The government visited the northeastern region of Podravje last week as part of its tour of Slovenian regions.
Although the region is underdeveloped and has a high unemployment rate, PM Janez Jansa was confident the situation in region has taken a turn for the better after the economic shock caused by the bankruptcy of a number of industrial giants in the 1990s. "Both statistical data and what we saw during our visit indicate that economic growth is picking up in Podravje." The PM claimed the region has three key development engines: the University of Maribor, Maribor airport and the NKBM bank. He said the university has a development potential crucial not only for the city and the region, but for the entire country. "Maribor University has a very solid basis to withstand the coming competition which has become inevitable with Slovenia's entry in the EU," Jansa thought. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk said the region's largest and the country's second largest bank, NKBM, would be privatised in connection with a stock market listing. Moreover, the government reviewed measures it has taken to boost the phasing of EU cohesion funds that are crucial for the region. The country's capacity to phase EU money was also discussed as Jansa met about 250 top businessmen and politicians from the region.
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