Slovenia: Investing

FDI in Figures

Slovenia is totally open to foreign investment in agreement with the principles of the European Union and of OECD, and it does not make a difference between a domestic investor or a foreign one. The main investors are Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the United States. The sectors that attract  most of the foreign investments are the financial and insurance services, retail business, commercial and leasing services, chemical products, pneumatic tires and plastic products, engineering, paper, telecommunications and transports, motor vehicles and electrical engineering.

Foreign investment has declined sharply due to the international crisis of 2008-2009 and the unfavorable situation in the eurozone in 2011. It will take an overall improvement of the European economy to see investment to Slovenia rise significantly. In the medium term, energy projects, railway infrastructure, regional center of sewage treatment and waste co-financed by European funds will make the Slovenian market once again attractive.

Why You Should Choose to Invest in Slovenia

Strong Points

Slovenia has many strong points, among them:
- An easy access to regional markets, being geographically located in the center of Europe;
- A qualified workforce;
- A good quality of life;
- Economic and political stability:
- Quality infrastructure 

Weak Points

Slovenia still has to face several challenges, among them:
- Low mobility of workforce;
- High social security contributions from salaries;
- A small domestic market;
- A strong exposure to global economic gyration due to the country's openness.

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

Slovenia has an ambivalent attitude towards FDI: on one hand, the country would like to be open to investment while on the other, it  remains very cautious regarding foreign investors. Therefore, the government FDI cost-sharing grant scheme is trying to set up measures that will have a positive effect in the creation of jobs, knowledge and technology transfer, improvement in the regional development and it could stimulate the alliance between Slovenian companies and foreign investment.
Concessions belonging to the state are available for investments of more than 0.5 million Euros in the sectors of industry, strategic services (customer service centers, systems and retail business, regional company headquarters), research and development. The type of investment requested the most is high technologies known as "green" technology.
The Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) has prepared a program for promoting the growth of companies in foreign ownership or mixed. The main objective of the program is to stimulate the FDI and to create new jobs in the context of the current economic crisis. 

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Acquisition of Holdings

A majority holding interest in the capital of a local company is legal in Slovenia.

Obligation to Declare

Slovenia has a fully liberalized foreign investment regime - foreign investments enjoy full national treatment.

Requests For Specific Authorizations

The only exception to the principle of full national treatment relates to the right of branches of foreign companies originating in non-EU member states to obtain ownership over real estate in Slovenia. Foreign investment in the companies related to the production and trade of armaments is subject to the prior approval of the government. For more details click here.

Investment Opportunities

Investment Aid Agency

Invest Slovenia

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement

Uradni-list, Public Procurement in Slovenia
Tenders Info, Tenders in Slovenia
Globaltenders, Tenders & Projects from Slovenia
Ted - Tenders Electronic daily, Business opportunities in EU 27
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide

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