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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia's exports, imports up in first six months
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's trade in goods continues to grow, with exports in the January-June period amounting to EUR 16.83 billion, up 9.2% over the same period last year. Imports reached EUR 16.78 billion, a rise of 11.2%, which puts the country's export-import ratio at 100.3%, the Statistics Office said. Slovenia's exports to EU countries in the January-June period topped EUR 12.73 billion. Imports from EU members almost reached EUR 12.47 billion, and from non-EU countries EUR 4.32 billion. In June, exports and imports grew by 3.3% each year-on-year. Exports amounted to EUR 2.81 billion and imports to EUR 2.68 billion. The external trade surplus in June was the highest this year.
National councillor wants PM prosecuted over bear and wolf attacks
LJUBLJANA - National councillor Branko Tomažič filed criminal complainants against Environment Minister Simon Zajc and Prime Minister Marjan Šarec due to their failure to act in the face of bear and wolf attacks on domestic animals. Tomažič accused the two officials of negligence and too slow implementation of the emergency bill allowing the culling of the beasts. Šarec's office said the accussations were unfounded, as the government was actively engaged with the issue. The move comes after two commissions of the upper chamber called for faster implementation of the emergency bill on Thursday. Moreover, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina joined the fray today by calling on the environment and agriculture ministries to join forces and find solutions to protect human lives.
Industrial output growth slowing down
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output in the first half of 2019 grew by 3.7% compared to the same period in 2018, the slowest semi-annual growth figure in the past six years, while monthly data released by the Statistics Office shows output declining. In June output was down 1.6% compared to the month before, the second consecutive drop this year at the monthly level, while at the annual level, it increased by 1.1% - the slowest growth rate recorded this year. In the first half of 2019 output rose most significantly in manufacturing (by 3.9%), followed by mining (2.1%) and electricity and gas supply (1.1%).
Mercator selling a dozen shopping centres
LJUBLJANA - Retailer Mercator has initiated the sale of 13 shopping centres, one in Slovenia and twelve in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia, as it continues implementing its strategy of offloading real estate to reduce debt. Having already sold ten Slovenian shopping centres to Austrian developer Supernova last year, Mercator is now selling its Koper mall, four properties in Croatia, six in Bosnia-Herzegovina and two in Serbia, Dnevnik reported. All the properties are being sold under the leaseback principle. The company had a financial debt of roughly EUR 667 million at the end of March, down EUR 148 million from the year before.
Youth trade union calls for improvements in apprenticeship programme
LJUBLJANA - Mladi Plus, the youth section of the ZSSS trade union confederation, called on the government to make it easier for the youth to enter the labour market. Talking to the press ahead of International Youth Day, observed on Monday, Mladi Plus union president Tea Jarc said that a better apprenticeship system could help. The union is suggesting that a web portal be set up to make accessible all the relevant information and that the mentorship system be overhauled so as to guarantee that the mentors have enough time for apprentices.
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