OECD calls on Slovenia to reform pension system
LJUBLJANA - The OECD has urged Slovenia to encourage people to work longer and to reform its pensions system to make it financially sustainable while preserving pensioners' living standards, as it issued a new report based on a a two-year analysis of the country's pension system which ran in 2020-2021. Without reforms, pension expenditure will significantly rise in the coming three decades, Mark Pearson from the OECD said. Labour Ministry State Secretary Mateja Ribič said the analysis came at the right time as the country was in the midst of laying the groundwork for modernising the system.
EPPO expresses concern about proposed penal code changes
LUXEMBOURG - The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) expressed concern about proposed changes of the penal code which it said could affect the effectiveness of the EPPO. The changes, disavowed by the majority of the parties since they were confirmed by the Justice Committee, would give prosecutors less time to investigate before cases became statute-barred. "If the changes were adopted as proposed, prosecutors would have drastically less time to investigate the vast majority of crimes under the EPPO's jurisdiction," the EPPO said.
New Omicron subvariant confirmed in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has confirmed its first case of the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the national lab chief told reporters, noting it was not yet clear whether the new strain was more contagious than the original one. The national lab now analyses PCR samples in 20 hours on average. What is also new amid the Omicron-driven wave of infections is a protocol under which infected patients in non-Covid hospital wards will no longer need to be moved to Covid wards but can be isolated in their rooms.
More than 14,000 Covid cases logged for Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 14,206 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Wednesday after a record of almost 17,500 cases were confirmed the day before, show fresh official figures. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital stood at 708 this morning, up by 38 on the day before, whereas the total of ICU cases decreased slightly - by two to 125. Another 14 patients died, according to government data.
Krka's net profit up 5% to almost EUR 305m in 2021
NOVO MESTO - Drug maker Krka reported a group net profit of EUR 304.7 million for 2021, a rise of 5% year-on-year, on the back of sales revenue that rose by 2% to a record EUR 1.57 billion. CEO Jože Colarič said that Krka saw record sales in all of its regions, except Western Europe, with profitability at a high level. For this year, Krka plans sales at EUR 1.61 billion and net profit at EUR 300 million, with EUR 130 million to go for investment.
C-bank nominee clears first hurdle in parliament
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Credentials and Privileges Commission backed Marjan Divjak to be appointed a vice-governor at Slovenia's central bank. The single issue raised against the nominee was his role in the NKBM bank IPO and sale. The commission voted 10 votes in his favour and four against. Divjak needs to win at least 46 votes in the 90-member National Assembly to get appointed.
FDI awards go to Ljubljana dairy, Comtrade and Vevče paper mill
LJUBLJANA - The investment promotion agency Spirit Slovenija presented its awards for foreign investors that achieved exceptional results in the past year and contributed to the development of the country's economy. The FDI Award Slovenia accolades went to the dairy Ljubljanske Mlekarne, the ICT company Comtrade and the paper mill Papirnica Vevče. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek noted last year the volume of foreign investments in Slovenia had increased by 2.4% despite the pandemic.
Four members of Public Research Agency's board replaced
LJUBLJANA - The government once again decided against appointing Lidija Tičar Padar as acting director of the Public Research Agency (ARRS). Instead, it replaced at four members of the agency's management board. The move comes after several science stakeholders accused the government of political staffing and said its actions jeopardised the agency's work.
Holocaust victims being remembered in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The facade of the National Assembly will be lit up tonight in memory of the six million Jews who were killed by the Nazis and their supporters during WWII as Slovenia joins observation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Holocaust victims are being honoured with several events this week. The main ceremony was held in Lendava on Wednesday where President Borut Pahor called for the preservation of peace, security, tolerance and coexistence.
Finance Ministry gets new state secretary
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Irena Drmaž as Finance Ministry state secretary on Thursday after her predecessor Kristina Šteblaj stepped down to join the Bank Assets Management Company as an executive director. Drmaž previously worked as director-general at the ministry's Budget Directorate. The government also decided Janez Mravljak will continue to lead the Recovery and Resilience Office as acting director.
Automotive supplier Dani AFC rehiring
SLOVENJ GRADEC - Dani AFC, the Italian-owned supplier of leather cuts for high-end car seats, is rehiring after being forced to lay off staff last year due to disruption in car industry supplies. Jožef Horvat, director of the Slovenj Gradec company, has told the STA they will need more than 70 workers due to a sudden spike in orders from Audi and Volkswagen. Between 25 and 30 have already been given a job, including former employees.
NKBM issues EUR 300m bond
MARIBOR - The NKBM bank completed its first issue of a non-preferred senior bonds on the international market in the nominal amount of EUR 300 million and maturity of three years, with the possibility of recall after two years. The bank said that the bonds, which have yield of 1.875%, have been listed on the Euro MTF market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
State forestry company posts record profit
KOČEVJE - SiDG, the state-owned forest management company, posted a net profit of EUR 14 million for last year, up 87% on the year before and 83% above plans. Revenue rose by about a quarter to EUR 71 million and the EBITDA margin rose to 27% from 19% last year, the company said.
Man gets 23 years for attempted murder of ex-partner, daughter
LJUBLJANA - The Celje Higher Court has upheld the sentencing of a man who attempted to murder his former partner and their daughter with tranquillisers concealed in doughnuts to 23 years in prison. The sentence imposed by the Celje District Court last June is now final, the daily newspapers reported. What contributed to such a high sentence is him having a previous criminal record of violent offences, including an attempted murder.
