Mit - Index

Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_11_št.15 - Index

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meRCatoR RePoRtS Net PRoFIt UP 1%
Mercator, Slovenia's number 1 retailer, posted a net profit of
EUR 36.4m for the first nine months of 2008, up 1% year-onyear.
Group net sales rose 13% to EUR 2bn, the company said
on 11 November. Sales were up 5% in Slovenia, but net profit
dropped 2.5%. Mercator cited lower household consumption
as purchasing power deteriorated, whilst margins shrank in
response to growing consumer prices. Net sales on foreign
markets meanwhile soared 34% to EUR 667m. Even though
high inflation and the global financial crisis had an impact on
the bottom line, Mercator says these were offset by intensive
marketing and the launch of several new stores.
The company expects a challenging last quarter in all markets,
as the economic slowdown undermines household spending,
and financing as well as operating expenses are projected to
rise.
The group boasted gross operating cash flow before rent of
EUR 140m, up 15%, which Mercator says shows the group's
substantial ability to secure funding, which is crucial for
investment and development plans in the face of the financial
crisis.
Despite the tougher lending conditions, Mercator says its
operations have not been affected, while cooperation with
banks is normal.
However, the altered market conditions and availability of longterm
funding will be taken into account in planning for 2009.
SloveNIa PReSeNted IN loNdoN aS
dIveRSe aNd UNSPoIlt deStINatIoN
The 29th World Travel Market, running in London between 10
November and 13 November, presents Slovenia as a destination
with diverse and unspoiled natural attractions for tourists who
cherish the countryside and a clean environment, asserted
Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) director Dimitrij Piciga at a press
conference on 11 November.
According to Piciga, Slovenia is implementing sustainable
tourism, a form of tourism committed to making a low impact
on the natural environment while helping to generate income
and employment for locals.
Slovenian tourism promotes the development of new products
and strives for quality of service, including by reaching to faroff
markets, head of the Tourism Directorate at the Economy
Ministry Marjan Hribar pointed out.
The highlight of the conference was a presentation of the
beauty of the Julian Alps and the valley of the SoËa River, which
provided the scenery for one of most dramatic scenes in the
film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Business partners and journalists will have the opportunity
to enjoy Slovenian cuisine and wines at the Slovenian stand
presenting the new country brand built around the slogan "I
feel Slovenia" and Slovenian tourist destinations.
The Slovenian stand was nominated for the Best Stand for
Doing Business Award at the market, where over 200 countries
are represented and about 48,000 visitors are expected.
SloveNIa aNd RUSSIa aGRee oN 2009
haUlIeR PeRmItS
A mixed Slovenian-Russian commission for international road
transport signed a protocol on 11 November that sets the
number of haulier permits for 2009. Bilateral transit transport
will have 10,000 permits for lorries without environmental
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restrictions and 4,500 for environment-friendly lorries.
Bogdan Potokar from the Transport Ministry said that 4,000
permits will be issued for "euro 3" category vehicles and 500
for "euro 4" or higher. The number of permits for the biggest
polluters without environmental restrictions has decreased by
2,000, while the overall number of permits has increased due to
the growth of trade between the countries, Potokar said, adding
that the Russians were mainly interested in transit transport. The
number of permits for transport of goods into third countries
for 2009 was also increased, from 1,800 to 2,500.
Slovenia exchanges permits with Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Iran, Macedonia, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Turkey. With some
other countries such as the Baltic states, Slovenia exchanges
permits for transport into third countries, Potokar explained.
He pointed out that all the permits only account for 1.5% of the
transit through Slovenia, as 64,000 permits are being exchanged
annually, while the 5th route through the border crossing Dolga
Vas (NE) alone sees 5,000 lorries daily. This means that 125,000
lorries a month pass through.
Potokar also stressed that transit and bilateral traffic in the EU
had been liberalised. He thinks that the European Commission
should provide measures to reduce transit on the roads within
the EU or that Slovenia should increase road fees to the level in
Austria, for example.
The mixed commission also discussed the number of permits
for tourist transport, where 25 bilateral permits will be issued
for 2009 and 25 permits will be issued for transport from and
to third countries, Potokar said. The commission also came to
the conclusion that the current agreement on road transport of
goods and passengers between the two countries needs to be
reformed, especially in passenger transport. Potokar indicated
that Slovenia would prepare a proposal and forward it to
Russia.
kRka RemaINS oN tRaCk,
Q3 PRoFIt UP 13%
Novo Mesto-based drug maker Krka posted net sales of EUR
687.9m for the first nine months of 2008, up 21% year-onyear.
Net profit increased 13% to EUR 111.2m, Krka said on 13
November, labelling the results as good. In the present conditions
the company's performance is stable, emphasised Krka chief
executive Jože ColariË, saying that the targets were being met
in accordance with the strategy and the annual plan.
The order book has not shrunk and orders are not expected
to drop until the end of this year or next year, according to
ColariË.
For next year Krka is expected to post sales of EUR 1.062bn,
11% above the 2008 year-end target, while profit is projected
to reach EUR 161m.
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