Slovenian exports of goods and services to Austria amounted to EUR 930m last year, while imports stood at EUR 1.6bn. An official of the Chamber of Commerce (GZS) presented the figures at Monday's debate on business partnership between Slovenia and Austria in Celje.
According to Katarina Drobnic of GZS, the biggest chunk of the imports was composed of machinery parts, electric products, cars and furniture, while imports included power and leather goods.
Top exporters were manufacturing company Varista and machinery maker Palfinger, while the biggest importers were manufacturer of car-seat covers Prevent, aluminium producer Talum and home appliances manufacturer Gorenje, Drobnic told the round table organised by the Zlatorog business club.
Slovenia ranks 15th among Austria's foreign trade partners, while Austria is the leading foreign investor in Slovenia with 700 investments totalling EUR 1.2bn. Slovenian investments in Austria meanwhile amount to mere EUR 64.7m.
Assessing bilateral business cooperation, Drobnic said that Slovenian companies notably encounter problems when it comes to the free flow of services in the building sector and acquiring working permits at the Austrian local administration offices.
Slovenian companies still boast a lot of business opportunities in the electronics and timber sector, furniture industry and computer software business, Drobnic also estimated.
Trade consultant at the Austrian Embassy in Ljubljana, Georg Krauchenberg, said that Austrian exports to Slovenia have been on the increase in recent years, amounting to EUR 2bn in 2004. Imports from Slovenia meanwhile stood at EUR 1.2bn.
Austrian companies account for 23% of foreign investment in Slovenia. As to the drawbacks that the companies face, Krauchenberg highlighted lengthy administration procedures and high labour costs.
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