Dear members,
it has been during last week when I learnt that there is a lot of truth in one of the paradoxes denoting that one should sometimes travel far to become aware of the largeness of something and that the largeness itself cannot be measured merely in centimeters, meters or square kilometers but in its meaning as well. At the time I spent three days in Washington D.C., on the occasion of the working visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Borut Pahor to the United States of America. One of the main reasons for my joining the official delegation was of course undoubtedly in stimulating the potential American investors in deciding to enter the Slovene market and further on to cement the existent business ties.
On one hand there is the courtesy of protocol whereas on the other a sincere enthusiasm for our country and for all of our achievements throughout 20 years could be observed. Namely, we have been on the opportunity of the business luncheon held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, presented as follows: »Slovenia is the state of the first. Was the first of the EU's new members states to adopt the Euro in 2007, the first which presided the EU, it maintains the highest standard of living in Central and Eastern Europe. Located at the nexus of Mediterranean, Germanic, and Slavic Europe, Slovenia has key commercial connections in its wider region«. They praised our excellent labor force. Our quality of living. The potential investors are certainly aware of some deficiencies as well, especially within the inflexibility of the legislation of the working market and referring to the high expenses regarding the labor particularly the educated one. Some other obstacles have been pointed out, but nevertheless we are seen as the »state of the first« for which I truly wish we could feel such enthusiasm also back home and thus prove that we really are – »the state of the first«. We are being presented with much enthusiasm all the time and everywhere also by Ambassador Mussomeli.
The proof of great importance, also in the eyes of the American administration, may be exhibited in the call of the Prime Minister on the President of the United States of America. Pahor was namely scarcely the third Prime Minister as regards the European countries received by President Obama in the White House. The meeting with Geithner is an important stimulation for business cooperation as well. We should therefore make good use of this wave of enthusiasm and especially try to transmit it to our country. We should be aware of the fact that one is important for how much one values oneself.
For not remaining merely at words, we wish to make a decisive step, together with our partners, in order to consolidate the business ties between Slovenia and the United States of America. There will be a conference of investment »U.S. - Slovenia Business Bridge«, organized by f American Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia, the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment (JAPTI), the United States Embassy in Ljubljana, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) with support by Ministry of Foreign affairs, Ministry of Economy and GZS in April (more information to be resumed). You are sincerely invited to cooperation!
Ajša Vodnik, M.Sc.
Mr Brian Wardrop, ARX Equity Partners
The event will take place on 15th February 2011 at Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana. Our guest will speak about the Central European Private Equity Market. Last chance for registration today (14 Feb) till 4:00 p.m..
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BUSINESS BREAKFAST with Mr Roko Žarnić, PhD, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia
on Wednesday, 16 February 2011, at 8.00 a.m. in Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana, Janus Hall. Last chance for registration today till 4:00 p.m..
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Conference: U.S. - Slovenia Business Bridge
This event is first of its kind featuring such a broad range of participants and supporters from U.S. and Slovenia. Its aim is to strengthen U.S. - Slovenian business ties and to highlight opportunities for increasing trade and investment. We are kindly inviting you to be an actively involved in case you should have any idea (potential investors and business people from U.S. to be invited).
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British Business Round table with Mr John Bercow, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons
British Chamber of Commerce in Slovenia and British Embassy Ljubljana in colaboration with AmCham Slovenia and U.S. Embassy will host Mr John Bercow, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons at the British Business Round table on Tuesday, 22nd February 2011.
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AmCham Committees – Special notice
We would like to encourage members of AmCham to join Committees Tax, Labor and Public Procurement and share experiences on these areas.
We would also like to invite you to participate in the Corporate Social Responsibility Working Group and Environment Working Group.
Intellectual Property Committee – newly established AmCham Committee: join and share your knowledge and suggestions. For more info contact Vida Dolenc Pogačnik vida.dolenc@amcham.si
Tax Committee in 2010
Members prepared proposals on five different topics on tax area. These proposals were introduced to Mrs. Mateja Vraničar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance on 15 September 2010. The representatives from the Ministry of Finance thanked AmCham representatives sincerely for the propositions prepared and accentuated their willingness for dialogue.
On 23 September 2010 chairs of the following Committees: Tax, Labor and Public Procurement met with the representatives of the US Embassy in Ljubljana. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare a Position Paper for the Prime Minister with 4 issues: Tax, Labor, Public Procurement and FDI.
The Position Paper – that was written just to give a few suggestions for the improvement within Slovene business and investment environment - was given to him on 5 November 2010 by Tomaž Lovše, President of AmCham Slovenia and Bradley Freden, Charge d´Affairs a.i. at the US Embassy in Ljubljana. The Prime Minister stimulated further dialogue in order to embody the proposed changes in a concrete form.
Labor Committee in 2010
Labor Committee prepared 16 proposals for changes in the ERA – Employment Relationships Act and related legislation. These proposals were introduced to Mr. Peter Pogačar, Director General of the Labor and Labor Rights Directorate at the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs on 23 March 2010.
Proposals were than implemented into the Position Paper for the Prime Minister.
Public Procurement Committee in 2010
Representatives of this Committee and Executive Director of AmCham met with Mrs. Miranda Groff Ferjančič at the Ministry of Finance on 16 March 2010 and introduced her with some proposals and comment regarding Public Procurement Act – ZJN-2B. Some of these proposals and new were implemented into the Position Paper for the Prime Minister.
All AmCham Committees will continue with their successful work further on.
AmCham RUN 2011
RUN TO SUCCESS! Starts in the end of March 2011!
Our successful running training program in cooperation with ABC Šport will start at the end of March. You will have a chance to run with professional trainer twice a week –on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Expect more info in a week.
Let’s again run to success!
Business Breakfast in January with Mr. Aleš Zalar, Minister of Justice and Mr. Goran Klemenčič, M.Sc., President of Corruption Prevention Commission
How can jurisdiction and Corruption Prevention Commission contribute to a larger honesty and subsequently to the competitiveness within Slovene economics and environment?
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Save the dates: Art Directors Club Exhibition
On 10th March 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jakopič Gallery.
Save the dates: Business Breakfast with Minister of finance dr. Franc Križanič
On 18th March 2011 at Hotel Slon.
New members in February
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Blue Star Strategies, LLC
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Patroni & partnerji AmCham Young Professionals
