Possibilities for strengthening economic cooperation between Hong Kong and Slovenia topped the talks as Honk Kong Finance Minister John Tsang was received by counterpart Andrej Bajuk and Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak in Ljubljana on Monday.
Slovenia is one of the leading economies in Central Europe and Tsang told the press that Hong Kong saw it as a potential entrance point for Central and Eastern Europe. He added that he and his interlocutors had also debated the promotion of both countries.
Tsang said that the Hong Kong economy was doing very well, although economic growth, which stood at around 7% last year, is expected to slow down this year. The biggest threat is inflation, which reached 2% last year and is expected to rise to 4-5% this year. He sees the main problem in high food prices.
The finance and economy ministries said today that Vizjak had presented to the guest the possibilities of investing into logistics centres in Slovenia, highlighting Slovenia's strategic position that allows foreign companies to enter the EU and Western Balkans markets.
Bajuk and Tsang meanwhile discussed Slovenia's presidency over the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council.
Tsang also highlighted as opportunities financial and business services, trade, banking, insurance, tourism and logistics. In his opinion one of the advantages of Hong Kong are low taxes.
Tsang was accompanied by a strong business delegation, which attended a business conference organised by the the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The director general of the chamber Samo Hribar Milic said at the conference that Hong Kong could be Slovenia's springboard for the Chinese market, where Slovenia's economic activities are scarce despite the huge potential.
Tsang also discussed the economic situation of the two countries with central bank governor Marko Kranjec.
Cooperation between Slovenia and Hong Kong has been on the rise. Between 2003 and 2007 trade between the countries increased by 24% yearly on the average.
|
Subscribe
To receive our weekly newsletter by e-mail subscribe here.
HOME
Government | Calendar of Events | Media Room | About Slovenia
Sitemap | Contact us | About us | Graphic version | Slovensko
© Government Communication Office