Home › Travel Guides › Europe Travel Guide › Slovenia › Doing business & staying in touch

Doing business & staying in touch

Business conventions and etiquette in Slovenia are very similar to those in the rest of Europe. Slovenia has been an EU member since 2004 and visitors who have worked within the EU before will encounter few problems.

Smart dress is advised. Appointments are usual and visitors should be punctual. A firm handshake is the usual start to any business meeting. Business cards are essential. Executives will generally have a good knowledge of German, English and sometimes Italian. There is a well-developed network of local agents, advisers, consultants and lawyers willing to act for foreign companies.

Despite their closer affinity with Central Europe, Slovenians tend not to be poor with timekeeping, though visitors are expected to be. Gifts are welcome for business lunches and dinners and essential when visiting someone’s home – an invitation to a Slovenian home is a sure sign the ice has firmly been broken. The most suitable gifts include luxury items such as a bottle of Scottish whisky or a good bottle of wine.

Office hours: 

Business hours are generally Monday to Friday 0900-1700 (or 1900), with working the weekends not the norm, though many shops now also open on Saturdays and some on Sundays too.

Economy: 

Slovenia has always been a prosperous country, even before the disintegration of Yugoslavia that began in 1991. Its fertile land, strategic location and educated workforce have helped keep the GDP per capita substantially higher than that of other transitional economies of central Europe. It became the first 2004 entrant to the European Union to adopt the Euro.

Since gaining independence, Slovenia was doing very well, with inflation steadily decelerating. The country, however, was affected by the 2008-2009 recession, seeing the economy contract for the first time in 15 years and unemployment is now estimated to be at around 6.7% (2009). All eyes are on this new EU member state to see how it copes, but economists predict with its stable economic history it will weather the storm well.
Slovenia's tradition as a meeting place goes back to 1821, when it played host to the Congress of the Holy Alliance. The main conference locations are Bled, Ljubljana, Portoroz, Radenci and Rogaska Slatina.

GDP: 

US$ 59.49 billion (2008).

Main exports: 

Manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and food.

Main imports: 

Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants and food.

Main trading partners: 

Germany, Italy, Austria, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Staying in touch in Slovenia

Telephone: 

Calls can be made with magnetic phonecards, sold at post offices, newspaper kiosks and tobacco shops. For emergencies, dial 112 (ambulance service and fire brigade) or 113 (police).

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet: 

Internet cafés are available in cities.

Post: 

Reasonable internal service. Stamps can be bought at bookstalls. The post office at Cigaletova 5, Ljubljana is open 24 hours.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200.

Media: 

The media scene is diverse and free, and the constitution supports freedom of expression. About two-thirds of TV households are connected to cable or satellite. English-language publications include Ars Vivendi, Slovenia Weekly, Slovenian Business Report and Slovenija.

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.