STA, 3 June 2019 - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy and Hubert Aiwanger highlighted industry 4.0 and digitalisation as potential fields of closer future cooperation as Počivalšek started a two-day visit to Germany on Monday.
Počivalšek also pointed to the continuing cooperation in the auto industry and the need for the EU to become the leader in autonomous vehicles using AI, saying Slovenian companies can provide the know-how, experience and technology in this field too.
He and Aiwanger agreed Slovenia and Bavaria should strengthen cooperation when it comes to vehicles powered by alternative energy sources as well.
Počivalšek highlighted Slovenia's advantages as an investment destination and Aiwanger proposed a visit by Bavarian delegation to focus on digitalisation, high tech, transport and logistics.
Tourism as a potential field of cooperation through investment was noted too, while Počivalšek also pointed to the possibility of conference and other business events in Slovenia and invited German tourism companies to attend Conventa, the exhibition for convention tourism in SE Europe, and the Natour Alpe-Adria tourism and leisure fair.
On Tuesday, Počivalšek will take part in the biennial Transport Logistic fair. In 2017, more than 2,100 exhibitors from 62 countries and regions took part in the fair, attracting over 60,000 visitors from 123 countries and regions. The 2017 exhibition hall covered an area of 115,000 m2.
The number of exhibitors from China is expected to double to 64 at this year's fair.
According to the Economy Ministry, 19 Slovenian companies will present themselves at the trade fair under the auspices of the investment promotion agency Spirit, including the intermodal operator Adria Kombi, logistics company Intereuropa and port operator Luka Koper.
Germany is Slovenia's most important economic partner - the countries recorded a EUR 13.5 billion trade exchange in 2018. Slovenia's exports exceeded imports by more than EUR 1 billion. Germany is also one of the leading investors in Slovenia.
Bavaria is particularly important as a trade partner since it is listed as the third among all German federal states in terms of the trade exchange with Slovenia - Slovenia's exchange with Bavaria amounts to 19% of all the exchange between Slovenia and Germany.
