Slovenian & Saudi Chambers of Commerce Agree to Cooperate

STA, 30 September 2019 - The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije  - GZS) and the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation, as a business forum was held at the GZS in Ljubljana on Monday.

Saudi Arabia is Slovenia's 33rd export market and 36th in terms of imports.

GZS director general Sonja Šmuc highlighted the constant growth in trade between the two countries.

She also drew attention to the threat of trade wars which could significantly affect future trade growth at the global level.

Šmuc labelled today's signing of the memorandum of understanding as an opportunity for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

With the memorandum, the Council of Saudi Chambers has gained access to the GZS partnership network with more than 160 chambers of commerce.

The council's vice chairman Munir bin Saad said the Ljubljana meeting was an excellent opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation, in particular in tourism, the agri-food industry and commercial business.

The forum, which was attended by more than 40 Slovenian and Saudi business executives, also featured a number of bilateral meetings.

The Saudi delegation also met Foreign Ministry State Secretary Dobran Božič, with the ministry saying in a press release that this was the first large delegation of Saudi government and business representatives in 19 years.

The ministry also said that the visit was taking place in the context of Slovenia's efforts to diversify its foreign trade and enter new markets.

Saudi Arabia is Slovenia's biggest trade partner in the Persian Gulf, with trade growing steadily, accompanied by efforts to boost cooperation in the service industries and investments, the ministry said.

In the coming days, the delegation will also visit the ministries in charge of technology and infrastructure, as well as the SPRIT agency, the Koper port and the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, as well as various investment funds and high-tech companies, the ministry announced.