The Minister of Digital Transformation, Mark Boris Andrijanič, said that the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises were micro-enterprises with fewer than nine employees. For this reason, these companies have much more limited access to cutting-edge technologies, big data and digital skills compared to larger companies. In addition, the share of ICT professionals employed in small and medium-sized enterprises has been decreasing since 2015. The Minister said: "This is one of the reasons why the European Commission has presented a new European industrial strategy for 2020. According to this ambitious document, the digital and green transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises plays a key role in future growth and resilience of Europe."

He highlighted the encouraging state of EU programmes and regulations supporting small and medium-sized enterprises adding: "I am pleased that there are more and more private initiatives in this area. I am grateful to the Amazon company for taking a leading role in this area with its excellent programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises."

In his opening address, Minister Andrijanič spoke about the importance of efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises, especially at a time when they were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: "It is our shared responsibility to help small and medium-sized enterprises recover and become stronger."

The Minister also commented on the progress of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU on regulations in the field of digital services and markets, artificial intelligence and data management. These and many other acts aim to empower European entrepreneurs and consumers. At the same time, he also touched upon a number of national and regional initiatives in support of small and medium-sized enterprises. "We have 40 ambitious measures in place to accelerate the digital transformation of public administration, health, economy, education and society as a whole. We are steadily and persistently cutting red tape and taxes for small and medium-sized enterprises, and next year we will launch the largest digital training programme in our country’s history, which will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises and older people and other vulnerable groups," he explained.

The 2021 Amazon Academy, which focused on incentives for the success of small and medium-sized enterprises, brought together policy-makers, non-governmental organisations and many other individuals with an interest in entrepreneurship and e-commerce.