Slovenian companies shared their experience in setting up shop in distant and unfamiliar places, in a round table held as part of the 3rd annual Business Week.
In his address to the participants of the round table, the president of the Chamber of Commerce Jozko Cuk said Slovenian companies needed to show more confidence and seek new markets.
There is no reason a company should not succeed with a good product and good approach to selling it, he said.
Sharing their experience in the debate, the participants pointed to the need for innovation and understanding for the needs and wants of customers.
According to Ivan Lisjak of Iskra Avtoelektrika, the maker of electronic automotive parts, the company decided to launch production in China in order to keep up with customers.
"We entered China without selling a single product beforehand," Lisjak said. The key to launching operations on a new market is finding the right supply chains, he said, adding that China was ideal in this respect.
Meanwhile, a representative of another Slovenian company enjoying success abroad pointed to the importance of innovation in remaining competitive.
According to Matjaz Lukac of laser producer Fotona, staying ahead of the competition is the key to being competitive.
Fotona has managed to enter foreign markets because of its dedication to innovation: products are continuously being improved, he said.
Slovenian companies are at a disadvantage in that they are from a country that is not a global trademark. This means that Slovenian companies must beat their competition in all respects if they want to be competitive, he said.
Meanwhile, the general manager of Slovenia's railway operator stressed that the country had all the qualities to become a logistical hub.
However, government promises to build the necessary infrastructure are not enough, Boris Zivec said, adding that Slovenia was facing a tall order in trying to take on the German dominance of the logistics market.
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