Slovenian companies often look for business opportunities abroad. They try to break through in the foreign markets outside European Union especially in the time of economic crisis. One of the countries with great potential for Slovenian big and small companies is undoubtedly Russia with which Slovenian automobile industry is already in business. In order to enhance collaboration between the two countries and find new opportunities in other markets, a delegation of ten Russian members met up with Slovenian Chamber of Craft and Small Business (OZS) and Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI).
Slovenian experts are unanimous: Slovenian entrepreneurs must globalize their products. If in the past they merely tried to make contacts in the Balkans, they are now turning to new markets such as China, India, Brazil and Russia which has become one of the most important Slovenian economic partners. We export 4% of what we produce to Russia – last year that amounted to 240 million euro. According to JAPTI Deputy Manager Igor Plestenjak, Slovenia exports mainly pharmaceutical products, electric machines, foam, varnishes, coatings, spare parts for nuclear generators and a few other to Russia, while we mainly import different metals (aluminium, nickel, iron, steel), mineral fuels and oils from Russia. The Novorod Deputy Governor (gubernator) and the leader of Russian delegation Boris Valerovič Vorosov is convinced there are a great many opportunities in Russian energy sector, tourism, and chemical safety and distribution domain.
Both countries agree that automobile industry is undoubtedly a success story, which is a proof that collaboration between the countries can be rewarding and successful provided there is a good plan. What Slovenia has to offer to Russia are high quality spare parts. This is what enabled it to penetrate the Russian market and achieve good results in a relatively short time.
Aleš Ilc, director of Seal Group (International Security Intelligence Consulting and Engineering Agency), is convinced that Russian automotive market, which is one of the biggest in the world, has therefore become the nearest and most prospective market for Slovenia. He also said that the interest on both sides is big that is why Russia is setting up special centres in which entrepreneurs will work together better. Ilc is also convinced that this kind of cooperation is a formula for success on both sides. “Not only does a Russian partner benefit from this collaboration, but also Slovenian, and last but not least, the end customer. If you have concrete goals, most projects can be successful in Russia.”
OZS Assistant Secretary General Andrej Poglajen described the visit of Russian delegation as a meeting of one of the largest and one of the smallest economies in the world. He said that Slovenian economy consists mainly of small companies (99%) which have different views about doing business than giants that is why this meeting is an excellent opportunity for gaining experience which will draw big Russian market nearer to small Slovenian companies.