UK-Slovenia Investment Forum, April 2011

On 12th April 2011, at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), London, Developing Markets Associates (DMA) in conjunction with the Embassy of The Republic of Slovenia hosted the UK-Slovenia Investment Forum 2011.

The highly acclaimed event was attended by some 200 delegates whom were given an official welcome by HE Prime Minister Borut Pahor, the Prime Minister of Slovenia and Mr Thomas Mirow, President of EBRD.

During the day, the conference was addressed by a distinguished list of speakers from both the public and private sectors including senior representatives from the Government of Slovenia such as Dr Franc Križanič, Minister of Finance, Dr Patrick Vlačič, Minister of Transport and Dr József Györkös, Secretary of State, Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology; representatives from the investment community such as Ms Jana Verk, Head of Trade Section, UKTI in Slovenia and Dr Zoran Stamatovski, Head of Internationalisation and FDI, JAPTI (Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment); and stakeholders from the business community such as Mr Matjaž Kovačič, President of the Management Board, Nova KBM Bank, Mr Jeremy Eng, Managing Director, Ascent Resources, Mr Luka Vesnaver, Senior Manager of Corporate Finance, PwC and Mr Devid Palčič, President, Robotina. Sessions were chaired by HE Andrew Page, British Ambassador to Slovenia, Vladimir Gasparič, General Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Jean Marc Peterschmi.

PROGRAMME
12TH APRIL 2011
8.00am – 9.30am
Registration and refreshments

9.30am – 9.45am
Opening of the Forum – ‘Investing in Slovenia, welcome and introduction from President of EBRD, Mr Thomas Mirow and HE Prime Minister Borut Pahor

9.45am – 11.15am
Session 1: Setting the scene – Investing in Slovenia
Chair – Vladimir Gasparič, General Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Dr Franc Križanič, Minister of Finance
• Dr Zoran Stamatovski, Head of Internationalisation and FDI, JAPTI (Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment)
• Mr Jeremy Eng, Managing Director, Ascent Resources
• Mr Matjaž Kovačič, President of the Management Board, Nova KBM Bank
Q & A session

11.15am - 11.45am
Refreshments break

11. 45am – 12. 45pm
Session    2: Transport & Logistics
Chair – HE, Andrew Page, British Ambassador to Slovenia
• Dr Patrick Vlačič, Minister of Transport
• Mr Kevin Morrison, President, British Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia
• Mr Matej Golob Matzele, Executive Director, PDP
• Mr Luka Vesnaver, Senior Manager of Corporate Finance, PwC
Q & A session

12.45pm – 1.45pm
Networking lunch

1.45pm – 2.45pm
Session 3: Investing in Tourism
Chair – Neil Parish, Member of Parliament, Chair All Party Parliamentary Group, Slovenia
• Ms Maja Pak, Director, Slovenian Tourist Board
• Mr Marjan Hribar, Director General, Ministry for Economy
• Ms Sarah Jezernik, Director of Property Sales, Kranjska Investicijska Druzba (KID)
• Ms Jana Verk, Head of Trade Section, UKTI in Slovenia
Q & A Session

2.45pm – 3.15pm
Refreshments break

3.15pm – 4.15pm
Session 4: New Industries
Chair – Mr Jean Marc Peterschmitt, Managing Director, Central and Eastern Europe, EBRD
• Dr József Györkös, Secretary of State, Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology
• Mr Samo Hribar Milič, General Manager Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
• Mr Devid Palčič, President, Robotina
Q & A Session

4.15pm – 4.30pm
Closing remarks: Atam Sandhu, CEO, Developing Markets Associates, and Jean Marc Peterschmitt, Managing Director, Central and Eastern Europe, EBRD

4.30pm – 6.00pm
Networking reception