More than a decade of substantial and continued reforms led Slovenia to membership in the European Union in May. Yet important challenges lie ahead, in particular for the country to pursue its economic integration in the EU and play an active regional role, the EBRD says in its new strategy for Slovenia.
The Slovene authorities have identified a greater level of competitiveness and internationalisation as key objectives for the development of the economy. Challenges include the growth of domestic companies at national and international level, attracting further foreign direct investment, enhancing the business climate and fostering the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and services.
Improved access to long-term finance will create jobs, support diversification of the economy and help reduce regional disparities.
Therefore, the EBRD will focus on the support of the local corporate sector through equity and structured finance, including financing of cross-border investments.
The bank’s priorities as outlined in the strategy are:
The EBRD has supported 34 projects in Slovenia worth €
1.7bn. It has recently completed an analysis of Slovenia’s commercial laws – the first of a series of such analyses of legal transition across central and eastern Europe.
