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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_08_št.12 - Index

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quota system was set up in 2006 and has been supplemented
with numerous incentives for employers and the disabled, as well
as a network for employment rehabilitation. All this has helped
decisively in providing better employment opportunities for the
disabled, UrsiË said. The disabled are also being employed by
employers with fewer than 20 employees, who are not bound
by the quota system. There are 110,000 employers registered in
Slovenia who employ at least one disabled person. According
to UrsiË, between 1,750 and 1,930 disabled have been newly
employed annually since 2006, while figures stood between
800 and 1,000 annually before that. In the first half of 2008,
920 disabled persons have been newly employed, and the
unemployment of the disabled is now at 10,000, UrsiË said. He
also stressed that the disabled would be able to cast a secret
ballot by themselves for the first time in the upcoming general
election by using voting machines that would be available in all
constituencies. Emergency telephone numbers are planned to be
made accessible to the hearing impaired by the end of the year.
He lauded the work of the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social
Affairs for better employment of the disabled and set it up as an
example of a successful comprehensive policy adjusted by the
ministry, social partners and organisations for the disabled.
SUrvEyS SHOw EU PrESIDENCy
BOOStED SLOvENIA’S tOUrISM
Interest in Slovenia as a tourist destination increased in the first
half of the year, including due to the country’s EU presidency,
two online surveys commissioned by the Slovenian Tourist Board
(STO) revealed. The survey carried out among representatives
of Slovenian tourism companies showed the highest increase in
interest for natural and cultural sights (by 36%), business tourism
(by 34%) and cycling (by 34%).
The markets in which interest in Slovenia has grown the most are
Germany (by 33%), the UK (by 26%) and Italy (by 26%). The main
reasons for the increased interest are the EU presidency (38%) and
promotional activities (37%), according to the survey, which was
released by the STO on 12 August. According to more than half
of the interviewees, Slovenia is best known for its nature (58%),
and spa and wellness centres (51%), as well as its rich culture
and old city centres (40%), and food and wine (34%). The results
also reveal that 52% of representatives of foreign tour operators
which offer holidays in Slovenia and tourist organisations noticed
a rise in interest in Slovenia.
In the first half of the year, foreign tourist organisations observed
an increased interest in Slovenian towns (by 48%), natural and
cultural sights (by 37%), and spa and wellness centres (by 35%).
The results show that the main reasons for increased interest are
promotion (29%), the fact that Slovenia is a relatively new tourist
destination (23%), and the EU presidency (9%). The survey also
revealed that 53% of foreign tourist organisations included in
the survey are familiar with the new national slogan, “I Feel
Slovenia”. The two surveys, conducted in July, just after Slovenia
passed the EU presidency to France, included 164 representatives
of Slovenian tourist companies and 113 representatives of foreign
tourist organisations, mostly from Germany, Finland and Italy.
ECONOMy MINIStEr DISCUSSES
BUSINESS wItH CHINESE MINIStEr
Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak, who visited Beijing with a
business delegation, discussed with Chinese Commerce Minister
sinfo 12 26
Chen Deming the untapped potential for trade between Slovenia
and China and future investment possibilities, Vizjak said on 18
August. “Last year bilateral trade increased by 40% compared to
2006, while this year it will exceed US $1bn,” Vizjak said, adding
that the talks also touched on potential relations in tourism,
logistics and the automobile industry. The talks included the new
WHO trade agreement. According to Vizjak, Slovenia and China
both support free trade and respect of intellectual property. “On
the other hand, we want an agreement which does not privilege
farm products, but is balanced with the non-farm portion of
the accord and with service,” Vizjak said. The ministers stressed
that the upcoming new trade agreement between the EU and
China, which is to enter the third round of talks in September,
would be an important step forward. Vizjak also expressed his
satisfaction that the Slovenian port of Koper and Tinajin, China’s
fourth biggest port, agreed today to sign a memorandum of
understanding. China presented to Vizjak its energy development
and reform plans, which he commended for their measures to
increase energy efficiency.
The Slovenian Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign
Investment (JAPTI) on Friday signed a cooperation agreement
with a foreign investment office in Shanghai ahead of a business
conference attended by Chinese and Slovenian businessmen
based in Shanghai.
PEtrOL rEPOrtS BUMPEr rEvENUES,
PrOFIt
Energy group Petrol has generated EUR 1.4bn in sales revenues
in the first half of 2008, which is 51% more than in the same
period last year. The group said on 27 August in a press release
that its net profit in this period had risen 33% to EUR 30.8m. The
supervisory board of Slovenia's biggest fuel retailer has already
studied the results, assessing them as successful. The group sold
1.2 million tonnes of fuel and other crude oil products, which is
29% more than in the first six months of 2007. Sales at Petrol's
shops at petrol stations generated EUR 164.3m, up 41% on
the first half of 2007. The group operates a total of 415 petrol
stations, including 310 in Slovenia. The rest are in the former
Yugoslav republics, where Petrol has been pursuing an expansion
strategy of late. Meanwhile, the fastest growing segment for the
company was sales of natural gas, as growth in this area stood at
nearly 200%. The company's management is expected to speak
about the results to the press later today. The earnings report
from Petrol came after the close of trading on the Ljubljana
Stock Exchange. Petrol shares lost 0.48% to EUR 499.51 in the
session.