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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_11_št.15 - Index

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Se eURoPe JoINING FoRCeS IN the FaCe
oF CRISIS
On 3 November in Macedonia, heads of chambers of commerce
from former Yugoslav republics and other SE countries, including
Slovenia, discussed the potential impact of the financial crisis on
the real sector in the region, concluding that they would step up
cooperation.
The officials decided to enhance the exchange of information
on labour force projections and join forces to create business
opportunities, according to the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (GZS).
GZS president Zdenko PavËek led the panel on the transfer of
experience EU members had gained during their accession process
and first years of membership.
While PavËek highlighted inefficiency in the phasing of EU funds
as a problem, the participants of the debate urged cooperation
between governments and chambers of commerce. They agreed
to foster forms of cooperation that would contribute to boosting
trade.
The forum, entitled "Faster Towards the EU", was hosted by
the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce. It was attended by
representatives from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia and
Serbia.
laško aNd aFFIlIate SellING NeaRly
halF oF meRCatoR
Beverage group Pivovarna Laško and investment firm Infond
Holding, an owner of Pivovarna Laško, will put up 48% of retailer
Mercator for sale in an international call for bids, the companies
announced on 4 November.
Pivovarna Laško chairman Boško ©rot said that the call would be
published within a week, while the criteria will be based on a
balance between price and the expansion of Laško's sales abroad.
The latter suggests that Laško is looking for a retailer who could
help it break into new markets. "We want the buyer of Mercator
to open new doors for us," added ©rot.
The international call for bids is expected to run until March next
year. ©rot said the decision for this kind of sale was made in an
effort to obtain the best terms for the sale.
eUR 40m avaIlable FoR CRoSS-boRdeR
PRoJeCtS WIth Italy
The Government Office for Local Government and Regional
Policy held a presentation in Nova Gorica on 5 November in a bid
to encourage partners from Slovenia and Italy to apply for a total
of EUR 40m available in the first call for strategic cross-border
projects.
The EU earmarked some EUR 137m in funds for cross-border
cooperation between Slovenia and Italy in 2007-2013. Nearly
30% of the sum will be distributed in the first call for applications,
which is open until 1 December.
Applications can be made for projects valued at more than EUR
1m that can last as long as two or three years, the head of the
regional branch of the government office, Tatjana Rener said.
She added that the projects must be relevant to the cross-border
area and should also make an important contribution to the EU
strategy. Rener expects applications for 30 to 40 projects. She
highlighted transport, language, ports, organic farm products,
tourism and efforts to boost the competitive edge of businesses
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as some of the themes of interest to partners on both sides of the
border willing to cooperate.
Rener and her Italian counterparts presented the call for
applications to some 170 prospective partners. A change
compared to the previous calls is that only one contract with
the managing entity and a single budget is now required for the
project to be endorsed.
Laura Comelli of Friuli-Venezia Giulia explained that the call for
project applications opened up new content in cross-border
cooperation, while Veneto representative Luca Rossetti pointed
to simplified procedures, which he sees as a boost to cooperation,
coupled with the expansion of areas eligible for funds in Slovenia
and Italy.
As part of the Interreg scheme of cross-border cooperation in
2004-2006, 31 projects were implemented in Slovenia, drawing
an estimated EUR 4.4m in funds, which Rener said was 96% of
the money available.
GoReNJe SeeS Net PRoFIt INCReaSe
14% IN FIRSt NINe moNthS
The group around home appliance maker Gorenje posted EUR
992m in consolidated sales revenues in the first nine months of
2008, 4.5% more than in the same period last year. Net profit
increased 14% year-on-year to EUR 15.4m, Gorenje announced
on 5 November.
Profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) amounted to EUR 69m, 12% more than in the same
period last year. Profit before income tax, depreciation and
amortisation (EBIT) increased 15.7% to EUR 26m.
"Gorenje was not spared by the ongoing global financial crisis
and recession, but the management is making efforts to mitigate
its impact," the company said, adding, however, that its presence
on many markets cushioned the risk. Given the current results and
projections, the management decided not to revise the targets
for revenues and net profit for the end of the year. The figures for
the first three quarters include EUR 34m of revenues posted in
the third quarter by Dutch high-end home appliance maker ATAG
Europe, which Gorenje acquired in June.
PaNel: RUSSIa oFFeRS maNy
oPPoRtUNItIeS FoR SloveNIaN
bUSINeSSeS
On 5 November, participants of a panel discussing Russia as a
development opportunity for Slovenian businesses agreed that
there were many opportunities for further economic cooperation,
which should encourage Slovenia's investment in the Russian
market.
Russian Ambassador to Slovenia Mikhail Vanin labelled economic
cooperation between Slovenia and Russia as good, as exports
from Slovenia to Russia have been increasing along with Slovenia's
investments in the Russian market. There are many more
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