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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_10_št.14 - Index

BUSINESSBUsinEssBUSINESSBUsinEssBUSINESSBUsinEssBUSINESS
has significantly expanded and progressed since the country's
independence, he said, pointing to high inflation as one of its
biggest challenges. Head of the Chamber of Commerce Bojan
PapiË pointed out that retail carried no responsibility for the
growth of inflation and said that politicians have made it a
scapegoat, as putting the blame on farmers or the processing
industry would not have a desirable effect on voters in this
election year. In terms of profit, Slovenian retail still lags
behind Europe; its market concentration is about the same,
while the prices of food are much lower in Slovenia than in
its neighbouring countries, PapiË pointed out. Slovenia should
find its own market niche at the global level to succeed there,
said Signe Ratso, director of the Directorate-General for Trade
at the European Commission. She highlighted the proximity
of large markets for goods and services as one of Slovenia's
advantages. She moreover said that the biggest challenge the
European retail sector faces is climate change, which is what
President Danilo Türk also underlined in his welcome address.
He also said that the period of economic boom, cheap food
and moderate oil prices was over.
SlOVeNIa INtRODuCINg uNlIMIteD
DePOSIt guaRaNtee
Slovenia has introduced an unlimited guarantee on deposits,
Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk announced on 8 October.
The measure is temporary and will remain in place just until
the end of the financial crisis. Bank and savings deposits of
individuals, independent entrepreneurs and small businesses
will be guaranteed in their full amount for banks operating
on the territory of Slovenia. ≈Slovenian banks do not feel
the consequences that we see in the world and in Europe. ...
But in a financially interwoven world, Slovenia must retain a
comparable level of protection for savers,« Bajuk said. Slovenia
is taking its cue from European countries such as Austria,
Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Slovakia, which removed the
ceiling on guarantees to calm fears and prevent bank runs
amidst the worsening financial turmoil. Indeed, Minister Bajuk
pointed out that one of the reasons for the move was to keep
Slovenia on par in particular with neighbouring EU countries.
D&b PleaSaNtly SuRPRISeD by
SlOVeNIa’S eXPORt PeRFORMaNCe
International ratings firm Dun&Bradstreet finds in its September
report that Slovenia's export performance has remained
surprisingly robust given the current global conditions, and is
optimistic in its risk assessment for the country. While growth
in exports is slowing down, the strength of growth in the first
half of 2008 still exceeded the expectations of most analysts,
who had pointed to weaker demand in Slovenia's main export
markets (primarily the EU) and the strength of the euro, D&B
says. The fact that exports defied these circumstances is an
indication of the competitiveness that Slovenian exporters
have achieved, suggests the report. What is more, fixed capital
formations also remained above expectations, considering the
turbulence on international markets as well as the domestic and
external prospects for economic growth. According to ratings
firm I, D&B's Slovenian partner, this indicates that Slovenia
could survive the global downturn better off than other EU
countries. D&B, which preserved the DB2b rating for Slovenia,
moreover finds that inflation has dropped off and does not
expect it to increase in the short term.
25
lOCOMOtIVe tO PROMOte PROteCtION
OF alPS
An engine carrying motives representing the Alpine Convention,
an international agreement aimed at preserving the Alpine
ecosystem and promoting sustainable development in the
Alps, was inaugurated in Ljubljana on 7 October. The joint
campaign of the Slovenian and Austrian environment ministries
has two aims; increasing awareness of the significance of rail
transport, especially in carrying cargo, and promotion of the
Alpine Convention. The locomotive will connect Slovenia and
Austria until the end of 2009 and is expected to cover some
180,000 kilometres during this time. The Environment and
Spatial Planning Ministry said that the wish of all those who
had taken part in the inauguration was that the engine would
contribute to strengthening awareness of the importance of
sustainable forms of transport and the significance of the
Alpine Convention. Traffic is among the most burning issues
in the Alps, the ministry added. Their ecosystem is extremely
vulnerable and the impact of traffic is bigger than in other
areas. Furthermore, the costs of building and maintaining
infrastructure in the Alps are also higher. Eight countries
(Germany, Austria, France, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Switzerland and Slovenia) met in 1989 and agreed to form
a convention aimed at protecting the Alps. The convention
entered into force in November 1991. Slovenia will take over
the two-year presidency of the convention's bodies next year.
According to the ministry, Slovenia wants to encourage the
implementation of the Alpine Convention.
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