was shining growing districts. What Chardonnay is to Burgundy or
lavishly on the terraces of the surrounding vineyards and Sangiovese to Tuscany, Šipon (Furmint) is to Slovenia and
tall, dark-green poplars, the rattle song was singing in its wine-growing region of Podravje. This white wine va-
vineyards, announcing the final ripening of the grapes, riety is so characteristic of Slovenia that we could say it is
and apart from the occasional sound of a car winding indigenous. Its name presumably originates from the Na-
lazily along the wine roads of the Jeruzalemske Gorice poleonic period when the officers praised the wine with
Hills, simply nothing could disturb the peace of mind the words Si bon. As legend has it, the wine is known
found under a trellis – the pride of every landowner who, here only as Šipon, while in neighbouring Hungary, it is
in addition to their vineyard, also takes care of the house called Furmint because of its grain-golden colour.
vine. But let’s get back to Jeruzalem, a small village with
This young British couple, with their pale yellow, only 40 inhabitants, attractive not only because of its
slightly worn motor home, also strayed between the wine varieties but also the beauty of its landscape, and
endless wine hills in Jeruzalem rather by chance. This to the Jeruzalemske Gorice Hills, where almost every
dreamy green landscape in the Slovenian far north-east house has its own wine cellar. These hills are also famous
is still looking for a place on the world tourist map, but for their authentic culinary delights, which are so good
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 Right next to the border with Austria,
speed for four years now, and this year, too, this country there is a place that has often been
of two million people, nested between Italy, Austria, posted on Instagram in recent years.
Hungary, and Croatia, received a new and even more
important challenge – to justify its nomination as a Euro-
These are the Svečinske Gorice Hills,
pean Gastronomic Region 2021, an honour which it will where a heart-shaped road winds
share with Coimbra, Portugal. among vineyards.
Jure Makovec
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
A natural gem in the Slovenia-Austria- the Triglav National Park, named after Triglav, the symbol
Italy triangle of Slovenia and its highest mountain, with an elevation
When you have imbibed the views of the Alpine moun- of 2,864 m and only a crow’s flight from the triple border
tains at fairy-tale Jezersko, tried the Furmint wine in between Slovenia, Italy and Austria. In its immediate vicin-
heavenly Jeruzalem and pampered your taste buds with ity, there is the Planica Nordic Centre, which is best known
excellent culinary treats and wines in the Slovenian Tus- for world cup competitions in ski jumping.
cany, you can round off your trip with a visit to the tourist The Triglav National Park boasts crystal clear waters,
resorts of Bled and Bohinj or wander around and discover wild waters, canyons, the remnants of primeval forests,
the renowned ski resort of Kranjska Gora in the north- the largest natural lake in Slovenia (Lake Bohinj), and
west of Slovenia, at the foot of the Julian Alps and the most of all, an unbelievable view of the Julian Alps scen-
Karawanks, which is a true paradise for recreation both in ery that will bring you back to Slovenia time and again.
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