Slovenia - Overview:
Slovenia is a relatively new state, having achieved independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and has a population in the region of 2 million people. It is situated in central Europe sharing borders with Croatia to the south east, Italy to the west, Hungary to the north east and Austria to the north.

In April 2004 the country joined NATO and one month later became a full member of the European Union. On 27 June 2004 it entered the Exchange Rate Mechanism ERM2 and is expected to adopt the euro as its national currency in 2007.

Since independence, Slovenia has been undergoing a successful transition from a socialist economy to a capitalist free market economy, enjoying steady economic growth and substantial levels of foreign direct investment. According to the World Bank, Slovenia boasts a GNI per capita of US$9,810 (2002), which is significantly higher than that of Central Europe's other transitioning economies, and in March 2004 became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank.

Knowledge based, service and technology industries enjoyed strong growth in the early 1990s and figures published by the Slovenian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency show that by 2002 service industries contributed 60 per cent to GDP, while manufacturing and technology industries were responsible for a third. Slovenia?s most important trading partners come from within the EU and account for over two-thirds of the country?s exports and imports.

The country benefits from a strategic position at the heart of Europe and is located at the intersection of Pan-European Transport Corridors No. 5 (Barcelona - Kiev) and No. 10 (Salzburg - Thessalonica). Ljubljana Airport, located 25 kilometres from the capital, Ljubljana, is the main airport for both passengers and cargo and offers regular and charter flights to most major European destinations. In addition, Slovenia's international cargo Port of Koper offers fast links to the Mediterranean, as well as to the Middle and the Far East via the Suez Canal. Train journeys to the distribution centre at the port are between seven and ten days shorter than a voyage from North European ports.