Minister Andrej Vizjak looked back at the achievements of the Economy Ministry in the 2004-2008 term on Tuesday, concluding that while an important step had been made towards making Slovenia's economy development-oriented, a lot of work remains to be done in terms of adapting economic policies and increasing productivity.
"We are pleased with what we have achieved, but at the same time we are aware that a lot of work lies ahead. The changing situation on global markets requires a constant adaptation of economic policies," Vizjak told the press in Ljubljana.
According to him, the key goal four years ago was creating new jobs and increasing employment. In the future, the chief goal will be securing a breakthrough in the productivity of companies and thereby creating conditions for dividing up the value added fairly between workers and development of companies.
The priority tasks of the ministry in the past term included creating an environment conducive to greater competitiveness, Vizjak said, adding that funds from the state budget as well as from European structural funds were used for this purpose.
According to the minister, 80% to 90% of companies have met the goals set in terms of creating new jobs and securing higher growth.
The minister moreover highlighted changes in the field of company takeovers, workers' participation in profit, the reimbursements for investments into the telecommunication network, the reorganisation of the electricity market, more competition among telecommunication providers, development incentives for SMEs, and enhanced investment in tourist infrastructure.
As regards the ministry's achievements during Slovenia's EU presidency, Vizjak pointed to the adoption of legislative acts related to the free flow of goods, which form the so-called goods package, and to the agreement on the consumer credit contracts directive.
Turning to the failed plan to sell state-owned telco Telekom, Vizjak said the ministry acted prudently, since the state was in no hurry to sell "such a good investment" at any price. The ministry analysed the offers on the table and decided not pick any of them.
"The worse thing would be to do otherwise and sell helter-skelter...Thus I believe that the procedure regarding the intention to sell the investment was carried out in the best possible fashion," Vizjak added.
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