Minister Fajon to companies in the Goriška region: "You can always count on economic diplomacy"

11. 2. 2025

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

The Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a presentation of economic diplomacy and its services for Slovenian companies from the Goriška region in Nova Gorica, the fifth such presentation after those in the Zasavje, Koroška, Savinjska and Obalno-kraška regions. The gathered business representatives were addressed by Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.

Ministrica stoje govori — Minister Tanja Fajon visiting the Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Author MZEZ

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Minister Fajon thanked the Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce and Industry for hosting the event in the month of the launch of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 Nova Gorica-Gorizia, where for the first time two cities from two countries are coming together and crossing borders through various activities. "You can always count on the support of economic diplomacy when doing business in foreign markets. Our mission is to open the door to the world for the Slovenian economy and, through internationalisation, to pave the way for the comprehensive promotion of Slovenian excellence. These efforts take many forms: from economic and scientific diplomacy, to tourism and gastronomy, to cultural and sports diplomacy," the Minister said in her speech. She presented the economic diplomacy activities of the past year and the business delegations, international business conferences and joint economic commission meetings planned for 2025, including her upcoming trip with a business delegation to the Philippines. She urged companies to maintain and continue to seek new business opportunities in foreign markets with the support of economic diplomacy representatives.

The practical functioning of economic diplomacy and examples of best practice in the internationalisation of Slovenian companies abroad were presented by Dr Slobodan Šešum, Director-General of the Directorate for Economic and Public Diplomacy. He thanked Arctur and Instrumentation Technologies, two high-tech companies from the region, which today hosted representatives of economic diplomacy. Discussions with the management of both companies led to concrete ideas on how to improve their visibility in key markets through Slovenia's network of diplomatic and consular missions.

Brigita Habjan Štolfa, Director of the Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the export focus of companies in the region, which is one of the largest contributors to Slovenia's trade surplus. Traditionally, Italy and Germany are the biggest export and import partners of these companies, with Croatia in third place.

Marjana Majerič, Executive Manager for Strategic Development and Internationalisation at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presented the Chamber's Strategic Council for Internationalisation, along with concrete proposals for strengthening internationalisation in the coming years, while Ines Čigoja, Programme Manager at the Chamber's Centre for International Business (CEMP), introduced the export accelerator, which offers support to companies entering foreign markets for the first time.

The event was attended by companies from the Goriška region, as well as representatives from the Primorska Technology Park and the Slovenian Regional Economic Association, the Mayors of Nova Gorica and Ajdovščina, Samo Turel and Tadej Beočanin, and the Slovenian Consuls in Trieste and Milan, Gregor Šuc and Ingrid Sergaš. The official presentation was followed by a relaxed social and networking session, where the business leaders had the opportunity to network with representatives of economic diplomacy and to discuss possibilities for concrete support and assistance.